Weather in Dubai in December

How December compares

December is the 10th warmest month of the year in Dubai and ranks 32nd of 134 destinations we compare for December - see where else is hot in December. Within United Arab Emirates it is 1st of 2 (United Arab Emirates in December). Against London's average high of 7.7°C in December, Dubai is 18.5°C warmer by day and 12.8°C warmer at night.

Daytime and night-time in December

The typical December day in Dubai peaks at 26.2°C, but that is an average: the warmest 10% of days reach 29.4°C or more. About 68% of days top 25°C and 1 in 16 pass 30°C. Nights average 15.5°C; one night in ten drops to 11.9°C or lower, so pack a layer for evenings. Between 1991 and 2020 the hottest December day here reached 33.3°C (2016-12-05) and the coldest night 7.9°C (2013-12-26).

Rain in December

Dry (3 rainy days or fewer): about 1 days with 1 mm or more, 7 mm in total. Year to year it varies a lot - the wettest December was 2006 with 58 mm, the driest 1999 with 0 mm. Humidity averages 65%.

Sea temperature in December

The sea averages 24.4°C - warm enough to swim (22°c+). Depending on the year it ranges from 23.9°C to 25.1°C. For the warmest sea here, come in August (33.4°C).

Sunshine and daylight

Around 7.8 hours of sunshine a day (estimated from cloud cover), 10.4 hours of daylight: the sun rises about 06:56 and sets about 17:32 local time in mid-December. Average cloud cover is 25%.

Is December a good time to visit Dubai?

Yes - it is one of the better months: hot days, little rain and long sunny days. The best months for Dubai on our scoring are November, December, February; months averaging 25°C or more: Feb, Mar, Apr, May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep, Oct, Nov, Dec.

Warm days rather than relentless heat

December sits among Dubai's cooler months, but that still means weather suited to light daytime clothing. Days reach 25°C about 68% of the time, while only 6% reach 30°C. That makes it a sensible choice if you like warmth but do not want very hot afternoons to dictate your plans. Midday is still the time to be mindful of the sun, so keep shade breaks and sun protection in mind. If your idea of a winter holiday depends on consistently high heat, the trade-off is clear: December offers comfortable outdoor weather more reliably than it offers temperatures above 30°C.

Swimming weather, with shorter days to work around

The sea is warm enough for swimming, averaging 24.4°C, with a December range of 24°C to 25°C from year to year. That makes the water a strong reason to choose this month if swimming matters to your trip. Sunshine averages about 7.8 hours within 10.4 hours of daylight, so there is plenty of scope for outdoor time, but not the long light evenings of a UK summer. Plan swimming and relaxed time by the water for the warmer part of the day, then have something dry to change into as the air cools towards evening.

Little rain, but pack for cooler evenings

Rain is unlikely to dominate a December trip: the month averages about 1 rainy day. That supports making outdoor plans without building the whole holiday around wet-weather alternatives, though an average is not a promise of dry skies throughout your stay. Clothing for the temperature change matters more than heavy rain gear. Pack light clothes for daytime and a jumper or light jacket for evenings, when the average low is 15.5°C. The coldest 10% of nights fall to 11.9°C or below, so do not assume you will be comfortable sitting outdoors late in the same clothes you wore at midday.