12 Fun Things to Do in Dubai in Winter: An Expat’s Guide
I’ve said it before but, in my opinion, winter is the absolute best time to visit Dubai. The weather is mild and warm, the skies are (mostly) cloudless and blue, and the Arabian Gulf is just begging you to take a dip. If that’s not enough, there are tons of fun things to do in Dubai in winter that you’d miss out on if you visited at any other time of year!
You might be surprised to learn that many of Dubai’s most popular attractions close during the brutally hot summer months. So if you’re looking for cool Dubai winter activities, trust me when I say you’ll be spoiled for choice when it comes to things to do!
From seeing wild flamingos migrate to the city’s mangroves to visiting festive Christmas markets and going beach hopping when the weather is at its best, visiting Dubai in winter is always a good idea!
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12 Uniquely Dubai Winter Activities
1. Experience the annual flamingo migration
One of my favorite Dubai winter activities is visiting the Ras Al Khor Wildlife Sanctuary in Dubai and spotting flamingos in the wild. While Dubai is perhaps best known for its manmade attractions, this sanctuary gets you up close and personal with Dubai’s natural side, something that many visitors to Dubai often overlook.
Each winter, tens of thousands of birds migrate from Africa and East Asia to make their temporary home in Dubai (as well as other emirates in the UAE). But the stars of the show are the “flamboyances” of perfectly pink Greater Flamingos.
If you want to glimpse these beautiful creatures in their natural habitat, I highly suggest paying a visit to Ras Al Khor, which is just 10 minutes from Downtown Dubai.
The expansive wetlands and mangroves are highly protected (thankfully!), so you can’t just walk around freely. But you can enter one of the “bird hides” and view the flamingos from a safe distance. In my opinion, this is one of the coolest experiences for nature lovers, and it’s also one of the best free things to do in Dubai.
2. Kayak around Hatta Dam
Although Hatta is roughly 2 hours from Downtown Dubai, it is actually located in the emirate of Dubai. With its surreal location in the Hajar Mountains, trust me when I say you will feel like you’re in another country. Hatta Dam is absolutely gorgeous.
While it’s way too hot to comfortably explore Hatta in the summer months, it easily offers some of the coolest Dubai winter activities and attractions. The mild winter months are a prime time to take in the views of Hatta Dam’s insanely blue water surrounded by the jagged mountains.
If you’re up for some adventure, I highly recommend renting a kayak from Hatta Kayak and paddling around Hatta Dam. This is another must on any Dubai bucket list!
3. Go glamping
Because summer in Dubai is so hot, glamping sites shut down for the season. But if you’re looking for winter activities in Dubai, going glamping should definitely be on your to-do list! The most popular glamping option in Dubai is probably at Hatta Resorts, which is around 2 hours from Downtown Dubai.
Here you can spend the night stargazing from a dome in the Hatta Dome Park, stay in a luxury Airstream trailer on the banks of the Hatta Dam, or live it up in a wood cabin with epic mountain views at Damani Lodges.
If you’re looking for the ultimate luxury glamping experience, The Nest by Sonara is set in the spectacular Dubai Desert Conservation Reserve. It doesn’t come cheap but it’s definitely going to be a bucket list experience! Expect all sorts of luxury amenities and cool cultural activities (think falconry demonstrations and lavish Emirati meals).
4. Get deals at the Dubai Shopping Festival
Dubai takes shopping very seriously. But if you want to take advantage of some of the best sales of the year, the Dubai Shopping Festival is one of the best winter activities in Dubai.
This festival takes place each year from December to January and you can expect massive sales at retailers and malls all across the city, as well as some pretty incredible raffles and prizes.
But it’s not all about shopping. During the month-long festival, there will be fireworks shows, festive light displays, live entertainment (including concerts by world-famous artists), pop-up markets, specials at restaurants, and loads of other family-friendly activities and attractions.
5. Visit one of the many Christmas markets
This city loves getting festive for the holidays. There are tons of Christmas markets, which means you’ll be spoiled for choice when it comes to festive winter activities in Dubai.
