What to Wear in Dubai in December

Pack for the evenings. NOAA's figures for Dubai International Airport give December 26.5°C by day and 17.4°C at night across 1991–2020, with about 10mm of rain over one or two days, and the National Center of Meteorology says the cooling steepens after 23 December, with fog and mist on humid mornings. Visit Dubai is specific: "Between December and February, it can sometimes get a little chilly in the evenings. Expect lows of around 14°C," and "a light sweater or a similar item of clothing should be enough." The month opens with the Eid Al Etihad celebrations and their fireworks and closes with New Year's Eve in Downtown, where last year's roads began closing at 4pm. Pack a cardigan for the city, something warmer for a night in the desert, and flat shoes for the long walk in.

The capsule

1. 
   01

   Cream V-neck cardigan

   Visit Dubai says December evenings "can sometimes get a little chilly" and that "a light sweater or a similar item of clothing should be enough". A cream V-neck cardigan is that sweater: over the shirt dress at 17.4°C after dark, over the silk shell in a cold mall, and folded into the bag at noon.

2. 
   02

   Black oversized long-sleeve shirt dress

   Emaar's free public viewing areas along Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Boulevard were first come, first served last year, which means hours on your feet from late afternoon to midnight. A long-sleeve shirt dress covers you in a family crowd and stays comfortable that long, and black takes the cream cardigan over it.

3. 
   03

   Pistachio V-neck silk shell

   December is the month to eat outside at lunch, when the airport averages 26.5°C. A silk shell is cool in the sun and goes under the cardigan once you move indoors, and pistachio is the one soft colour against the black, cream and plum.

4. 
   04

   Pale blue pleated wide-leg linen trousers

   A daytime trouser for the souks, the Creek and the festive market that Visit Dubai points to at Madinat Jumeirah. Wide linen covers your legs, stays cool at 26.5°C, and pale blue sits with the pistachio and the ivory scarf.

5. 
   05

   Black leather penny loafers

   For the last New Year's Eve, Emaar warned that road closures would begin "as early as 4 PM" and pointed visitors to the Metro, so the night starts with a long walk and ends with a longer one. Flat leather loafers handle both, and they look right with the black dress at midnight.

6. 
   06

   Dark plum oversized overshirt, patch pockets

   Visit Dubai warns that in the desert "temperatures can drop sharply once evening arrives" and tells overnight campers to bring plenty of warmer clothing. A heavy oversized overshirt goes over the cardigan by a campfire, and dark plum hides the dust of the dunes.

7. 
   07

   Ivory fringed scarf

   The National Center of Meteorology says humid December mornings bring fog and mist, and an ivory scarf takes the damp off your neck before it clears. It also covers your hair for a visit to Jumeirah Mosque, whose dress code asks women to cover arms, legs and hair.

8. 
   08

   Camel suede top-handle bag, chain strap

   Small enough for a crowd from 4pm to midnight, with room for a phone, a card and the scarf. Camel suede sits with the black dress and the cream knit, and a chain strap keeps it on your shoulder when your hands are full.

A suggested look — black long-sleeve shirt dress, cream v-neck cardigan, black penny loafers, ivory fringed scarf.

What to avoid

• Driving to Downtown on New Year's Eve — roads closed from about 4pm last year
• Glass, aerosols, tripods or big flags at Burj Park
• Summer clothes for a desert night — it drops sharply after dark
• Assuming Christmas is a day off — not a UAE public holiday
• Fixed plans for 2–3 December — the holiday dates are set each year