Dubai in August: weather and what to expect
- Hottest month
- Summer festival
- Quieter city
- Summer offers
August is the last full month of summer; schools reopen at the end of the month.
- Avg. high
- 42 °C108 °F
- Avg. low
- 33 °C91 °F
- Sea
- 34 °C93 °F
- Rain
- Almost none
- Humidity
- 53% morning, 39% afternoon
- Feels like
- 46–53 °C115–127 °F
- Daylight
- 13 h 0 min
- Sunset
- 18:39–19:04
Is August a good time to visit Dubai?
Only for an indoor holiday: plan malls, museums and indoor attractions, and keep time outside to early morning and after dark. If your dates are flexible, late September or October makes time outdoors far easier.
Weather in August
The air feels heavy all day, even after sunset.
Good to know
- Dust and haze come on about 3 days a month: the horizon turns soft, and on windy days sand blows. Outdoor tours may be rescheduled.
- Drink water regularly and take a taxi or the metro even for short distances: walking in the afternoon heat is exhausting.
- Glasses and camera lenses steam up when you step out of air-conditioning; give them a minute.
Sea and beaches
Bath-warmIt does not cool you down: swim early in the morning or in the evening, and use shaded pools at midday.
What to wear in August
- The lightest breathable clothes you have; light colours reflect the sun.
- A hat, sunglasses and SPF 50 for every walk outside, however short.
- A light layer for strongly air-conditioned malls, cinemas and taxis.
- A refillable water bottle.
Dress code all year
- In malls and other public places, cover shoulders and knees; many entrances show a dress-code sign.
- Swimwear is for beaches and pools only; cover up when you leave them.
- To visit a mosque, cover arms and legs; women also cover their hair. Some mosques lend suitable clothing.
- During Ramadan, dress a little more modestly in public.
What happens in August
- Dubai Summer Surprises usually ends at the end of August.
Views and sunset
Heat and dust often leave a haze over the city, so the horizon can look soft. The sharpest views tend to come after a windy day, and the city lights look best after dark.
For sunset at the top of Burj Khalifa, book an entry around 16:53, about two hours before sunset in the middle of the month.
Sunset times at At the Top →What to do in August
Places that suit this month’s weather:
Months with similar weather: June, July
Averages for 2006–2025: air at Dubai International Airport (NOAA GHCNh), sea off Jumeirah (NOAA OISST). Individual days can differ. Nights are about 2 °C warmer than in the official 1991–2020 averages; daytime highs match.