What to Wear in Dubai
UAE · 9 monthly packing guides
Dubai is built around two distinct wardrobes: outdoor 38-42°C / 100-108°F covered-and-loose, and indoor 18°C / 64°F mall AC requiring an actual sweater. The Emirati dress code informs the visitor register: covered shoulders and knees in malls (Dubai Mall, Mall of the Emirates, City Walk), government areas, and traditional neighborhoods (Bastakiya, Al Fahidi). The wardrobe answer is the desert principle — full-coverage loose fabric in light colors beats minimal tight fabric for thermal comfort. Linen kaftans, rayon maxi dresses, wide-leg cream trousers, long-sleeve sun-protection tops. Bouguessa (UAE-based contemporary modest-luxury, founded 2014), The Giving Movement, and Reemami carry the local vocabulary; Galeries Lafayette Dubai Mall stocks the international register. Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque (Abu Dhabi day trip) requires full-coverage abaya — loaned at the entrance.
Choose your month below to match your layers and shoes to the weather. Across the months covered, average daily lows reach 15°C / 59°F in January; average highs reach 42°C / 108°F in July.
Compare Dubai by month
Monthly averages help compare packing needs; check the forecast before departure. Only months with published guides are listed. See the source notes below for station and measurement differences. Scroll across the table to see all weather details on a small screen.
| Month | Average low | Average high | Rain days | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January packing guide | 15°C / 59°F | 24°C / 75°F | 2 | 10h 45m |
| February packing guide | 17°C / 63°F | 26°C / 79°F | 2 | 11h 20m |
| May packing guide | 25°C / 77°F | 38°C / 100°F | 0 | 13h 25m |
| June packing guide | 28°C / 82°F | 41°C / 106°F | 0 | 13h 35m |
| July packing guide | 30°C / 86°F | 42°C / 108°F | 0 | 13h 30m |
| August packing guide | 30°C / 86°F | 42°C / 108°F | 0 | 12h 50m |
| October packing guide | 25°C / 77°F | 36°C / 97°F | 0 | 11h 35m |
| November packing guide | 21°C / 70°F | 31°C / 88°F | 1 | 10h 55m |
| December packing guide | 17°C / 63°F | 26°C / 79°F | 2 | 10h 35m |
Choose your Dubai packing list
Dubai in January: 24°C / 75°F afternoons, 15°C / 59°F nights, the coolest month and one spent outdoors from before sunrise.
In this capsule: Beige oversized coach jacket; Grey V-neck cotton cardigan; Blue, cream and yellow striped cotton scarf.
Dubai in February: 26°C / 79°F afternoons, 17°C / 63°F nights, one ordinary week and then the expected start of Ramadan.
In this capsule: Dove-grey ribbed long-sleeve maxi dress; Cream longline tunic, mandarin collar; Light grey pleated wide-leg trousers.
Dubai in May: 38°C / 100°F afternoons, 25°C / 77°F mornings, 0 rain days — pre-summer Gulf heat builds.
In this capsule: Linen or rayon long-sleeve sun-cover top; Maxi dress or knee-length kaftan; Wide-leg cream or beige trousers.
Dubai in June: 41°C / 106°F afternoons, 28°C / 82°F mornings, 0 rain days — Gulf summer begins, Eid al-Adha lands.
In this capsule: Linen or rayon long-sleeve sun-cover (multiple); Knee-length kaftan + maxi dress; Wide-leg cream or beige trousers (2 pairs).
Dubai in July: 42°C / 108°F afternoons, 30°C / 86°F mornings, 60% humidity — peak Gulf summer, Dubai Summer Surprises sale.
In this capsule: Linen or rayon long-sleeve sun-cover (3+); Kaftan + 2 maxi dresses (bright reflective colors); Wide-leg cream trousers (2+ pairs).
Dubai in August: 42°C / 108°F afternoons, 30°C / 86°F mornings, 60% humidity — peak Gulf summer continues, DSS finale weekend.
