Dubai · United Arab Emirates
December
Peak season at full intensity — perfect weather, Dubai Shopping Festival launches, NYE fireworks at Burj Khalifa are world-class.
Strong option
#6 of 12 months
There are better months for Dubai — see the full ranking below.
See when to go instead →Climate
High
25°C
Low
15°C
Rain
15mm
Sun
9.8hrs/day
30-year climate normals · Open Meteo ERA5
How December scores in Dubai
Weather
Outstanding
Value
Low
Crowds
Low
Events
Outstanding
Atmosphere
Outstanding
What you gain in December
- ↑Dubai Shopping Festival begins late December — one of the world's largest shopping and entertainment events, with outdoor concerts and city-wide programming
- ↑New Year's Eve Burj Khalifa fireworks are among the most spectacular on earth; book any vantage point months in advance
- ↑Weather is near-perfect for the entire month: warm days, cool evenings, low humidity — everything Dubai promises finally delivered
What you sacrifice
- ↓Peak season pricing: hotel rates at their annual maximum, popular restaurants booked weeks in advance
- ↓The city is at its most crowded of the year — Downtown Dubai, JBR, and the Marina are genuinely packed over the holiday period
- ↓New Year's Eve specifically requires extreme advance planning for any accommodation or dining near Downtown
How December compares to January (best month)
| Factor | December | January ★ |
|---|---|---|
| Weather | 9 | 9 |
| Value | 2 | 5 |
| Crowds | 2 | 5 |
December in other destinations
Lisbon (14.4°C)Barcelona (13.8°C)Tokyo (12°C)Bali (30.3°C)Santorini (14.5°C)Paris (6.9°C)New York (5.1°C)Marrakech (18.1°C)Amsterdam (6.4°C)Maldives (30°C)Rome (11.7°C)Bangkok (30.4°C)Istanbul (9.4°C)Vienna (3°C)Seoul (3.7°C)Dubrovnik (11.6°C)Rio de Janeiro (29.5°C)Kyoto (11.3°C)Phuket (31.8°C)Cape Town (25.6°C)Prague (3°C)Amalfi Coast (13°C)Mexico City (21°C)Medellín (28°C)Fiji (30°C)London (8°C)Sydney (26°C)Iceland (2°C)Tulum (28°C)Singapore (30°C)Hoi An (24°C)
Climate data: 30-year normals (1991–2020) from Open Meteo ERA5 reanalysis. Scores compare months within Dubai, not across destinations. Methodology →