Dubai in the Summer: What’s the Weather Really Like?
Everyone knows that it gets hot in Dubai in the summer. But after living here for a few years, I’m always surprised at just how many visitors book summer trips to the city without doing their research.
So, if you’re wondering if you should book a summer trip to Dubai, hopefully I can shed a little light on what to expect from those hot and humid Dubai summers!
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When is summer in Dubai?
When it comes to the weather in Dubai in summer, things usually start heating up in late April. As I’m writing this, it’s late April and the high is 34°C/93°F. So, as you can see, the summer is fast approaching!
Things will fairly rapidly start getting more hot and humid as we enter the hottest months in Dubai, which are July and August. From my experience, the scorching and sticky summer weather lasts through late September or early October.
How hot does it get in Dubai in the summer?
When it comes to the summer weather in Dubai, the high will usually range from 40°C/104°F to 45°C/110°F during the hottest months, but things have been known to spike up to 50°C/122°F. To top it off, the low rarely goes below 30°C/86°F – yes, even in the middle of the night!
The humidity factor.
It’s also important to note that just because Dubai is in the desert doesn’t mean the city experiences a dry heat. Before I moved here, I had no idea that summers would be hot and humid, and man, I was pretty shocked when I experienced my first Dubai summer!
The humidity means that the “feels like” temperature will be significantly higher than the actual temperature. So you can basically expect to sweat it out if you spend any amount of time outside.
Can you go outside in the summer?
During the day, it’s just generally unpleasant to be outside for any amount of time, especially during the hottest months in Dubai. During the months of July and August, I tend to avoid going outside when the sun is shining and try to get out for a little exercise once it gets dark (the later the better). As a general rule, I don’t do any evening walks when the weather tops 39°C (103°F) – I’m not sure why, but that’s my cutoff!
Can you swim in the ocean in the summer?
While your pool may be chilled in the summer months, the ocean is definitely not. I made the rookie mistake of going to the beach in July during my first year in Dubai, and I almost got heat stroke while dipping into the bathtub-like waters. So no, I wouldn’t advise swimming in the ocean in the summer.
OK, now we’ve established just how hot it gets in Dubai in the summer. Sorry if I’ve scared you, but it’s best to know what you’re working with!
If you’re going to be in Dubai in the summer, it’s not all doom and gloom. I mean, people do live and travel here year-round, and this is Dubai, which means there’s always something to do in an icy-cold air-conditioned space!
READ MORE: 13 Things to Do in Dubai in Summer to Beat the Heat!
Is it worth traveling to Dubai in the summer?
As long as you know what to expect and what your limitations are, it’s absolutely still worth stopping off in Dubai. But if you’ve got your heart set on lounging on the beach and going on a desert safari, I highly recommend visiting from October to April.
But if you’re willing to brave the heat, here’s a little more about what’s open and what’s closed in the summer season:
You will find that major outdoor attractions and activities are not available in the summer season. Attractions like Global Village, Dubai Miracle Garden, and The Ripe Market will be closed, and popular activities like desert safari tours and alfresco brunches, just aren’t possible given the heat.
That being said, Dubai has tons of indoor attractions and activities for you to tick off your bucket list. And if you do as the locals do, you don’t even need to step foot outside if you don’t want to.
Indoor, summertime activities.
Air-conditioned taxis are affordable and readily available to whisk you wherever you’d like to go. Dubai’s metro is also handy if you want to reach attractions like the Dubai Mall. As one of the world’s largest malls, you can easily spend days exploring all its indoor attractions, including the epic Dubai Aquarium & Underwater Zoo.
In the summer, you can still take in the views from the top of the Burj Khalifa (the world’s tallest building) or marvel at the bird’s-eye view of Palm Jumeirah from the 52nd floor of The Palm.
Cool off at a waterpark, get your thrills at an indoor amusement park, visit an aquarium, have at least one boozy (indoor) brunch, go skiing inside a mall (yes, really!), have a fancy dinner overlooking the Dubai Marina at Pier 7 – there’s still a lot to keep you entertained, even if it is hot outside.
Oh, and one of the perks of visiting Dubai in summer is that not only will you save big on accommodation, but malls and stores across the city have huge sales, so if shopping is on your to-do list, you’re in luck!