Of course, more and more winter markets pop up each year. But to give you an idea, you can see magical light displays and dine at the many food stalls at the Winter Garden at Habtoor Palace, have family-friendly fun at the free Madinat Jumeirah Christmas Market, see the 52-foot-tall Christmas tree at Expo City’s Winter City, and meet Santa at Festival Bay, just to name a few of Dubai’s best Christmas markets.
No matter which Dubai Christmas market you visit, expect holiday foods and treats, countless holiday lights, and endless festive fun!
6. Ring in the New Year in Dubai
Visiting Dubai on New Year’s Eve is a bucket list item for a lot of people. Getting the chance to be in Dubai at this time of year is absolutely bonkers – in the best of ways! There are New Year’s galas, special menus and events at restaurants, festive night markets, and parties galore.
But one of the very best things to do in Dubai in winter is to see the truly spectacular fireworks shows. If you’re willing to brave the huge crowds (and I do mean huge), try to snag a spot to view one of the world’s best New Year’s fireworks shows at the Burj Khalifa in Downtown Dubai. You’ll need to plan ahead and get there early but it’s bound to be an unforgettable experience.
New Year’s fireworks shows are a huge deal in Dubai, and you’ll also be able to see some impressive shows in places like Bluewaters (JBR), Al Seef, and Burj Al Arab, to name a few.
7. Get outdoors in Ras Al Khaimah
Okay, this isn’t exactly one of the “best things to do in Dubai in winter” but hear me out. Ras Al Khaimah is just 90 minutes from Dubai and it’s one of my very favorite places to visit in winter.
At this time of year, you can see thousands of wild Greater Flamingos in the mangroves which are in the middle of the city, drive up to the top of Jebel Jais (the tallest mountain in the UAE) and go hiking and ziplining (it gets cold up there in winter!), go beach hopping on the near-deserted beaches, and so much more.
Right now, Ras Al Khaimah is my favorite winter destination in the UAE, but that may change as I visit more places in the future!
8. Get into the holiday spirit at Global Village
Like many places in Dubai, Global Village gets way into the holiday spirit. Visiting Global Village is fun for people of all ages when it’s open in the winter season, but at this time of year, little ones will love meeting Santa and his dancing elves, marveling at the towering Christmas tree, and munching on all of the festive treats.
Plus, Global Village is always a great place to do some holiday shopping. You’ll find endless gift ideas at the many pavilions dotted around Global Village!
9. Shop for local goods at Ripe Market
While there are pop-up markets in Dubai all year long, one of the very best markets is the seasonal Ripe Market in Academy Park. The outdoor market takes place on Saturdays and Sundays from October to May and it’s easily one of the best winter activities in Dubai.
Take a look around and you’ll find local vendors selling all sorts of cool stuff, from home décor to handmade jewelry to cool clothes. You should come hungry too because there are tons of food vendors on-site serving up everything from tacos to burgers to shwarmas.
I love going to the Ripe Market because it’s a popular spot for expats to hang out during the winter weekends. It’s also a great place if you have kids because there are always family-friendly activities like live music and a petting zoo.
10. Enjoy the perfect winter weather at Kite Beach
Winter is prime beach time in Dubai. The sun is shining, the weather is mild, and the skies are blue . The winter weather in Dubai is the best!
Dubai is lined with beaches, but Kite Beach is still my favorite. This is another fun spot to see how expats spend their beach days in Dubai. A lot of us make a day out of it by packing chairs, blankets, and picnic lunches.
There are also a bunch of cute food trucks dotting the beach and some excellent restaurants, as well as a skatepark and other sports facilities. I absolutely love this part of Dubai and it’s like a little slice of paradise in the winter months.
11. Experience the magic of Ramadan
The dates of Ramadan differ every year, but since I moved to Dubai in 2022, Ramadan has taken place in winter/spring and it remains my favorite time of year to be in Dubai. For some reason a lot of people think they should avoid visiting Dubai during Ramadan and to that I say you’re making a big mistake!
Ramadan is a special time of year when Muslims focus on fasting, faith, and family. But just because Muslims may be fasting doesn’t mean you have to (unless you’d like to!). During Ramadan in Dubai, you can join in with locals at one of the nightly iftar meals when Muslims break their fast, shop and eat at one of the city’s many Ramadan night markets, check out all of the lights and decorations in Old Dubai, and so much more.
So far Ramadan has been one of my favorite experiences in Dubai!
