Everything you need to know about visiting Dubai this January
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January enjoys the mildest weather of the year, making it a popular time of year to visit Dubai and enjoy its many outdoor events and natural highlights.
The first week after the New Year is still quite busy, but you will find for the rest of January, there are fewer crowds than you’d ordinarily experience in Dubai in December, making it the ideal time to visit.
The weather is on the cool side for water-based activities – some water parks may close late in the month for annual renovations – but there are still plenty of things to enjoy around the city and beyond without the stifling heat of the hotter summer months.
Dubai Average Weather in January
Dubai’s average daytime maximum temperature in January is 24.2°C (76°F), with highs as much as 31.8°C (89°F) and overnight lows averaging 14.6°C (58°C).
In January, you should expect sea temperatures of 23.9°C (75°C) on average. Maximum sea temperatures are expected at 25.9°C (77°F) through to a minimum of 22°C (73°F).
Both rain and fog can commonly occur in January. There is little you can do to prepare for these natural occurrences, but if it rains, seek cover fast, as it can pour hard and fast but tends to clear quickly.
Fog tends to form overnight and burns off during the morning – do factor this in if you are planning an early morning Burj Khalifa visit – you may be looking out on a blanket of white, or with brilliant views of the skyscrapers poking through the clouds!
You can read our complete guide to Dubai Weather in January here, as well as our suggested ideas of what to pack for Dubai in January.
Dubai Special Events January 2026
- Many of the city’s festive events will continue until the first weekend in January – check our Christmas guide for dates.
- The Dubai Shopping Festival continues through until mid-January at venues across the city. Don’t miss the nightly DSF Drone Light Show between JBR and Bluewaters Island (8:00 PM and 10:00 PM until 11 January)
- Experience Khalid Abdulrahman’s heartfelt Gulf melodies at Dubai Opera on the 4th of January.
- For cricket fans, the DP World International League T20 will conclude on 4th of January – Dubai Cricket Stadium
- Finish the festive season on January 11th with the Russian State Ballet’s Nutcracker at the Jumeirah Zabeel Saray.
- Find out ‘Who done it’ on board the QE2 with Agatha Christie’s ‘The Mousetrap’ on the 17th & 18th January.
- Dubai Desert Classic golf tournament will take place from 22 to 25 January 2026 – Emirates Golf Club
- Bringing live music, art exhibitions, dance shows, and more – the Quoz Arts Festival will be held 24-25 January 2026 – Alserkal Avenue, Al Quoz
- From the 28th January until the 15th February, hit musical Wicked will be live on stage at the Dubai Opera! Be sure to book early to avoid disappointment as it’s sure to be ‘Popular’!
- Emirates LitFest will be held from 21 -27 January 2026, absolutely packed with workshops, free and paid events – InterContinental Hotel and Mohammed Bin Rashid Library
- Comedian Rob Beckett takes to the stage at Dubai Opera on the 22nd January – be sure to book your tickets now for a night full of laughter!
- Children will love the stage adaptation of Julia Donaldson’s ‘Charlie Cook’s Favourite Book’ live at the Zabeel Theatre on the 25th January – Jumeirah Zabeel Saray.
- Sunday 25th January also sees Family Beatz -a family rave at the Al Habtoor Polo Resort, a fun way to spend the afternoon with arts, crafts, bubbles, glitter, face painting and so much more!
- Enjoy an early morning hot air balloon ride over the Dubai Desert Conservation Reserve
- Take the plunge over the most spectacular city skyline in the world with Skydive Dubai
- Take a ride on the newly reopened Ain Dubai observation wheel on Bluewaters Island
- Enjoy a helicopter flight over some of the city’s most iconic landmarks
- Are you a serious thrill seeker? Why not try ziplining over Dubai Marina
- Take an action-packed jet ski tour on the Arabian Gulf around many of the city’s top highlights
- Enjoy a thrilling speed-boat tour around Atlantis the Palm and Burj Al Arab
- Something more sedate? Take a luxury yacht tour out of Dubai Marina
- Dubai Global Village – for a whirlwind trip around the globe and a feast of colour and magic hidden on the outskirts of Dubai. Entry is super cheap for the experience you get; open from 4:00 PM to midnight (1:00 AM on Fri/Sat) and Mondays for families & ladies only.
- Ras al Khor Wildlife Sanctuary – Open all year round but best visited in the cooler winter months when migratory bird numbers are at their peak. This is one of Dubai’s best outdoor nature experiences so close to the city where you can observe mangrove life and the most treasured guests, the pink flamingoes.
- Al Seef Waterfront – transitioning from old to new Dubai, the Al Seef Waterfront is a great new venue for dining creekside and watching the daily traffic pass, perfectly combined with a tour through the Al Fahidi District and the Dubai Museum.
