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Answered · 7 minute read

How cold Dubai gets: the weather in December and January

Dubai weather in December and January means daytime air of about 24°C, nights around 15°C, sea temperature near 22°C and roughly four rainy days across the two months combined. It is the coolest part of the year here and it never becomes cold by any European measure — but offshore after dark, with wind over a moving deck, it feels close to 18°C and people consistently underdress for it.

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The towers of Dubai Marina rising over the water on a clear day

The short version

  • Daytime air: about 24°C in both months. Nights: about 15°C inland, milder on the coast.
  • Sea temperature: around 22°C. Swimmable, and a decision rather than a default.
  • Rain: roughly four days across December and January combined, usually brief.
  • Offshore after sunset feels about 18°C once wind over the deck is counted.
  • Mornings are the calmest water of the year on this coast.

The numbers for December and January

Daytime highs sit around 24°C in both months, occasionally reaching 27 and occasionally not passing 21. Overnight lows are about 15°C, a little higher right on the coast than out in the desert. Humidity is low compared with the summer, which is why 24°C here in January feels considerably more pleasant than 24°C here in October.

The sea is around 22°C. That is cool enough that most people hesitate on the ladder and warm enough that almost everyone gets in anyway. It is nothing like a northern European sea at any time of year.

Rain is the smallest number on the page: roughly four days across the two months, and usually an hour of it rather than a day. What that means for a booking is in what happens if it rains on your charter.

  • Day: ~24°C. Night: ~15°C. Sea: ~22°C.
  • Rain: about four days across both months, usually brief.
  • Humidity: low, which is the real difference from October.
  • Sunset: about 5.35pm in December, about 5.55pm by the end of January.

Why it feels colder on the water than on land

Two effects, and they add. A boat moving at fifteen knots generates its own wind regardless of the weather, and open water at night is several degrees cooler than a city that has been absorbing sun all day.

The practical result is that an evening charter in December at an air temperature of 20°C feels like about 18, and after two hours of it people are cold in the clothes they left the hotel in. This is the single most common mistake visitors make on this coast in winter, and it is entirely fixable with one layer.

The mornings, which are the best part

The wind on this coast builds through the day far more often than it drops, so the flattest water of a December or January day is between sunrise and about ten in the morning.

That matters for anything involving swimming, fishing or photographs. A 9am charter in January is 20°C, glassy, empty and clear — the haze that sits over the horizon for much of the year is largely absent in midwinter.

It is also the least-booked slot of the season, which is a separate argument for it.

The covered side deck of a yacht, teak underfoot and the sea beyond the rail

What actually disrupts a day on the water

Not the temperature and not, usually, the rain. The two things that change a winter plan here are wind and fog.

A shamal is a northwesterly that blows for one to three days and puts up a short steep sea. It is the main reason a winter charter moves date, and it is visible in a forecast two days out — see what is a shamal wind.

Sea fog is a December and January phenomenon here, forms overnight and usually clears by mid-morning. It delays early departures more often than it cancels them.

What to wear

During the day: what you would wear in a mild European spring. Short sleeves are right at midday and a layer is right by four.

In the evening on a boat: the same, plus something windproof. Not a heavy coat — a light jacket that stops the wind is worth more than a thick one that does not.

Sun protection all the same. Winter sun is weaker on this coast and the reflection off the water is not, and four hours of January sun burns people who assumed it could not.

The general list is in what to wear on a yacht in Dubai.

Is it warm enough to swim?

Yes, and most people do. At 22°C the water is cooler than the air, which is the opposite of August here and takes a moment to adjust to. Ten minutes in and it is comfortable.

Children generally last less long than adults in it, which is worth planning around rather than discovering. Sea conditions and safety are covered in is the sea safe to swim in off Dubai.

FAQ

Questions people ask

How cold does Dubai get in December and January?

Daytime air is about 24°C and nights about 15°C. It is the coolest part of the year here and does not become cold by European standards, though offshore after dark it feels close to 18°C.

What is the sea temperature in Dubai in January?

Around 22°C — cooler than the air, which is the reverse of the summer. Most people swim; it takes about ten minutes to feel comfortable rather than being an instant decision.

Does it rain in Dubai in winter?

A little. Roughly four rainy days across December and January combined, usually an hour at a time rather than a whole day. It is the least significant weather factor of the season here.

Is December or January better for a boat trip in Dubai?

They are near-identical on temperature. December has earlier sunsets, at about 5.35pm, and January has slightly calmer mornings and less haze. For photographs, January mornings are the best of the year.

Do I need a jacket on a boat in Dubai in winter?

Yes, in the evening. A light windproof layer is worth more than a thick coat — the cold comes from wind over a moving deck rather than from low air temperature.

What is the fog like in Dubai in winter?

Sea fog forms overnight in December and January and usually clears by mid-morning. It delays early departures more often than it cancels them, and it is a coastal phenomenon rather than a citywide one.

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