Dubai
A creek, a coast of towers, and the desert an hour behind them.
Dubai grew from a pearling creek into a city of skyscrapers, but the creek is still there, with its abras and spice souks, a few kilometres from the tower that defines the skyline and the sail-shaped hotel on the beach. The Marina, the Palm and the desert camps fill in the rest of a stay.
Why go
Because it does the things it does with total conviction: the view from the top of the Burj Khalifa, the fountain show below it, the beaches and the malls, the brunches and the rooftop bars. It is easy, sunny and connected to everywhere.
And because the old city and the desert give it depth. Cross the creek by abra, walk the wind-tower lanes of Al Fahidi, drive into the dunes for the sunset, and the place makes more sense.
Highlights
What people go for, in no particular order.
01The Burj Khalifa and Downtown
The observation decks near the top of the tower, the fountains on the lake below, the mall and the boulevard of restaurants around it. Book the deck for the hour before sunset.
02The creek and the souks
An abra across the water, the gold and spice souks on the Deira bank, and the restored lanes, courtyards and cafés of Al Fahidi on the Bur Dubai side.
03The beaches and the Burj Al Arab
Jumeirah's public beaches, Kite Beach and the sail-shaped hotel on its island, with the Madinat souk and its canals behind. La Mer and JBR have the promenade cafés.
04The Marina and the Palm
The canal district of towers, yachts and waterfront walks, and the palm-shaped island beyond with its resorts, the aquarium and the view back from the crescent.
05The desert
An afternoon in the dunes for sand driving, camels and a camp dinner under the stars, or a morning in the conservation reserve to see oryx and gazelle among the dunes.
06The Museum of the Future and the frame
The torus-shaped museum on Sheikh Zayed Road and the golden frame in Zabeel Park, which looks from the old city on one side to the new on the other.
07Hatta and the mountains
The mountain enclave an hour and a half inland, with its dam lake, kayaks, mountain biking and the restored heritage village, for a day away from the coast.
Areas
Where to base yourself, and what each area is like.
Downtown
Around the tower, the mall and the fountains. Central, lively and well served by the metro.
Jumeirah and Umm Suqeim
Low-rise, beach-side and residential, with the Burj Al Arab and the Madinat at its heart. Calmer, with taxis for everything.
The Marina and JBR
Towers, the beach promenade and the tram. Lively, with the Palm next door.
Deira and Bur Dubai
The old city on the creek: souks, heritage lanes, budget-to-mid hotels and the airport close by.
The Palm Jumeirah
Resort hotels along the fronds and the crescent, with private beaches and the city a drive away.
When to go: Dubai
- WinterNovember – April
- Warm, dry and sunny: beach weather by day, cool enough for the desert at night. The high season, with the festivals and fairs to match.
- Shoulder monthsOctober
- Hot but manageable, with warm sea and quieter hotels. Evenings outdoors are still comfortable.
- SummerMay – September
- Very hot and humid, with life indoors by day: malls, museums, aquariums and pools. Early mornings and late nights are the outdoor hours.
Getting there
Airports
Two airports in our search serve Dubai. Distances are measured in a straight line.
- DXBDubai International
- DWCAl Maktoum International
Distance from
- BOMMumbai1,930 km
- CDGParis5,240 km
- LHRLondon5,490 km
- SINSingapore5,850 km
- JNBJohannesburg6,400 km
- JFKNew York11,000 km
- SYDSydney12,050 km
Getting around: Dubai
The metro runs from the airport along Sheikh Zayed Road to Downtown, the Marina and the Expo site, with a tram linking the Marina and JBR. Taxis are metered, plentiful and the default for anywhere else.
Distances along the coast are long and the city is built around the road; walking works within a district rather than between them. Abras cross the creek; water taxis and the water bus run along the Marina and the canal.
Practical facts
The country, its currency and languages, the time zone and the time there now.
- Country
- United Arab Emirates
- Currency
- AED · United Arab Emirates Dirham
- Languages
- Arabic
- Time zone
- Gulf Standard Time
- Local time now
- Calling code
- +971
The atlas
Dubai in figures
Climate
The weather in Dubai, month by month
- Jan23°
- Feb24°
- Mar27°
- Apr31°
- May35°
- Jun37°
- Jul39°
- Aug39°
- Sept37°
- Oct34°
- Nov29°
- Dec25°
- Mild to warm and dry
- Mild to warm, humid or showery
- Hot
- Cool
- Wet
- Cold
Good for going, on these averages: November to April.
Mean highs run from 23°C in January to 39°C in August, with about 85 mm of rain in a year.
These are modelled averages for 2001–2020; the seasons described above are our own reading of a typical year.
Month-by-month climate for DubaiModelled averages for an area about 50 km across, not a weather station's record: NASA POWER climatology, 2001–2020.
On the map
Places near Dubai
From the journal
Related reading
How it works
Dubai International's terminals explained: T1, T2 and T3
Which airlines use which terminal at DXB, how the gates are laid out, how to move between terminals, and how to reach each one by Metro, bus or taxi.
Updated 29 September 2026 · 7 min read
Family travel
Flying from Dubai Airport with a baby or toddler: what to know
Baby milk at security, pushchairs to the gate, Smart Gates with children, baby care rooms at DXB, and Emirates' rules on bassinets, car seats and infant baggage.
Updated 29 September 2026 · 7 min read
How it works
Smart Gates and passport control at Dubai's airports, explained
Who can use the Smart Gates at DXB and DWC, how registration works, what the Red Carpet corridor and Emirates' biometric path are, and how Abu Dhabi and Sharjah compare.
Updated 29 September 2026 · 7 min read
In pictures: Dubai
Plan this trip: Dubai
Open the trip builder with Dubai already filled in. Flights, stays and everything else are priced together in one quote, prepared by a person on our team.
