Dubai’s weather pattern is marked by just two distinct seasons—summer and winter. The summer season in Dubai begins at mid-April, where in the average temperature ranges between 30° to 32°C.  This lasts only until the end of April, whereby the temperature gradually increases from 35° to over 40°C during the months of June to October.  Overall, Dubai is a hot region, which at times humid especially during the hottest summer months.  It is quite unsurprising that people from temperate regions usually have difficulty adjusting to the stifling summer heat.

Sandstorms, referred to as Dubai prevailing wind, are not frequent in Dubai.  They arrive in Dubai for only a few times and are often miniscule in scale.

The winter season in Dubai starts around the beginning of November, wherein the temperature changes from intensely hot and humid to much cooler temperatures.  The drop ranges from 33° to 22°C and drops even lower to 15°C during the peak of winter in the months of December and January.

Rainfall typically comes in winter, wherein it is generally light and concentrated in the months of January, February, and March.  However, heavy rainfall are not uncommon during the peak winter months.  Dubai gets mean value of 150 millimeter, or 6 inches, of rainfall yearly.

Due to the extreme heat during the summer months, activities during the daytime are often quite limited.  People rarely walk around, let alone engage in outdoor activities during the day, and often go out at night where the temperature is usually much tolerable.

However, it is during the summer months that tourists could enjoy various deals and discounts, such as hotel accommodations, as this is generally an off-season for the tourism industry.  The government had taken steps to enliven the quiet summer months of June to September. This is by introducing the Dubai Summer Surprises (DSS).  First held in1998, this summer travel event is basically aimed at promoting Dubai as a premiere family holiday destination, and focuses on fun, educational, and entertaining activities for children.  It is often held during the children’s summer break and usually runs for ten weeks. 

Each week is divided into themes, called “surprises”, and often named after the activities that will be held during that period.  Sponsoring each “surprise” are different government agencies in cooperation with various shopping malls, hotels, and co-presenter companies.  The last theme surprise is always the “back-to-school surprises”, which is in anticipation of the re-opening of schools in September.

As for tourists who may wish to brave the summer months, precautionary steps must be taken to protect one’s self from heat strokes, dehydration, and heat cramps.  First of these is avoiding over exposure to the sun.  Although Dubai has a tolerance for Western style of clothing, keeping a modest part of the body and the head covered helps to prevent over exposure and raising the body’s temperature.  The most telling sign of a heat stroke is dry and hot skin, yet does not sweat.  It may be accompanied by dizziness, faintness, fatigue, and headaches.

Aside from sunburn, heat strokes present as a real threat particularly fir Western tourists staying on the beach.  Sun bathing should be avoided during the hottest part of the day, and should take care to keep the body covered with clothes and sunscreen, as well as to drink plenty of liquids to replenish the lost bodily liquids. Sodas and fruit juices should be avoided as they only increase one’s thirst, while drinks with electrolytes better serve this purpose.

If dehydration is not addressed, it could lead to heat cramps, which are muscular spasms that take place when the body looses salt, due to excessive sweating, and results to an electrolyte imbalance.  Primary symptoms of heat cramps are hot, sweaty skin, and may be accompanied by rapid heart beat, nausea and vomiting, dizziness, and fainting.  Upon suspicion of heat cramp, the body temperature must be lowered immediately by pouring water over the head, placing the victim in a cool and shady area, or even by submerging the victim in an ice bath.

With the extreme summer climate in Dubai, the most ideal time to visit the city is during the months between Novembers up to April.  Due to the much cooler temperature, any tourist can enjoy the sun and the city’s sandy beaches, parks, and desert dunes throughout the day.  Most sport activities also resume during the winter season, such as camel and horse racing.

Aside from the numerous luxury hotels, leisure resorts, and recreational theme parks found in the city, there are a few government initiated activities that only adds to Dubai’s attractiveness to visitors.  One of these is the Dubai Shopping Festival, which is an annual month-long event of non-stop festivities highlighted by discounted and duty-free shopping, daily raffles, and top-notch family entertainment.  Ever since its first engagement in 1996, the Dubai Shopping Festival has attracted an average of 3 million visitors into the city.

One peculiar detail about Dubai weather is the high contrast of temperature between outdoors and indoors.  The city already had designed a cooling system even before the invention of modern air-conditioners through the simpler form of wind towers and an ingenious cooling system as early as the beginning of the 20th century.  Now, with the help of modern and powerful air-conditioners, Dubai residents can control the temperature inside in spite of the searing summer heat outside.  Though, it is interesting to note that most air-conditioned offices and establishments in Dubai are often too cold.  It may be wise to pack a blazer, a jacket, or a jumper when working indoors for a long period of time.

In general, Dubai is frequently hot and humid with short periods of cooler climate.  Yet in spite of its extreme temperature, Dubai has managed to totally reinvent itself into a premier tourist destination, no matter what the season.  Just as the city provides every possible attraction to every possible tourist, the travel events created based on the weather also offers just as many variety an choices, which ultimately are all for the pleasure of these welcomed visitors.