Dubai is fast becoming a hotspot for British tourists and expats, with millions of visitors looking for some eastern magic. And the city certainly has that something special that very few other destinations can offer.
It is home to the tallest building in the world – the Burj Khalifa, the world’s largest shopping mall – the Dubai Mall, and the world’s most luxurious hotel – the Burj Al Arab.
There are plenty of luxury beach resorts for those looking to work on their tans and soak up the sun, with influencers using its pristine backdrop to glean immaculate pictures for their social media platforms.
The city also boasts a vibrant nightlife and spectacular music, ensuring there is never a dull moment. Yet living in Dubai also comes with its own challenges,
That comes particularly during the hottest time of the year in August, when the average maximum day time temperature is 44C with a low of a still boiling 30C.
A traveller took to Reddit to ask how they could spend their 16-hour layover in Dubai, hoping to bank an array of top-tips from experienced Middle Eastern travellers.
The person in question was going to be in the city in August and wanted a local’s insight into the dos and do nots. noonelovesmrnobody replied: “It’s August and 40 degrees. You avoid the outside.
“Honestly I would manage your expectations. Most people leave the city or spend it all indoors. The perk of Dubai as an expat is that it’s quiet work-wise during the summer, all of the bank holidays basically fall in the summer.
“Everyone takes their holiday in the summer, and Dubai is perfectly located between Asia and Europe to escape the heat, and you come back rejuvenated to nice weather.
“The Middle Eastern experience going round the old city in August sounds like hell on earth to me. I’d just taxi to the Dubai Mall, walk around in A/C, and taxi to whatever restaurant looks hot and fresh on Tripadvisor etc. Maybe a fancy hotel somewhere near by.”
The same warning comes from Affordable Luxury Travel which also advises against holidaying in Dubai in the peak-season. It says: ” August may not be the ideal time to visit Dubai due to its scorching temperatures, often exceeding 40C (104F) with high humidity levels.
“The extreme heat can make outdoor activities uncomfortable, limiting exploration during the day. According to Audley Travel, this off-putting feature sees some tour operators reduce the prices of hotels.
With 12 hours of non-stop daylight, and barely any chance of rainfall, there is also a health issue in that there is a fair chance of getting heat stroke from too much sun exposure.
Another expat on Quora added: “August. Horrible heat. You cannot step outdoors without choking from the humidity and the overbearing heat. Chances of heatstroke are high.
“Residents would have fled Dubai and if you spot a tourist at this time, you know it’s a lost soul wandering the desert.”
Dubai attracted 17 million visitors in 2023 and has won numerous tourism awards. It received Tripadvisor Travellers’ Choice Awards 2024, the third year in a row it has won the award.
The city was also ranked as the world’s No.1 city destination in the Top 100 City Destinations Index 2023 by Euromonitor International.
These achievements are a result of government programmes, like the Dubai Economic Agenda D33.
