Winter in Dubai runs from December to February, when average daytime highs are 24–27°C and nights average 15–17°C. On the National Center of Meteorology's (NCM) long-term averages for Dubai International Airport, January is the coldest month, at 24.4°C by day and 14.8°C at night, while November (30.9°C) and March (28.8°C) are the warm months either side. A month in a hotel apartment has a median asking price of AED 7,700 for a studio and AED 10,600 for a one-bedroom on HotelApartments.com.
The temperatures below are NCM's monthly means for 1974 to 2025, not a forecast for this winter. The prices are asking prices for a 30-night stay across 448 Dubai hotel apartments on our site, pulled on 29 October 2026; we show the number of units behind every median.
When is winter in Dubai?
There is no official start date. On NCM's averages, December, January and February are the three coolest months, with daytime highs of 24.4–26.5°C. November is the warm start of the season, at 30.9°C, and March the warm end, at 28.8°C. By April the average high is back at 33.4°C, and from May to September it stays between 37.9°C and 41.5°C.
How cold does Dubai get in winter?
Not very. Winter days in Dubai are mild and the nights cool: January averages 24.4°C at the warmest point of the day and 14.8°C at the coolest, a monthly mean of 19.6°C. The lowest minimum in NCM's table for its Dubai airport station is 7.4°C, in February, so a light jumper or jacket for the evenings is all most people need.
| Month | Average high (°C) | Average low (°C) | Monthly mean (°C) | Average rainfall (mm) | Average humidity (%) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| November | 30.9 | 20.4 | 25.5 | 4.9 | 59 |
| December | 26.5 | 16.8 | 21.6 | 15.5 | 64 |
| January | 24.4 | 14.8 | 19.6 | 18.2 | 64 |
| February | 25.8 | 15.9 | 20.7 | 19.3 | 63 |
| March | 28.8 | 18.2 | 23.3 | 21.5 | 59 |
| April | 33.4 | 21.6 | 27.3 | 7.7 | 52 |
Source: National Center of Meteorology, Yearly Climate Means, Dubai International Airport station, 1974 to 2025, read on 29 October 2026.
Winter is also the rainy season, such as it is. Of the 89.5 mm of rain the station records in an average year, 74.5 mm falls from December to March. Rain comes on only a few days: the World Meteorological Organization's (WMO) page for Dubai, built on older NCM data for 1974 to 1991, counts 2 to 4 rain days in each of those months. Pack an umbrella, but don't plan the month around it.
Can you swim in Dubai in winter?
Yes. With daytime highs of 24–27°C, the beach is still usable in winter, and Dubai Municipality runs night-swimming beaches at Jumeirah 2, Jumeirah 3 and Umm Suqeim 1, with lifeguards on duty and swimming allowed between sunset and sunrise. We have not found an official monthly sea-temperature average to quote, so check conditions on the day and swim where lifeguards are on duty.
Your building's pool is the other option: 418 of the 448 Dubai units on our site list a pool of some kind, and 85 a children's pool. If you want warm water in January, ask, because only 2 units, both at Movenpick Hotel and Apartments Bur Dubai, list a heated pool. 73 units list a terrace or rooftop terrace.
418 of the 448 Dubai units on our site list a pool; only two list a heated one.
What's on in Dubai this winter?
Four dates shape a winter stay in 2026–27: the UAE National Day public holiday on 2 and 3 December, Dubai Shopping Festival from 4 December to 17 January, GITEX GLOBAL at Expo City Dubai from 7 to 11 December, and the New Year public holiday on 1 January. A stay from 2 December to 2 January (31 nights) takes in all four.
| Dates | Event | For a monthly stay |
|---|---|---|
| Wed 2 – Thu 3 December 2026 | UAE National Day public holiday | A two-day public holiday |
| Fri 4 December 2026 – Sun 17 January 2027 | Dubai Shopping Festival | 45 days, citywide; see our Dubai Shopping Festival guide |
| Mon 7 – Fri 11 December 2026 | GITEX GLOBAL, Expo City Dubai | See where to stay for GITEX GLOBAL 2026 |
| Fri 1 January 2027 | New Year public holiday | New Year's Eve falls inside the festival |
National Day and New Year's Day are on the UAE government portal's list of public holidays. Islamic holidays are set by moon sighting, so their dates are confirmed nearer the time.
What does a winter month in a hotel apartment cost?
On HotelApartments.com, the median asking price for 30 nights in Dubai is AED 7,700 for a studio, AED 10,600 for a one-bedroom, AED 15,000 for two bedrooms and AED 24,000 for three or more. These are asking prices on 29 October 2026, across 448 units, not what guests paid last winter.
| Bedrooms | Median monthly asking price (AED) | Middle half of listings (AED) |
|---|---|---|
| Studio | 7,700 (109 units) | 6,000 – 10,500 |
| 1 bedroom | 10,600 (173 units) | 8,000 – 16,000 |
| 2 bedrooms | 15,000 (112 units) | 12,000 – 20,500 |
| 3+ bedrooms | 24,000 (54 units) | 17,000 – 35,750 |
| All Dubai units | 12,275 (448 units) | 8,238 – 18,000 |
Source: HotelApartments.com market rates, generated 29 October 2026. We show a median only where there are at least five units.
Will the price be higher in December? We don't have past winter prices to compare, so we can't give a percentage. What the listings do say: 415 of the 448 describe their rates as estimates that may vary with availability and seasonality, and 407 say an event supplement can apply during major events and exhibitions. So before you pay, ask for the total for your exact dates in writing, including any supplement. 374 listings also mention a deposit, 286 of them at 10%.
