Dubai has two seasons and the difference between them is more extreme than almost any other major destination.
November to March — the season
Daytime around 24 to 30°C, low humidity, blue sky, cool evenings. This is what the city is sold on and it is genuinely excellent: everything outdoors works, the beaches are ideal, and the whole calendar of outdoor events runs.
It is also peak pricing. December and January are the highest, particularly around New Year.
January and February bring the Dubai Shopping Festival, and the Global Village pavilion market runs from about October to April.
April, May and October — the shoulder
Hot but manageable, from the high 30s. Prices drop noticeably and the crowds thin. Early April and late October are underrated.
June to September — the summer
40 to 48°C, with coastal humidity that makes it feel worse. The sea reaches about 35°C. Outdoor life stops almost completely — the Miracle Garden closes, desert activities pause, and the beaches are empty in daylight.
There is a legally mandated midday break for outdoor workers from mid-June to mid-September, which tells you what the authorities think of working in it.
But: hotel prices fall dramatically, sometimes to a quarter of January rates, and the indoor city — malls, museums, aquariums, ski slope, pools, restaurants — runs at full strength. Dubai Summer Surprises is built around exactly this.
If you plan to spend days indoors anyway, summer is remarkable value. If you came for the beach, it is not.
Ramadan
Moves about eleven days earlier each year, so check the dates against your trip. During daylight, eating, drinking and smoking in public are restricted for everyone; attractions run shorter hours; live music largely stops.
After sunset the city is at its best — iftar, late openings, and a genuinely communal atmosphere.
It is a good time to visit for the culture and a bad one for a conventional beach holiday. The full guidance is here.
Dates worth knowing
2 December — National Day, with fireworks and a great deal of flag-waving. Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha — public holidays, everything busy, hotels full. Dubai World Cup — horse racing at Meydan, late March. Dubai Shopping Festival — December to January. Art Dubai and Alserkal Art Week — March.
Rain
Rare — a handful of days a year — but when it comes it can be heavy, and the drainage is not built for it. Roads flood and traffic stops. Schools sometimes close. It is a genuine event and locals photograph it.