Dubai in December: Festive Season, Weather & New Year's Eve
Updated August 2026
National Day on 2 December, the festive fortnight from mid-month and New Year’s Eve are the dates that shape a December trip. Daytime sits in the mid-20s Celsius throughout, so the weather is not the variable. Prices and crowds are. Early December gets you the same weather as the festive fortnight at softer rates; the second half of the month needs bookings made months out. Here is how the month runs and what to lock in when.
The weather: simply the best
Daytime temperatures sit in the mid-20s Celsius with plenty of sunshine. Evenings drop to the high teens, which means a light jacket for outdoor dinners; this is the one month a thin layer earns its place in the suitcase. The sea is cooler than in autumn but still swimmable for most visitors, and hotel pools are heated where it matters. Rain remains rare.
In practice, every plan that involves being outside (beach days, terrace dinners, desert trips, walking the Marina promenade) works all day long.
The month’s shape
Early December opens with UAE National Day on 2 December: a public holiday, flags everywhere, fireworks and events across the city. It is busy but manageable, and hotel prices have not yet hit their festive peak.
Mid-December onward the festive season proper begins. Malls and hotels go all-in on decorations, festive afternoon teas and special menus, and the city’s restaurants fill with celebration dinners. The rooms in our special-occasion guide are booked out weeks ahead through this period.
New Year’s Eve is the city’s biggest night. Fireworks fire from several locations. The Burj Khalifa show is the famous one, but displays around the Palm, the Marina and JBR waterfront and the Festival City area draw their own crowds. Every venue with a view prices a premium gala package, roads around Downtown close in the evening, and getting home after midnight takes patience. Book NYE dinner as early as you can (the best rooms go months out) and have a transport plan that does not depend on finding a taxi at 1am.
What to do in December
Everything in the things to do guide is at its best this month, but December specifically rewards:
Outdoor everything. Beach clubs and pool days in mid-20s temperatures; the beach clubs guide covers the picks. Terrace season is in full swing at the rooftop restaurants and sky bars.
Desert trips at their peak. Cool, clear evenings make December the best month for an overnight desert stay. Formats are in the desert safari guide.
Family season. School holidays make December the biggest family-travel month. The Dubai with kids guide and the water parks guide will save you queue time; book timed tickets ahead.
Old Dubai on foot. Souk-hopping and a walk along the Creek are miserable in summer and a pleasure in December. The Deira and Old Dubai guide has the route.
Booking strategy for December
- Flights and hotels: book months ahead for the festive fortnight; early December is the value window inside the month.
- Restaurants: two to four weeks ahead for signature rooms in normal December weeks; NYE and Christmas-period dining as early as the venue allows.
- Experiences: timed slots for headline attractions a week ahead; desert safaris a few days ahead.
- New Year’s Eve: decide early between a gala dinner, a fireworks-view venue or a quiet night. Each is a different booking, and all of them sell out.
If your dates are flexible, weigh December against November: nearly the same weather, meaningfully lower prices, none of the festive crush. The full year-round comparison is in the best time to visit guide.
Plan your trip
Some links below are affiliate links: if you book through them we may earn a small commission, at no extra cost to you. How this works.
Find Dubai hotels for December Browse Dubai festive-season experiences See Dubai tours on Viator Book Dubai attractions on Klook Book an airport transfer to DubaiEvent programmes and firework arrangements change every year. Verify current details with official listings and venues before you book. Prices in December move fast; treat all figures as orientation.
