Dubai Guide
A city built along one road, where the season decides whether you live outdoors or indoors.
From November to March everything happens outside — beach clubs, terraces, desert camps. From June to September the heat pushes life into malls and interiors, and the hotel rates fall accordingly. Ramadan reshapes hours and dining every year, so check the dates before booking.
Dubai business directoryMarina to the desert, end to end
Illustrated
Drawn by hand for the KEY2 Dubai guide
Where to stay
Hotels
The KEY2 list
Happy Hour
Daylight
Hotel Pools & Pool Clubs
Eat
Best Food
Mornings
Breakfast & Brunch
Recover
Health & Wellness
After dark
Nightlife
Arenas
Sports
Tonight
Concerts & Comedy
Say it here
Weddings
Book the room
Event Spaces
Experiences
100 Other Things To Do
Dubai explained
Hour-by-hour plans drawn by hand — pick one and follow it from first coffee to last call.
24 Hours in Dubai
A tight loop through Downtown's icons, a desert sunset and a rooftop nightcap.
48 Hours in Dubai
Two days balancing Downtown icons, Marina nightlife and a beach-resort reset.
Dubai travel guide
The practical layer: when to come, how to arrive, how to move, where to base yourself and what it costs.
Best time to visit
November to March brings comfortable daytime temperatures in the low-to-mid 20s Celsius, ideal for outdoor dining, desert excursions and beach time before summer heat sets in.
Getting in
Dubai International Airport (DXB) sits about 20 to 30 minutes from Downtown Dubai. The Dubai Metro Red Line runs directly from the airport to the city centre for around AED 8; a taxi costs AED 60 to 90 depending on destination and traffic.
Getting around
The Dubai Metro is clean, air-conditioned and covers the main tourist corridor along Sheikh Zayed Road, with fares from AED 3 to 8.50 depending on distance travelled. Taxis and rideshare are inexpensive and widely used for point-to-point trips, especially in summer heat. Distances between areas like Downtown, Marina and Old Dubai are significant, so a rental car or regular taxis suit visitors covering multiple districts.
What it costs
Mid-range hotel: AED 600 to 1,100 a night. Dinner for two: AED 250 to 450. A Metro fare is AED 3 to 8.50; a short taxi hop runs AED 20 to 35.
Where to stay
- Downtown Dubai
- Near Burj Khalifa and Dubai Mall, best for first-time visitors wanting the skyline views.
- Dubai Marina / JBR
- Beachfront towers and promenade dining, popular with visitors prioritising the waterfront.
- Jumeirah
- Quieter, upscale beachfront area near Burj Al Arab, suits families and longer stays.
- Deira / Old Dubai
- Closer to the souks and creek, better value and a more traditional atmosphere.
Traveller tips
- Dress modestly in public areas, particularly in Old Dubai and religious sites; swimwear is fine on beaches and at pools only.
- Alcohol is served in licensed hotel bars and restaurants but not in most standalone eateries, and public intoxication is taken seriously.
- A 10% service charge plus VAT is often already added to restaurant bills, so check before tipping extra.
- Friday is the start of the weekend for many businesses; some shops and attractions open later that morning.
- Book desert safaris and dinner reservations at top restaurants a few days ahead, especially during the November to March high season.
- Public displays of affection and photographing people without permission are frowned upon and can cause offence.
The Dubai calendar
The dates that actually move prices, crowds and opening hours.
November
Season opens
Beach clubs, brunch programming and outdoor dining all restart as temperatures drop below 30°C.
December
Peak season & New Year's Eve
The most expensive fortnight of the year; Burj Khalifa fireworks close large parts of Downtown.
January
Dubai Shopping Festival
Six weeks of citywide sales and events with strong hotel demand into February.
March
Dubai World Cup & Art Dubai
Meydan racing and the art fair together mark the last big weekend before the heat.
June
Off season begins
40°C+ days; rates fall by half and daytime life moves entirely indoors.
Ramadan (shifts yearly)
Ramadan & Eid
Daytime dining is limited, evenings run late with iftar and suhoor menus; Eid brings the busiest domestic weekend.
Seasonal highlights
- Winter (Nov–Mar)
- 25–30°C, dry and clear — the reason the calendar is built around these months.
- Spring (Apr–May)
- Still comfortable early in the day; rates soften and beaches empty out.
- Summer (Jun–Aug)
- 40–45°C with high humidity; indoor attractions, malls and hotel deals dominate.
- Autumn (Sep–Oct)
- Heat breaks gradually; October is the smart-money month before season pricing returns.
Off-peak intel
- April, May and October give near-winter weather at close to summer pricing.
- Summer means five-star rooms for a third of December rates — plan around indoor hours.
- Friday and Saturday brunch is the local institution; book two weeks out in season.
- Desert trips and rooftops are worth doing at sunrise or after sunset, not midday.