- Enjoy a local favourite, Al Mamzar Beach Park, where families and friends gather, particularly at weekends, to enjoy the greenery and open space – you can find a complete parks and gardens guide for Dubai here.
- The Liwa Desert – head beyond Abu Dhabi and toward the Saudi border to experience the rich red dunes of the empty quarter and historic forts from a bygone era. Best to go with an experienced 4×4 driver to tackle the giant dunes.
- The Musandam Peninsula – a whole other country in a day? Why not?! Musandam is our absolute favourite part of the Arabian Peninsula. It’s the tiny enclave of Oman that sits to the very northeast of Dubai & the UAE, jutting into the straight of Hormuz. Here, you can sail by traditional boat amongst the giant mountainous that have earned it the nickname “the Norway of Arabia” and enjoy dolphin spotting on a truly magical day out – best tackled with a guided tour to get you through the border crossing process.
- Visit the historic Oasis City of Al Ain – home to the UAE’s listed UNESCO World Heritage sites. Situated in the Abu Dhabi Emirate on the Oman border (south of Dubai), Al Ain is a treasure trove for culture-seekers. Birthplace of the country’s founding Father, Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nayhan, there are many museums and historic forts to explore, as well as the Al Ain Oasis and the 5000-year-old Jebel Hafeet beehive tombs.
- Pop into our essential planning information page, it includes everything you need to know about getting around Dubai, a handy guide on what to pack, and top tips for first-timers on the do’s and don’ts, laws, and customs to be aware of.
- Check out this incredible list of 150+ places you should visit when you’re in Dubai.
- Pick up a Dubai Pass from iVenture or a Go City Dubai Pass to save up to 50% on top Dubai attractions.
- Don’t forget to pack your travel insurance!!!
- Discover the best areas to stay in Dubai, or bag a bargain on your accommodation here:
Suggested Dubai Activities in January 2026
January is perfect for cooler-weather outdoor activities but possibly too cold for swimming, so why not try Dubai from the sky while daytime temperatures are manageable?
If you’re still keen to hit the water in Dubai, these activities will keep you slightly drier in the winter!
**Note that some water parks do annual maintenance in the coolest winter months; some rides and attractions may be closed in late January. Check these dates with popular attractions such as Aquaventure, Wild Wadi, and Legoland Dubai before booking tickets to avoid any disappointment.
Places to Visit in Dubai in January 2026
Keeping with our theme of the great outdoors, we suggest in January in Dubai you visit:
Day Trips from Dubai in January 2026
It’s a great time of year not only for exploring Dubai but exploring around the Emirates. We suggest January is the perfect time of year to make a day trip to:
Dubai with Kids in January 2026
Try one of the exquisite outdoor family Brunches for delectably delicious food and kids’ entertainment galore – from candy bars to bouncy castles. Most hotels will let under 6s in for FREE, and 6- to 12-year-olds eat at 50% off.
For a real treat, we highly recommend you try Bubbalicious at The Westin Dubai Mina Seyahi (also one of our top pick family hotels) or head out to Dubai Parks and Resorts to enjoy the Lapita Daycation package, including pool access.
Elsewhere across the city, a favourite for active kids is venturing out to Mushrif Park to see the International Village and take on the ropes courses and ziplines at Aventura – courses are ideal from about six years old plus, or they have a juniors area too.
If you happen to catch a rainy day, check out these indoor trampoline centres and multisports venues in Dubai or our complete list of indoor venues.
More Frequently Asked Questions About Dubai in January
It is possible to experience rain in Dubai during January. It can be difficult to predict in advance, but Dubai can experience occasional winter thunderstorms. The city averages between 10-20mm of rainfall in January. There can also be cloud seeding activity, which increases the possibility of rain.
A heavy downpour may be experienced during your January trip to Dubai but it certainly won’t put a dampener on your whole trip, with plenty of blue skies on the forecast. We wouldn’t go packing an umbrella ‘just in case’; a sun hat and sunscreen will be far more useful.
This depends on where you’re heading and what you’re doing. In the city of Dubai, you can expect mild days to around the mid-20s, and cooler evenings when you might feel more comfortable in jeans and a pullover.
If you are heading to the mountains of the desert overnight, it can be substantially cooler than on the coast, so you’ll want some warmer layers (though, in truth, it rarely goes below 10°C, which most visitors would still consider very mild for January!)
We’d argue that January is the best month to visit Dubai, especially if you’re not a big fan of the heat and want to explore more of Dubai’s outdoor attractions.
The major crowds in Dubai normally dissipate within a week of New Year’s. The rest of January is busy but manageable (though we suggest if you’re a visitor, avoid key attractions on weekends if you don’t like queues!)
January is on the cool side for a beach or water park vacation, but you’ll find hotels with heated pools you can still use.
Check out the best things to do in every month in Dubai here
Before you go… More important things you should know when planning a trip to Dubai
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