View Middle East on the mapA cosmopolitan city where skyscrapers and desert landscapes meet, with numerous international attractions

Dubai

Dubai · United Arab Emirates · 25.28, 55.28

An international port city on the Persian Gulf, Dubai combines the world's tallest building, Burj Khalifa, massive shopping malls, and artificial islands with historic districts and desert safaris.

Port highlights

About 3.5 million in the metropolitan area (the largest city in the UAE)

Population

A desert climate. Summers are intensely hot, while winters are mild with continued sunshine, making it suitable for sightseeing.

Climate

Arabic (English is widely used in international cities)

Language

UAE dirham (AED).

Currency

November to March (cool and comfortable sightseeing season)

Best time to visit

Local food

Shawarma, machboos, mezze, cuisines from many countries (richly international), dates

Sights

Burj Khalifa and Dubai MallPalm JumeirahAl Fahidi Historic District and Gold SoukDesert safari

Monthly average high / low temperatures

24°

15°Jan

26°

16°Feb

29°

19°Mar

34°

22°Apr

38°

26°May

40°

29°Jun

42°

31°Jul

42°

31°Aug

40°

29°Sep

36°

25°Oct

31°

21°Nov

27°

17°Dec

Unit: °C · Calculated from NOAA GHCN-Daily station observations · Period: 1991–2020 · Station: DUBAI INTL · about 9.1 km from port · Last checked: Oct 3, 2026 · A guide for choosing your travel month.

Local prices for travelers

Much more expensive than Tokyo

Compared with Tokyo, Japan (median of items)151 (Tokyo = 100)

Compared with Tokyo, water and meals cost about the same; coffee, beer and a Big Mac are much more expensive.

AED 2.79

Water 500 ml

AED 18.00

Coffee

AED 22.00

Inexpensive meal

AED 44.50

Local beer

AED 19.00

Big Mac

Prices in Dubai. · Amounts in the recorded local currency. No currency conversion applied. · Last checked: Oct 2026 (partly estimated) · Sources: Shop and menu prices · The Economist, Big Mac Index (CC BY 4.0)