In this capsule: Linen or rayon long-sleeve sun-cover (3+); Kaftan + 2 maxi dresses (bright reflective colors); Wide-leg cream trousers (2+ pairs).
Dubai in October: 36°C / 97°F afternoons, 25°C / 77°F nights, and the month the evenings come back while the afternoons stay summer.
In this capsule: Pale sand long-sleeve mock-neck sun top; Ivory open-front cotton cardigan; Khaki-tan pleated high-waist trousers.
Dubai in November: 31°C / 88°F afternoons, 21°C / 70°F nights, and the month the city moves back outdoors.
In this capsule: Eucalyptus-green quick-dry tee; Black slim jogger trousers, cuffed; Grey mesh running shoes.
Dubai in December: 26°C / 79°F afternoons, 17°C / 63°F nights, two holidays and the first evenings that ask for a sweater.
In this capsule: Cream V-neck cardigan; Black oversized long-sleeve shirt dress; Pistachio V-neck silk shell.
Climate sources by month
These credits follow the source recorded on each monthly guide. Climate figures inform the packing advice; outfit combinations and illustrations are editorial suggestions.
- January: NOAA NCEI · Dubai International Airport · 1991–2020 normalsthe UAE National Center of Meteorology operates the station; NOAA NCEI computed this month's figures from its 41194099999 global-summary-of-the-day record, 30 complete Januaries. Recorded per month because the rest of this city's pages are sourced differently.
- February: NOAA NCEI · Dubai International Airport · 1991–2020 normalsthe UAE National Center of Meteorology operates the station; NOAA NCEI computed this month's figures from its 41194099999 global-summary-of-the-day record, 30 complete Februaries for temperature; rain comes from the 23 Februaries whose real daily reports cover at least 90% of the days (GSOD writes an unreported day as 0.00 flagged I), rain days counted at 0.01 in or more. Recorded per month because the rest of this city's pages are sourced differently.
- May: UAE National Center of Meteorology · monthly climate averages
- June: UAE National Center of Meteorology · monthly climate averages
- July: UAE National Center of Meteorology · monthly climate averages
- August: UAE National Center of Meteorology · monthly climate averages
- October: NOAA NCEI · Dubai International Airport · 1991–2020 normalsthe UAE National Center of Meteorology operates the station; NOAA NCEI computed this month's figures from its 41194099999 global-summary-of-the-day record, 30 complete Octobers, rain days counted at 0.01 in or more. Recorded per month because the rest of this city's pages are sourced differently.
- November: NOAA NCEI · Dubai International Airport · 1991–2020 normalsthe UAE National Center of Meteorology operates the station; NOAA NCEI computed this month's figures from its 41194099999 global-summary-of-the-day record, 30 complete Novembers. Recorded per month because the rest of this city's pages are sourced differently.
- December: NOAA NCEI · Dubai International Airport · 1991–2020 normalsthe UAE National Center of Meteorology operates the station; NOAA NCEI computed this month's figures from its 41194099999 global-summary-of-the-day record, 30 complete Decembers. Recorded per month because the rest of this city's pages are sourced differently.
Frequently asked questions
Start with your travel month. The 9 published guides cover January, February, May, June, July, August, October, November, December. Compare the average low as well as the high: among these months, January has the lowest average low at 15°C / 59°F, while July has the highest average high at 42°C / 108°F. For a trip spanning two months, read both lists before deciding which layers to bring.
No. They are monthly climate averages for planning, not temperatures promised for a particular day or hour. Check the local forecast close to departure and adjust your layers and rain protection. The source, station and averaging period are listed for each month where recorded; different stations or rain-day definitions can affect comparisons.
No. Treat the capsule as a set of clothing functions: walking shoes, a base outfit, weather protection and any change for dinner or a venue's dress code. Start with equivalents you own. Adjust quantities to your trip length and laundry access; the illustrations are outfit suggestions, not a shopping requirement.