Why we love Dubai in January 2022 – and we bet you will too!

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.

Note that in January 2022, Dubai & the UAE move to a Monday to Friday work week – many events previously advertised as “weekend” (Friday/Saturday) will now shift to Friday afternoon/Saturday/Sunday – please bear with us as we update this information throughout our website with new opening hour information.

FIND THE LATEST COVID-RELATED INFORMATION FOR DUBAI HERE

Dubai average weather in January

Dubai’s average day time 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 on average of 23.9°C (75°C). Maximum sea temperatures are expected of 25.9°C (77°F) through to a minimum 22°C (73°F).

Both rain and fog can commonly occur in January. There is little you can do to prepare for them 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 2022

• The Dubai Shopping Festival 28th Edition is held from 15 December 2021 to 30 January 2022 at venues all over the city.
• One of the family-favourite higlights is the free nightly DSF Drone Light Show which will take place nightly over Bluewaters Island at 7:00 Pm and 9:30 PM.
• The Dubai Marathon – cancelled in Janaury 2022 due to COVID. You can, however, still enjouy the Super Sports Run night series on 25 January 2022. The 3km/5km/10km event takes you past some of Dubai’s most iconic buildings.
• Chicago – the hit broadway stage show will be gracing us with some serious razzle dazzle at Dubai Opera from 5 to 15 January 2022.
• James Blunt on his Stars Beneath My Feet tour performing live at the Coca-Cola Arena on 29 January 2022.
• Expo 2020 Dubai rolls on throughout the month (open until 31 March 2022), with the main themes this month including travel and connectivity, Global Goals and Health and Wellness.

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Suggested Dubai activities in January

January is perfect for cooler weather activities, but possibly too cold for being in the water, so why not try Dubai from the sky while daytime temperatures are manageable?

• Enjoy an early morning hot air balloon ride over the Dubai Desert Conservation Reserve
• Take a helicopter flight over some of the city’s most iconic landmarks
• Take in the views from the newly opened Ain Dubai Observation Wheel – the largest in the world, of course!

If you’re still keen to hit the water in Dubai, these activities will keep you slightly drier in the winter!

• Take an action-packed jet ski tour on the Persian Gulf around many of the cities 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

**Note that some water parks do their annual maintenance in the coolest winter months, some rides and attractions may be closed. Check these dates with popular attractions such as Aquaventure, Wild Wadi, Legoland Dubai and Laguna Waterpark at La Mer before booking tickets to avoid any disappointment.

Places to visit in Dubai in January

Keeping with our theme of the great outdoors, we suggest in January in Dubai you visit:

• 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 Thu/Fri) 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.

Day Trips from Dubai in January

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:

• The Liwa Desert – head beyond Abu Dhabi and toward 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 north-east of Dubai & the UAE, jutting into the straight of Hormuz. Here you can sail by traditional boat amongst the giant mountainous that have earnt 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 heritgae sites. Situated in 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.

(NB, at time of writing there are renewed border crossing restrictions into Abu Dhabi Emirate from Dubai, you can learn more here)

Dubai with Kids in January

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 6’s 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 6 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.

Although the beach water can be sool this time of year, a fun place for kids to experience is the waterfront venue La Mer. From Laguna Waterpark to Roxy Cinemas, a skate park and fabulously colourful and instagrammable beach huts and kiosks it’s a lovely mild winter’s evening out.

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Check out the best things to do in every month in Dubai here

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