Dubai is a great winter-sun sell for the British tourist, with January temperatures averaging 24C.
July and August can be extremely hot, but shopping malls, hotels, restaurants, taxis and indoor attractions are all air conditioned.
The average rainfall for Dubai is just 13cm per year.
The beaches are beautiful, with fine, white sand and great facilities such as beach bars and water sports. These are perfect for families and provide safe bathing for children, with gently sloping beaches leading into crystal-clear, calm, blue waters.
Water sports
Dubai offers a wide range of sports including horse-racing and some top international golf courses, but a big attraction for many tourists is the water sport.Scuba diving: the waters around Dubai are warm enough for diving without wetsuits and are safe for beginners. More experienced divers will find wrecks that attract a huge variety of tropical fish plus coral and reef diving. Several clubs offer scuba diving courses and facilities while some beach hotels have dive centres.
Sailing and windsurfing: conditions are near-perfect for sailing, with a wide variety of boats available, such as fixed keel, dinghy and board sailing. The winds offer a safe environment for learning to windsurf, plus more challenging conditions for those who want them. Most beach hotels can organise these sports and there are a number of sailing clubs.
Water-skiing: Dubai is very popular for water-skiing. The warm waters and year-round sunshine offer perfect conditions for beginners and experienced skiers alike. Most beach hotels have facilities.
Deep-sea fishing: the warm waters of the Gulf attract a large variety of fish to the sea around Dubai and half- and full-day fishing tours can be booked through most hotels.
Wild Wadi: this is the wildest water theme park ever – it’s 12 acres of fun with 30 rides and attractions. Situated between the Burj Al Arab and the Jumeirah Beach Hotels, it’s just a 20-minute drive from the city centre
Further information
>>Dubai: city highlights
>>Dubai: in the desert
>>Dubai: future attractions
>>Dubai: getting there
>>Dubai: agent training programme
>>Dubai: hotel reviews
