When to go to the United Arab Emirates

Don’t visit the UAE in June, July or August unless you want to spend most of your holiday confined to cars, hotels and shopping centres. The heat is intense, even after nightfall, and many cultural attractions simply close up altogether for the summer.

September is still very hot in the UAE, on a par with May, but manageable if you want to come at a time when there are not too many other tourists around. Many places however, such as Dubai’s Global Village, do not open until October when it starts getting a bit cooler.

November in the UAE is winter, and daytime temperatures are a generally pleasant 30°C or so. You’ll get the odd cloudy day and (whisper it) you might even see a bit of rain. From late November into January, the Sheikh Fayed Heritage Festival in Abu Dhabi showcases various events that celebrate the cultural heritage of the UAE through music, dance and song performances – a great place to pick up traditional handicrafts such as woven rugs and baskets, musical instruments and pottery.

In December, the two-week Al Dhafra Festival takes place in Abu Dhabi, with markets, horse and camel races, falconry displays and folk music performances rounding out the cultural calendar. December is the best month to visit the UAE, for ease of travelling around and getting the most from your daytime activities.

Ramadan, the Islamic month of prayer and fasting, and Eid-al-Fitr, the three-day festival that sees families and friends come together to feast and celebrate afterwards, are taken very seriously in the UAE, and Eid can be a great time to visit.

Despite ranking among the most water-starved countries in the world (less than 100mm average rainfall annually), the UAE also has one of the highest per capita water consumption rates in the world, 50 percent above the global average – and much of that is used by the tourism industry – swimming pools, bathing, watering gardens, laundry. So, don’t sing in the shower – at least, not Bohemian Rhapsody. Avoid hotels with several swimming pools or vast landscaped gardens, as well as water parks and indoor ski resorts that feel bizarrely incongruous in a desert country. Ignore the local customs. Compared to many other parts of the Middle East, the United Arab Emirates can seem relatively liberal, especially Dubai and Abu Dhabi, where you can drink alcohol in some hotels and restaurants, and the culture is quite cosmopolitan. But public displays of affection are generally frowned upon, you should dress modestly, and remember that it’s considered rude to point at anyone. Above all same-sex couples should be discreet. Same-sex sexual activity is punishable by the death penalty under Sharia law, and people can be prosecuted under public decency laws just for holding hands. Limit yourself to Dubai or Abu Dhabi. They may be the best-known cities, but they’re definitely not representative of the UAE as a whole. Spend a day or so in Sharjah, or Al Ain, to explore more traditional Arabic culture. And if browsing for designer clothes in frosty-fresh shopping centres isn’t your thing, you can get your kicks out in the desert, hiking, zip lines and camping among the sand dunes.

“The best time of year to visit the UAE is from October to March, but September and April are still fine too. From June to August most people find it just too hot. The Global Village, which is Dubai’s main cultural venue, is open during this time.”

“It’s quite relaxed in Dubai, but obviously this is an Islamic country so it’s nice for travellers to respect our customs here. Clothing for instance – it’s recommended to cover up, and that is especially the case at religious sites.”

“In Dubai there are many nationalities and many restaurants catering to them, so you can try cuisines from around the world. As for Arabic cuisine, our recommendation would be to try biryani, a spicy meat, rice and cashew nut meal which is the national dish in the UAE.”

“Ras al Khaimah is a hidden gem for families and well worth the visit from Dubai. We know it as RAK, and it has sandy beaches, a desert and lots of adventurous activities including the world’s longest zip line, a via ferrata and hiking. Overnight desert safari camps are also popular here which give you a dose of culture as well as the excitement of sleeping beneath the stars.”