United Arab Emirates: When to Go

The best time of the year to visit the UAE is between November and April, when the weather is at its coolest. The rest of the year you're more likely to be running from one air-conditioned environment to the next instead of getting out and about and exploring. Ramadan, the Muslim month of fasting, is strictly adhered to in the UAE; that means no eating, drinking or smoking in public from sunrise to sunset. Places that normally serve alcohol stop serving it during this month. Ramadan is timed by the moon and will start around September for the next couple of years.

Weather

From May to September humidity is high and daytime temperatures commonly top 40°C (105°F) in Abu Dhabi and Dubai. In the eastern coastal cities of Fujairah and Khor Fakkan, the climate is slightly less hostile thanks to occasional breezes. Average daily high temperatures drop to the more comfortable 22-30°C (70-85°F) range the rest of the year, with December and January the most comfortable months, though it can be very windy in Abu Dhabi, Dubai and Sharjah and very cold in the desert areas around Al-Ain. Rainfall is non-existent between May and October, and negligible for much of the rest of the year.