The Tourism Dirham stops at 30 nights. It is charged for a maximum of 30 consecutive nights, so a three-month winter stay booked as one reservation pays it for the first 30 nights only, and in May 2026 Dubai approved a temporary exemption from collecting it. Our Tourism Dirham guide has the rates and where the exemption stands. For prices by area, see how much a hotel apartment costs per month in Dubai.
How long can you stay in Dubai on a tourist visa?
It depends on your passport and your visa. The Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs and Port Security (ICP) lists tourist visas for stays of 30, 60 or 90 days, and a five-year multiple-entry tourist visa that allows up to 90 days per visit and no more than 180 days a year.
The UAE government portal says the five-year visa is open to all nationalities and can be extended by a further 90 days; it asks for a bank balance of USD 4,000, health insurance valid in the UAE and an onward or return ticket. Whether you can enter visa-free or get a visa on arrival depends on your nationality, so check your own case with ICP before you book a stay longer than your visa. Almost all our Dubai units (447 of 448) have a 30-night minimum, and under our reservation terms unused nights are not refunded, so book the length your visa allows.
Which area is best for a winter stay in Dubai?
Pick the area by what you will do most days. One-bedroom medians on our site, with the number of units behind each:
- The beach: JBR sits on the beach at The Walk, with 31 units and a one-bedroom median of AED 9,000 (7 units). Dubai Marina, next door, has the most choice, 65 units, at AED 17,000 (24 units).
- The metro on a budget: Al Barsha, by Mall of the Emirates, has a one-bedroom median of AED 6,700 (11 units); Deira, served by the Red and Green Lines, has 49 units and a one-bedroom median of AED 13,750 (20 units). Our guide to living in Dubai without a car compares areas by distance to a station.
- The malls and the festival: Downtown Dubai (AED 15,800, 5 units) and Business Bay (AED 16,000, 13 units) are closest to The Dubai Mall.
- A resort-style month: Palm Jumeirah has a one-bedroom median of AED 14,000 (12 units). The Palm Monorail is "temporarily suspended until further notice" for maintenance, its operator says, so plan on taxis.
Enquire early if your dates include New Year Dubai Shopping Festival, GITEX GLOBAL, National Day and New Year all fall between 2 December and 17 January. If your dates are fixed, ask for the full price, any supplement and the deposit before you book, and bring your passport or Emirates ID: our reservation terms ask every guest to show the original at check-in.
Browse monthly hotel apartments in Dubai for the winter, or send us your dates and we will check availability and the full price for your stay.
Frequently asked questions
When does winter start in Dubai?
There is no official date. On the National Center of Meteorology's long-term averages, the daytime high falls from 35.8°C in October to 30.9°C in November and 26.5°C in December, so December to February is the cool season, with November and March as the warm months either side.
What is the coldest month in Dubai?
January. NCM's averages for Dubai International Airport, 1974 to 2025, give a daily high of 24.4°C, a low of 14.8°C and a monthly mean of 19.6°C. February is close behind, at 25.8°C and 15.9°C.
Is Dubai hot in December?
Warm rather than hot. The average high in December is 26.5°C and the average low 16.8°C, against 41.5°C and 30.9°C in August, on NCM's averages. Evenings outside can feel cool, so bring a light layer.
Can you swim in the sea in Dubai in December?
Yes. Dubai Municipality runs night-swimming beaches at Jumeirah 2, Jumeirah 3 and Umm Suqeim 1, with lifeguards and swimming allowed between sunset and sunrise. Check conditions on the day and swim only where lifeguards are on duty.
Do monthly prices go up in winter in Dubai?
We don't have past winter prices to compare, so we can't give a percentage. On HotelApartments.com, 415 of 448 Dubai listings call their rates estimates that may vary with seasonality, and 407 say an event supplement can apply during major events, so ask for the total for your exact dates.
How long can a tourist stay in Dubai?
ICP lists tourist visas for 30, 60 or 90 days, and a five-year multiple-entry tourist visa allowing up to 90 days per visit and 180 days a year. Visa-free entry and visas on arrival depend on your passport, so check your own case with ICP before you book.
Is the Tourism Dirham charged on a three-month stay?
Only for the first 30 consecutive nights, if you book the stay as one reservation. Dubai also approved a temporary exemption from collecting the fee in May 2026, so ask whether it will be charged on your booking.
Sources
- National Center of Meteorology: Yearly Climate Means (Dubai I.A. station, 1974 to 2025: temperatures, rainfall and humidity by month; checked 29 October 2026)
- World Meteorological Organization: World Weather Information Service, Dubai (rain days by month, NCM data for 1974 to 1991; checked 29 October 2026)
- Dubai Municipality: night-swimming beaches (Jumeirah 2, Jumeirah 3 and Umm Suqeim 1; lifeguards; sunset to sunrise; checked 29 October 2026)
- UAE government portal: public holidays (National Day 2 and 3 December, New Year 1 January; checked 29 October 2026)
- ICP: frequently asked questions (tourist visa stays of 30, 60 or 90 days; five-year visa limits; checked 29 October 2026)
- UAE government portal: tourist visa (five-year multiple-entry tourist visa, extension and requirements; checked 29 October 2026)
- Palm Monorail (service suspended until further notice; checked 29 October 2026)
- HotelApartments.com: Dubai listings and market rates (asking prices, minimum stays, pools and listing terms) and reservation terms (ID at check-in, unused nights), checked 29 October 2026
Prices and facts checked on 29 October 2026.
Share
