What's on in Dubai (UAE), United Arab Emirates through the year

Peak crowds — the editor's peak month, Global Village season

• Holiday

  Ramadan

  19 Feb – 19 MarClosures

  Eating and drinking in public during daylight stops, malls and restaurants shift their hours, and live music and beach clubs go quiet. The city comes alive after sunset instead. The dates move eleven days earlier each year. Source ↗

Still on: Global Village season (10 Oct – 31 May (usually)), Dubai Shopping Festival (8 Dec – 31 Jan (usually))

Peak crowds — the editor's peak month, Ramadan

Nothing new starts in February.

Still on: Ramadan (19 Feb – 19 Mar), Global Village season (10 Oct – 31 May (usually))

Busy — between the peaks, Ramadan

• Holiday

  Eid al-Fitr

  19–22 MarRamadan & EidCrowdedClosures

  A four-day weekend that fills the hotels with regional visitors and the malls with everyone else. Rates jump and restaurant tables need booking. Source ↗

• Festival

  Dubai World Cup

  28 MarCarnivalCrowdedBook early

  The world's richest race night closes the winter carnival at Meydan on the last Saturday in March, with a dress code taken seriously and the roads around Nad Al Sheba solid from mid-afternoon. Source ↗

Still on: Ramadan (19 Feb – 19 Mar), Global Village season (10 Oct – 31 May (usually))

Busy — between the peaks, Global Village season

Nothing new starts in April.

Still on: Eid al-Fitr (19–22 Mar), Dubai World Cup (28 Mar), Global Village season (10 Oct – 31 May (usually))

Quiet — the editor's quiet month, Global Village season

• Season

  Outdoor season closed

  15 May – 30 Sep · usuallyExtreme heatClosures

  Global Village and most open-air venues shut, beach clubs cut hours, and the city runs between air-conditioned buildings. Hotel rates fall to their annual low, which is the one argument for coming.

Still on: Global Village season (10 Oct – 31 May (usually))

Quiet — the editor's quiet month, school holidays in 3 of the markets that fill it

• Festival

  Dubai Summer Surprises

  2 Jul – 30 AugMajor festival

  The summer sale season: mall discounts, indoor entertainment and raffles through the emptiest months. It exists to give people a reason to be indoors in Dubai in July. Source ↗

Still on: Outdoor season closed (15 May – 30 Sep (usually))

Quiet — the editor's quiet month, Summer break in United Arab Emirates

Nothing new starts in July.

Still on: Outdoor season closed (15 May – 30 Sep (usually)), Dubai Summer Surprises (2 Jul – 30 Aug)

Quiet — the editor's quiet month, Summer break in United Arab Emirates

Nothing new starts in August.

Still on: Outdoor season closed (15 May – 30 Sep (usually)), Dubai Summer Surprises (2 Jul – 30 Aug)

Quiet — the editor's quiet month, school holidays in 3 of the markets that fill it

Nothing new starts in September.

Still on: Outdoor season closed (15 May – 30 Sep (usually))

Busy — between the peaks, Global Village season

• Opening

  Global Village season

  10 Oct – 31 May · usuallySummer season opensCrowded

  The open-air pavilion park reopens in mid-October and runs to late May, which is as good a marker as any for when Dubai becomes an outdoor city again. Weekend evenings are extremely busy. Source ↗

• Festival

  Dubai Fitness Challenge

  31 Oct – 29 NovMajor festivalClosures

  Thirty days of free classes and pop-up fitness villages across the city, with the Dubai Run closing Sheikh Zayed Road one Sunday morning and the Dubai Ride doing the same in November. Source ↗

Peak crowds — the editor's peak month, Global Village season

Nothing new starts in November.

Still on: Global Village season (10 Oct – 31 May (usually)), Dubai Fitness Challenge (31 Oct – 29 Nov)

Peak crowds — the editor's peak month, Global Village season

• Holiday

  UAE National Day

  2–3 DecNational holidayCrowdedClosures

  Two public holidays on 2 and 3 December, with fireworks, air displays and flags on every car. Roads round the main corniches close and the malls are full. Source ↗

• Festival

  Dubai Shopping Festival

  8 Dec – 31 Jan · usuallyMajor festivalCrowded

  Six weeks of discounts, nightly fireworks and raffles across the malls and the older souks, running from December into late January. It is the peak of the visitor season as much as a sale. Source ↗

Still on: Global Village season (10 Oct – 31 May (usually))