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United Arab Emirates travel guide

Best time to visit from the UK, weather, festivals, flights from London and FCDO travel advice.

Burj Khalifa
Burj Khalifa. Photo: imran shahabuddin, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
7h 15mflight from London
UAE dirhamcurrency
No visafor UK passports
Type C, D, Gplugs

Record-breaking skyscrapers, desert safaris and winter sun

Don't miss

  1. Burj Khalifa
  2. Desert safari
  3. Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque
Good forCity breaksDesertsBeaches

Best time to visit United Arab Emirates from the UK

Best value: Apr, Oct. Nov–Mar: warm, not scorching. Busiest and priciest: Nov–Mar.

19.9 C20°J20.6 C21°F23.2 C23°M26.8 C27°A30.8 C31°M32.8 C33°J34.7 C35°J35.2 C35°A33.6 C34°S30.8 C31°O26.6 C27°N22.5 C22°D
Best valueBusy and pricierQuietAverage temperature in Abu Dhabi, °C, 2001–2025 (NASA POWER).

Each bar is the average temperature in Abu Dhabi for that month, and its colour shows the season for visitors: best value (good weather, fewer crowds and lower prices), busiest and priciest, or quiet (off-peak, sometimes because the weather is poorer).

  • Our pick: April and OctoberThe warmest of the best-value months (27–31°C), with fewer crowds than peak season.
  • Peak season: Nov–MarUsually 20–27°C. The busiest time, so book flights and rooms early and expect higher prices.
  • Quiet season: May–SepAround 31–35°C. The cheapest and least crowded time, though often because of rain or heat.
  • Warmest: August (35°C) · coolest: January (20°C)A 15°C swing between the warmest and coolest months.
Temperatures as a table
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
19.920.623.226.830.832.834.735.233.630.826.622.5

Festivals and events

  • Dubai Shopping Festival Dec–Jan · Dubai
  • Abu Dhabi Grand Prix Nov–Dec · Abu Dhabi
  • Art Dubai Mar · Dubai

Festival dates move from year to year: check before you book.

Getting there from the UK

Flight time
About 7h 15m
Distance
5,494 km
Main airport
DXB

Flight times are straight-line estimates for a direct flight from Heathrow; journeys with a change take longer.

Add United Arab Emirates to your bucket list Search flights to DXB

Practical info and travel guidance

UAE dirhamCapital: Abu Dhabi
Type C, D, G · 230VUK plugs fit
Drive on the rightOpposite to the UK
999
EmergencyAmbulance 998
Safe in citiesBottled elsewhere
  • VisaNo visa neededFree visit visa on arrival
  • HealthcareNo free healthcareYou pay for treatment, so travel insurance with medical cover is essential.
  • LGBT+ travellersSame-sex relations are illegal or prosecutedRead the FCDO LGBT+ advice before you go.
  • Women travellersFCDO warns of sexual assault or harassmentTake extra care at night and with drinks.

For British passport holders, summarised from the FCDO's advice for United Arab Emirates, checked October 2026. FCDO page last updated 24 July 2026. Rules change: read the official FCDO travel advice for United Arab Emirates before you book and again before you go.

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