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Seasons? Yeah we only have about 2 over here; the hot one, and the REALLY hot one

Summertime in Dubai (June to September) is almost uncomfortable with high humidity levels, averaging over 90% and with temperatures usually around mid-40's (°C). This impressively high humidity level encourages almost everyone to remain inside the lovely air-conditioned buildings during summer. At nighttime the temperatures average out to around 30°C. Rain is unheard of in this season, so the only water relief will be jumping into the sea. Even with the lower temperatures at night, outdoor activities are not fun thanks to the constantly high humidity levels. The hottest month in Dubai is August with a record temperature approaching 55°C; swelteringly hot.

The winter in the U.A.E. lasts from October to April with quite mild temperatures. Overall, these temperatures tend to average out at about 23°C, which is still pretty warm to most people (and like a hot summers day for the Nordic people!). At night, the temperatures usually drop to around 12°C in the middle of winter. The small amounts of rainfall that occur in this city usually occur at wintertime. These rain spells will be short and very infrequent and usually occur between the months of December to March. The average rainfall a year is an impressively low 5 days a year - so if you dislike rain, this is an excellent holiday destination for you! The wettest month is February and the coldest month is estimated to be January. Over the last few years, rainfall has actually been increasing ever so slightly in the region, but not enough for the citizens to be happy. The U.A.E. are now researching ways to try and increase the average rainfall, and an international grant was recently given to the U.A.E. for this purpose. It is stated that "No one has found the perfect solution to the water shortage. Rain enhancement is one of the solutions" so, this grant will hopefully aid regions that suffer from water shortage. Only time will tell if this research can actually pay off or not.

One thing you want to keep in mind also is the ocean temperature - which is dependent on the air temperature. In the Persian Gulf (Abu Dhabi and Dubai) the sea will be around 20°C. In summertime this temperature can only increase (averaging at around 38°C), but it will still be lower than the air temperature, providing relief for any overheated holiday-goer and citizen alike. However, when the oceans have such high temperatures, it could still be uncomfortably hot for most people - in such cases, find your nearest swimming-pool, they are usually kept at more reasonable temperatures and effectively cool off every visitor.

May, June and September present hot, but bearable temperatures, so for the people who really want a hot sunny holiday; this could be a good season for you. However, you would have to be prepared that some days will be too hot for you (depending on what temperatures you are used to).

Thanks to the overall hot temperatures across the whole year, some people say that the U.A.E. only has two distinct seasons; the hot season, and the REALLY hot season.

Climate influences

One of the reasons Dubai experiences such hot weather is due to the Tropic of Cancer line which runs straight across the U.A.E. bringing a lot of heat. This line lies at 23.5°N of the equator, running through several countries, including Mexico, Egypt, Saudi Arabia etc. This line represents when the sun is located directly above the Earth at noon on the two solstices. The location of this line is at this precise latitude was determined from the Earth's axial tilt. All areas connected by the Tropic of Cancer experience similar warm climates, apart from the extremities - the higher latitudes - which can experience more significant variations in seasons.

Best times to visit?

This sort of depends on how much heat you can stand. If you are used to not-super-hot-summers that average out at 20°C (or maybe lower) then you should try and visit between October and April when the temperatures vary between 25-28°C. If you are not prepared for heat or humidity and travel to Dubai in their summer season (June to September) and are suddenly hit with over 90% humidity levels and temperatures as high as 40°C, you WILL melt.

However, if you do prior research (which most people do anyway before traveling somewhere) you can find your perfect season. But be careful about being out in the sun for too long without proper protection - you WILL burn. The heat and humidity can also be escaped by planning activities indoor, where the air-conditioning is working away at making the temperature more bearable. In this aspect, Dubai does not disappoint! The Dubai Mall is the world's largest shopping center with guaranteed entertainment for all. This shopping center even contains one of the largest aquariums! This mall is a place where you want to keep a close eye on your kids, as it is extremely easy to lose people in the huge crowd of people that are there on a daily basis.

Apart from the mall, there are also indoor skiing facilities for those who miss the colder temperatures - or simply for the people who really want to cool off and escape the extremely hot outside temperatures.