Visa Requirements

Rules vary a lot by nationality, so this isn't a one-size-fits-all answer, but here's the general shape of it in 2026:

• Many nationalities get visa-free entry or visa-on-arrival for stays up to 30 or 90 days, depending on the country.

• As of June 2026, the UAE expanded visa-on-arrival access to six more nationalities, including Kenya, Indonesia, Vietnam, Thailand, the Philippines, and South Africa. The catch: this only applies if you hold a valid residence permit or long-term visa from one of nine approved countries, including the US, UK, EU member states, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, South Korea, or Singapore. Your nationality alone doesn't qualify you; the residence permit is the condition that unlocks it.

• The qualifying visa or permit needs at least six months of validity left at the time you travel. Airlines check this before boarding, so it's worth confirming before you fly, not after.

• If none of the above applies to you, you can apply for a UAE tourist visa in advance through an airline, hotel, or licensed agent.

Because these rules shift, the one thing worth doing regardless of nationality is checking the official UAE government visa tool shortly before you book, rather than relying on older articles (including this one, eventually).

Weather and When to Visit

Dubai really only has two seasons that matter for planning: pleasant and very hot.

• November to March is peak season and the most comfortable stretch, with daytime temperatures around 20-30°C and low humidity. This is also when most of the city's outdoor events happen, the Dubai Shopping Festival, the Dubai Marathon, and the best window for a desert safari.

• April, May, September, and October are shoulder months, warmer but still workable, generally 28-35°C, with better hotel rates than peak season.

• June through August is the real heat, often above 40°C with high humidity. Locals and repeat visitors lean heavily on indoor attractions and evening activities during these months. It's also when you'll find the steepest discounts on flights and hotels, so it's not a season to write off entirely if budget matters more than beach weather.

If your dates are flexible, November through March is the easy answer. If they're not, plan your days around early mornings and evenings outdoors, malls and museums for the midday heat.

Money

The currency is the UAE Dirham (AED), pegged at roughly AED 3.67 to $1. Cards are accepted almost everywhere, including small cafes and taxis, so you don't need to carry much cash. That said, keep a bit of AED on hand for the water bus, small street food stalls, and tipping, which isn't mandatory but is appreciated at around 10% in restaurants that haven't already added a service charge.

Local Customs Worth Knowing

Dubai's reputation as strict doesn't match most visitors' actual experience day to day, but a few things are worth knowing upfront:

• Dress modestly in public spaces like malls and public transport, shoulders and knees covered is a safe general rule, though beaches and pools are the obvious exception.

• Public displays of affection should stay minimal outside private spaces.

• Alcohol is available in licensed venues (bars, restaurants in hotels) but not sold in most regular supermarkets. Drinking in public outside licensed venues isn't permitted.

• During Ramadan, dates shift yearly based on the lunar calendar, so check if your trip overlaps. Dubai stays tourist-friendly during this period, but some restaurants adjust their daytime hours, and eating or drinking in public during daylight is best avoided out of respect, even though enforcement is relaxed for tourists.

• Photography of people, especially local women, without permission is best avoided. Photographing government buildings and military sites is restricted.

None of this requires much adjustment for most travelers. It's closer to "use common sense in a conservative country" than a long list of rules to memorize.

What to Pack

Light, breathable clothing for the heat, something to cover shoulders and knees for malls and cultural sites, a light jacket for surprisingly cool evenings in the winter months (temperatures can drop into the mid-teens Celsius in January), and swimwear regardless of season, since most stays and beach clubs have pools running year-round with the AC-cooled indoor spaces to retreat to.