Climate in the United Arab Emirates

Overview

The United Arab Emirates has a typical, subtropical climate with hot and humid summers and sunny, but cool winters.  There are no surprises in the country's weather though – no sudden afternoon showers threatening to play spoilsport with your day at the beach.

Seasons

There are two main seasons – summer and winter.  What passes for winter here is the three months between December and February when the temperatures cool down a few notches.  The nights can definitely be a little nippy, but there is warm sunshine throughout the day.  The rest of the year is bathed in sunshine, although the humidity levels outside – which can reach 80% on a bad day - can be punishing.  The worst temperatures are during May to August, the official summer season. 

The good news is that most hotels, malls, and public buildings will have air conditioning, so unless you are walking about in the daytime, the humidity is not really an issue.  Taxis are usually air-conditioned as well, so you'll find yourself stepping out of your cool hotel room through a comfortable air-conditioned cab to the chilly interiors of a shopping mall or museum. 

The best way to cope with the desert heat is to plan your day like the Italians do – get as much sightseeing and shopping as you can early in the morning, head back to the hotel, and then get out again in the early evening when the temperatures are more bearable.  

Beating the Heat

There's no need to worry about furnace-like conditions during your medical tourism vacation.  Most medical tourism facilities will all be air-conditioned, and hotels do an excellent job of cooling down swimming pools and handing out cold towels to sunbathers regularly.

Best Time to Visit

Even with the high humidity levels, summer is still the best time to visit the UAE.  The expatriates all seize this chance to head back home to visit family, and the malls and resorts are relatively quieter.  Many medical tourism hotels slash their fees by almost a third during this time.  Winter is official tourist season, and the city can be congested.  Avoid the Islamic holy month of Ramadan.  Most of the bars and clubs shut down for business, and liquor doesn't flow as freely for roughly a month.