Dubai in January is warm rather than hot: the official average high is 24.0°C and the low 13.7°C, with 1.8 rain days and 11.3mm of rain across the month. It is the coolest month of Dubai’s year, which is exactly why it suits sightseeing, the beach and the desert in one trip. A Dubai city break with return flights from London costs from £579 per person in January 2027 — less than December on every Dubai package we sell. The visa is free on arrival for British passport holders, and Dubai is four hours ahead of the UK in winter.
Want Dubai priced for January?
Tell us your dates and how many nights you have. We will price the flights and hotel together and confirm everything in writing before you pay.
The short answer
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| Average high in January | 24.0°C — the coolest month of the year |
| Average low | 13.7°C |
| Rain | 1.8 rain days, 11.3mm across the month |
| Daylight | About 10¾ hours in mid-January |
| City break, January 2027 | From £579pp with return flights from London |
| January or December? | January is cheaper on every Dubai package we sell |
| Visa (UK passport) | Free on arrival, up to 90 days in 180 |
| Time difference | 4 hours ahead of the UK in winter |
| Deposit | £99 per person |
What is the weather like in Dubai in January?
January is the coolest month of the year in Dubai, and for most British visitors that makes it one of the best. These are the World Meteorological Organization’s averages for Dubai’s weather station, covering 1974–1991.
| Month | Average high | Average low | Rain days | Rainfall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| December | 26.2°C | 15.4°C | 2.0 | 14.3mm |
| January | 24.0°C | 13.7°C | 1.8 | 11.3mm |
| February | 24.6°C | 14.5°C | 3.7 | 35.7mm |
| March | 27.9°C | 17.0°C | 3.8 | 22.4mm |
| July, for comparison | 40.6°C | 28.9°C | 0.1 | 0.0mm |
Is Dubai hot in January?
Warm, not hot. A 24°C afternoon is comfortable for walking around the Marina or along the beach, which is impossible in summer, when the average high in July is 40.6°C. The evenings are the part people underestimate: the average low is 13.7°C, the lowest of the year, so a light jumper or jacket for dinner outside is sensible.
Does it rain in Dubai in January?
Rarely. January averages 1.8 rain days and 11.3mm of rain over the whole month. Dubai’s wetter months come just after it — February has the most rainfall of the year, 35.7mm, and March the most rain days, 3.8 — so if dry weather matters more than anything, January is a slightly safer bet than either.
How long are the days?
In mid-January the sun rises at about 7:05am and sets at about 5:50pm local time — around 10¾ hours of daylight, calculated for Dubai’s position. That is plenty for a beach morning and a city afternoon, but it is worth booking a sunset visit to the Burj Khalifa’s observation deck for late afternoon rather than early evening.
How much is a holiday to Dubai in January?
These are our lead-in prices per person, based on two sharing, with return flights from London, for January 2027, set against December 2026 on the same package.
| Holiday | Nights | January 2027 | December 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dubai city break | 3, 4 or 5 | £579pp | £649pp |
| Dubai & Bali | 10 (3 + 7) | £1,449pp | £1,599pp |
| Mauritius & Dubai | 10 or 12 | £1,749pp | £1,999pp |
| Dubai & all-inclusive Maldives | 10 (3 + 7) | £2,399pp | £2,799pp |
January is cheaper than December on all four — by £70 per person on the city break and by £400 on the Dubai and Maldives pairing. On the city break and the Mauritius twin centre, the January figure is the lead-in for the package; the exact price for the number of nights you choose is confirmed when you enquire.
What is included. Every package includes return flights from London and a 4★ hotel in Dubai — the Hilton Garden Inn Dubai Mall of the Emirates, Rove Downtown or Novotel Al Barsha, or similar, depending on the package. The two-centre trips add the flights between the stops; the Maldives pairing includes the seaplane or speedboat transfer to the island and seven nights all-inclusive there. Meal arrangements in Dubai are confirmed in writing before you pay.
Dubai in January or December?
The weather is close — December averages 26.2°C to January’s 24.0°C, with a similar handful of rain days — so the real difference is price. On the city break, January 2027 is £579pp against £649pp in December 2026, and on the Dubai and Maldives pairing it is £2,399pp against £2,799pp. If your dates can move past the Christmas and New Year week, January is the better-value way to have the same weather.
And February? The city break is £599pp in February 2027, £20 more than January, and February is Dubai’s wettest month by rainfall. It is still a good month; it is simply not better than January on either count.
For the rest of the December picture, our where is hot in December guide ranks Dubai against seventeen other places.
What to do in Dubai in January
January is the month to do the outdoor things that are unbearable in summer.
The Burj Khalifa and Dubai Mall. The two sit side by side, so they make one easy day. The observation decks are best in the late afternoon, for the city at sunset.
Dubai Marina. The Dubai of towers and waterfront promenades, and the best place for an evening walk when the temperature drops.
Palm Jumeirah. The palm-shaped island is the classic Dubai sight beyond Downtown.
The beach. With afternoon highs around 24°C, a beach morning followed by an afternoon in the city is entirely realistic in January.
The desert. A desert safari is optional and paid locally on our packages, or we can quote one in advance. January is a comfortable month for it — far easier than the summer heat.
Dubai and a beach: what January means for the second stop
Two of our Dubai packages continue on to an island, and January is not the same month everywhere.
The Maldives is drying out. Malé averages 6 rain days and 114.2mm in January on the WMO’s 1981–2000 figures, down from 12 days and 216.8mm in December. Only February and March are drier on both measures. The Dubai and Maldives guide covers the pairing in detail.
