United Arab Emirates, Middle East

Dubai in August

Same as July. Dubai Summer Surprises keeps the malls busy with sales and family programming.

Think twiceExtreme, highs near 106F (41C), humid

Towers and yachts of Dubai Marina — DubaiPhoto: Francisco Anzola, CC BY 3.0

The straight answer

August is a month to think twice about visiting Dubai. Same as July. Dubai Summer Surprises keeps the malls busy with sales and family programming.

Weather: Extreme, highs near 106F (41C), humid
Crowds: 2 of 5
Prices: 1 of 5

What August is like in Dubai

August is just like July: extreme heat, highs near 106F (41C), and thick coastal humidity. The outdoors is uncomfortable from mid morning to sunset. Inside, the city is fully open, and Dubai Summer Surprises keeps the malls busy with sales and family events. Hotel prices remain very low.

We recommend avoiding August unless you want a luxury hotel at a bargain price and plan to stay mostly indoors. Families can make it work with early swims, the indoor ski slope, and long mall days. For outdoor days, desert trips, and beach time, come back between November and March.

Make the most of August

What is especially good about Dubai this month.

Summer sales and shows

Dubai Summer Surprises runs into August, with deals and kids' programs at the big malls.

Indoor ski slope

Snow play in the middle of the desert summer is a big hit with kids.

Cheap resort stays

Beach resorts on the Palm and Jumeirah drop rates sharply.

What to pack for August

Light, breathable clothing
A light jacket for icy air conditioning
Strong sunscreen and sunglasses
A cooling towel for short outdoor walks

Our timing tip

Check whether your resort pool is shaded or chilled; in August it makes the difference between a nice swim and a hot bath.

Book Dubai for August.

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Hotels. Expedia
Hotels in Dubai
Opens a hotel search for Dubai in August, dates filled in. Book early for the best months: the good rooms go first.
Hotels for August
Vacation rentals. Vrbo
Vacation rentals in Dubai
Whole homes, condos and villas. Usually the better deal for families and groups, with a kitchen and room to spread out.
Rentals on Vrbo
Tours and tickets. Expedia
Tours and tickets in Dubai
Timed-entry tickets, day trips and guided tours in Dubai for August. Popular slots sell out in the best months.
Tours and tickets

What's on in August

Ramadan in Dubai

Dates shift about 11 days earlier each year; check the current window

The city stays fully open and most restaurants now serve through the day, but the rhythm softens until sunset, then flips festive: iftar tents, night markets, and late hours. Dress and public behavior lean more conservative for the month.

Dubai Summer Surprises

Roughly July into August

The summer counterpart to the shopping festival: mall-based sales, shows, and family programming built for the indoor season.

Things to do in Dubai

Full guide

Burj Khalifa observation decks

Book a sunset slot weeks ahead in high season, or take a morning slot for haze-free views at lower prices. The fountain show below runs in the evenings.

Official site ↗Tickets and tours →

A desert safari or overnight camp

The single most memorable thing most visitors do. Conservation-reserve operators offer a calmer, wildlife-forward alternative to dune-bashing convoys. Winter evenings in the desert get genuinely cool; bring a layer.

Tickets and tours →

Old Dubai: the creek, souks, and Al Fahidi

Cross the creek by abra water taxi for pocket change, then wander the gold and spice souks and the restored Al Fahidi lanes. Best in the cooler months and evenings.

Tickets and tours →

Dubai Mall and the fountain show

Less a mall than an indoor district, with the aquarium tunnel inside. The fountains fire in short evening shows; the bridge and lakeside terraces fill early.

Official site ↗Tickets and tours →

The beaches and Kite Beach

Public beaches are excellent and free, with the Burj Al Arab as a backdrop at Kite Beach and Sunset Beach. Swimmable sea from roughly October through May.

Tickets and tours →

Museum of the Future and Dubai Frame

The city's two boldest photo-architecture pieces, both with timed-entry tickets worth booking a few days ahead in season.

Official site ↗Tickets and tours →

Beat the crowds

Book the Burj Khalifa, brunches, and marquee restaurants one to three weeks ahead in high season; sunset observation slots and December weekends sell out first.
Do outdoor Dubai at the edges of the day even in winter: souks and the creek in the morning, desert at sunset, fountains and skyline at night. Midday is for pools and museums year-round.
January after the first week is the quiet trick inside high season: holiday crowds leave, the weather is the year's coolest, and the shopping festival keeps the city lively.
Visit the big malls on weekday mornings; evenings and weekends (Friday and Saturday here) are when the whole city shows up.

Know before you go

Summer is not a closure season, it is a relocation season: from June through September the city moves indoors, where malls, museums, aquariums, and the ski slope run at full strength while beach clubs scale back daytime service and some outdoor attractions shorten hours or pause. Hotel prices drop sharply, which is the entire summer opportunity.
During Ramadan, Dubai remains fully functional for visitors: attractions operate, most restaurants serve through the day, and evenings run late and festive. Live music pauses in many venues, alcohol service can be reduced, and the Eid holiday at the month's end brings packed hotels and regional crowds. Dates shift about 11 days earlier each year.
The weekend is Saturday and Sunday, with Friday midday prayers still shaping Friday hours at some businesses; big attractions run seven days.
Beach conditions are seasonal even though the sand never closes: the sea is warmest from roughly May through November and coolest in January and February, and lifeguarded beaches fly flag warnings on rough days.