🏜️ Dubai Weather

Gulf heat at the desert's edge

Dubai sits on the edge of the Arabian Desert beside the warm waters of the Persian Gulf, giving it a hot desert climate with a humid twist. Summers are among the most intensely hot and oppressive anywhere on Earth, combining searing desert heat with high Gulf humidity, while winters are warm, sunny, and the reason the city draws crowds from colder climates.

Extreme, humid summers

From June through September, Dubai is brutally hot, with highs around 106°F (41°C) and frequent days above 113°F (45°C). Unlike the dry interior deserts, the Gulf pumps moisture into the air, so the humidity can make the heat index feel even higher and the nights stay sweltering. Life moves indoors and underground into air-conditioned malls and walkways.

Warm winters and rare rain

Winters, from December to March, are warm and delightful, with highs around 75°F (24°C), abundant sunshine, and pleasant evenings — peak tourist season. Rain is scarce and erratic, falling mainly in brief winter bursts; when it does come, the desert city's limited drainage can lead to sudden flooding.

Dubai is extremely arid, averaging under 4 inches (100 mm) of rain a year. Occasional "shamal" winds whip up dust and sand from the desert, reducing visibility and coating the gleaming city in a fine haze.

Gulf heat and searing humidity

Dubai's hot desert climate makes it one of the hottest cities on the planet in summer, when highs soar past 105°F (41°C) and the Persian Gulf pumps in brutal humidity that pushes the heat index to dangerous levels — the reason so much of the city lives indoors and air-conditioned from June to September.

Rain is scarce and erratic, falling in a few winter downpours that can briefly flood streets built for dryness. Occasional dust storms sweep in off the desert, reducing visibility. The pleasant season runs November to March, with warm sunny days and mild nights that draw the peak of the tourist crowds.