Bali is at its wettest. January is the wettest month of the year in Denpasar on both measures — 27 rain days and 345mm on the WMO’s 1961–1990 figures — though the average high stays at 33.0°C. The Dubai and Bali package is £1,449pp in January 2027 and £1,249pp in May 2027, Bali’s drier season, so for that trip January is neither the cheapest month nor the driest.
Mauritius is in its wetter season. The Plaisance station averages 16 rain days and 237mm in January on the 1971–2000 figures, against 10 rain days in each of September, October and November. The average high is 29.8°C.
Who is Dubai in January for, and who should look elsewhere?
It suits anyone who wants winter sun without heat they cannot sleep in: couples, families with children who would wilt in summer, and anyone who wants a city and a beach in the same week. The time difference is four hours, so jet lag is slight even on a long weekend.
Look elsewhere if you want hotter beach weather. Dubai’s January high is 24°C; the Caribbean, the Maldives and Thailand are all warmer in January. Our where is hot in January and February guide compares eleven destinations across both months, and every long-haul trip we run through the winter is on the winter sun holidays page.
For a hotter beach in January, our Caribbean in January guide compares Barbados, St Lucia, Antigua and Jamaica.
If 24°C is not warm enough, our where is hot in January guide ranks eighteen places by January temperature and rain, from Langkawi and Thailand at 32–33°C to the Canaries at about 21°C.
Practical things worth knowing
Visa. GOV.UK says British visitors can get a visitor visa free of charge on arrival in the UAE, with no need to apply in advance, valid for up to 90 days over a 180-day period. Your passport must have an expiry date at least 6 months after the date you arrive.
Medicines. GOV.UK says visitors may bring up to three months’ supply of medication, and that some medicines need approval in advance from the UAE Ministry of Health, with a one-month limit for those. Check GOV.UK’s list before you pack anything prescribed.
Entry rules are GOV.UK’s guidance, checked on 1 October 2026. Check again before you travel, as they can change.
Time difference. Dubai is four hours ahead of the UK in winter and three hours ahead during British Summer Time, because the UAE does not change its clocks.
Booking and protection
Every Dubai holiday we sell is protected under ATOL 10713, and you receive an ATOL Certificate setting out what is covered. A deposit of £99 per person secures the booking. ATOL protects the money you pay if a travel company fails; it is not travel insurance, which is not included and which you should arrange when you book.
Frequently asked questions
What is the weather like in Dubai in January?
Warm and dry. The official average high is 24.0°C and the low 13.7°C, with 1.8 rain days and 11.3mm of rain across the month, on the World Meteorological Organization’s averages for Dubai. January is the coolest month of Dubai’s year, which makes it comfortable for sightseeing as well as the beach.
Is Dubai hot in January?
Warm rather than hot. Afternoons average 24.0°C, against 40.6°C in July, so January is comfortable for walking around the city and spending time on the beach. Evenings are cooler, averaging 13.7°C, so pack a light layer for eating outside.
Does it rain in Dubai in January?
Very little. January averages 1.8 rain days and 11.3mm of rain over the month. February has more rain — 35.7mm, the most of any month — and March the most rain days, at 3.8, so January is drier than either of the months that follow it.
How much is a holiday to Dubai in January?
Our Dubai city break costs from £579 per person in January 2027, based on two sharing, with return flights from London and a 4★ hotel. Two-centre trips cost more: Dubai and Bali from £1,449, Mauritius and Dubai from £1,749, and Dubai with the all-inclusive Maldives from £2,399 per person.
Is January or December cheaper for Dubai?
January, on every Dubai package we sell. The city break is £579 per person in January 2027 against £649 in December 2026, and the Dubai and Maldives pairing is £2,399 against £2,799. The weather is similar — December averages 26.2°C and January 24.0°C.
Is January a good time to go to Dubai?
Yes, for most people. It is the coolest month of the year, at an average high of 24.0°C, with very little rain, and it is cheaper than December. The main reason to look elsewhere is if you want hotter beach weather, which the Caribbean, the Maldives and Thailand all offer in January.
Can you swim in Dubai in January?
Yes — with afternoon highs averaging 24.0°C, a beach morning is realistic in January. Whether your hotel’s pool is heated is confirmed when you book, so tell us if it matters to you.
What should I pack for Dubai in January?
Summer clothes for the daytime, when highs average 24.0°C, and a light jumper or jacket for the evenings, which average 13.7°C. Sun cream still matters. If you take prescription medicine, check GOV.UK’s guidance first, as some medicines need approval in advance.
Do I need a visa for Dubai?
Not in advance. GOV.UK says British visitors get a visitor visa free of charge on arrival in the UAE, valid for up to 90 days over a 180-day period. Your passport must be valid for at least 6 months after the date you arrive. Checked on 1 October 2026.
What is the time difference between the UK and Dubai?
Dubai is four hours ahead of the UK in winter, including January, and three hours ahead during British Summer Time, because the UAE does not change its clocks.
Is Dubai and Bali a good trip in January?
The Dubai half is excellent in January, but Bali is in its wettest month, with 27 rain days and 345mm of rain on the WMO’s Denpasar figures. The package is £1,449 per person in January 2027 and £1,249 in May 2027, in Bali’s drier season, so May suits that trip better.
Is Dubai and the Maldives a good trip in January?
Yes. Dubai is at its coolest and the Maldives is drying out — Malé averages 6 rain days in January, down from 12 in December. The package, three nights in Dubai and seven all-inclusive in the Maldives, is £2,399 per person in January 2027, £400 less than December.
Ready to plan Dubai in January?
Tell us your dates and whether you want a city break or a beach as well. We will price it properly and send it through in writing.