Africa & Middle East · United Arab Emirates
Dubai
Winter sun at 26 degrees, an island shaped like a palm and the fastest wifi on this list.
Dubai is a city that decided to exist and did. Fifty years ago it was a creek with pearl boats; now it has the tallest building in the world, an indoor rainforest and a beach that runs the length of the city. It is not subtle, and in winter it is one of the best places on earth to be warm: dry air, blue sky every day and a sea at bath temperature. Palms line every road, and the biggest one is made of sand and holds a hotel.
The palm: Date palm
The date palm is the national tree of the Emirates and appears on the coat of arms. Palm Jumeirah, the artificial island of fronds and a crescent, is visible from orbit. The real trees line every boulevard, irrigated by treated water, and the date souk in Deira sells forty varieties.
When to go
Sights
Burj Khalifa and the Dubai Fountain
Up to the 124th floor at sunset, then the fountain show below every half hour.
Al Fahidi and the creek
The old wind-tower quarter, a one dirham abra ride across the creek and the gold and spice souks.
Palm Jumeirah
The monorail runs the length of the trunk to Atlantis, and the View at the Palm shows the shape.
Desert conservation reserve
Dunes, oryx and a Bedouin dinner an hour from the towers.
Beaches
Kite Beach
Kilometres of sand with kitesurfers, a running track and food trucks, and the Burj Al Arab down the coast.
JBR Beach
The Marina’s beach, backed by a promenade of cafés and hotels; loungers and water sports on site.
Al Mamzar
A park of lagoons and beaches in the north of the city, quieter and cheap.
Events
- Jan
Dubai Shopping Festival
Six weeks of sales, fireworks and drone shows from late December.
- Feb
Dubai Food Festival
Restaurant weeks and beach canteens through February and March.
- Mar
Dubai World Cup
The world’s richest horse race at Meydan on the last Saturday of March.
For remote workers
A comfortable month: about €3,200
Dubai runs a one year remote work visa for employees of foreign companies, and coworking spaces fill every district from DIFC to Jumeirah Lake Towers. The trade-off is cost and summer: from June to September you live indoors. October to April is superb, with 25 degree afternoons and 30 degree water.
Compare as a baseFor families
The Gulf is calm, warm and shallow at Jumeirah and Kite Beach, and the city treats children as VIPs: aquariums, water parks, an indoor ski slope and desert safaris with camel rides. Shade is scarce on beaches, so book loungers with umbrellas or go before ten.
Rank for your familyThree things to know
- The metro connects the airport, downtown, the Marina and Expo City; taxis fill the gaps and are cheap.
- Friday brunch is the local weekend ritual; book one and clear the afternoon.
- From November to March the evenings drop to 18 degrees: bring a layer for the rooftop bars.
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