"What your travel agent isn't telling you..." Top 5 Page for this destination Dubai Tourist Trap Tip by JessH

Travel agencies, hotels and airlines all have 1 thing in common when it come to inquiries about Dubai: They lie to you.
So here is the TRUTH about the REAL SUMMER TEMPERATURES
& the truth about REAL LIFE during RAMADHAN:
--> Trust me, I've lived here for 14 years and the city is on the edge of a desert after all... it gets HOT!!

1. SUMMER
If you are planning to spend lots of time perfecting your tan, dune-bashing in the desert & seeing the city, then summer is definitely NOT the time to visit.
Hotels & airlines will try to "lure" tourists with cheap flights & hotel packages, but that doesn't mean that you will enjoy your holiday.
From June onwards, daytime temperatures are always around 40 degrees Celsius = 104 F, and July is the hottest month with temperatures hovering around 45 C = 113 F, even reaching 50 C = 122 F!!! Average humidity is between 70 - 90% during the day, with September being a slightly cooler but the most humid month, with a regular 100% humidity. Because of the high humidity some people (especially the elderly) may experience difficulty breathing.

2. RAMADHAN (in Year 2012, approx. July 20th - Aug. 18th)
(again, cheap hotel offers lure tourists)
During the Islamic Holy Month, Muslims fast during sunlight hours (no food, water, smoking, chewinggum and also no sexual intercourse). At sunset they break the fast ('Iftar') & usually stay up very late & nap during the day.
Note: During the day, cafes/restaurants are closed (but supermarkets are open). Hotels will keep at least 1 indoor restaurant open for guests. Shopping malls/Souks open later in the day, but still serve no food/drink until after sunset. The Museum is also closed. No eating-drinking allowed in public (hotel beaches are usually ok though). No alcohol is served anywhere during the day. At night, pubs are open serving alcohol but no live music & no dancing. And remember that people may get a bit grumpy towards the end of the day, low blood sugar level or desperate for a cigarette!

So if you want to really experience Dubai during your holiday, Ramadhan is not the time for you.

Unique Suggestions: 1. SUMMER - You can survive a summer holiday up to your chin in a cold pool or at Wild Wadi Waterpark (the water is usually very cold there), but otherwise all you can do is sit in air-conditioned shopping malls. It's far too hot and uncomfortable to really enjoy a holiday in full.

2. RAMADHAN
Around town, there are many nice & pretty Ramadhan tents where you can eat typical Arabic dishes, smoke Sheesha and relax. It's a very traditional atmosphere and nice to experience.
TIP: If you want both action & tradition, why not visit Dubai just before or just after Ramadhan? That way, you have a few days of quite, cultural days and a few days of night-life & action!

Fun Alternatives:

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In terms of seasons/temperatures, to really enjoy the beaches and desert
the best time to visit Dubai is from October to May.
June to September is really very, very uncomfortable, hot and humid.
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Note that in December & January, it can get quite chilly in the evening and you may need a cardigan/light jacket. Also, Dubai is most likely to experience RAIN in January. For the past for example (2005-2008) we had many straight weeks of rain in December & January... you can imagine that the tourists were not impressed... ;-)