Your guide to January 2027 in Dubai and across the UAE. Dated events for the month are listed first, followed by attractions and experiences that stay open throughout.
New events are added as organisers announce them, so check back during the month. Open any listing for confirmed dates, times and booking details.
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If you are looking for things to do in January in Dubai and across the UAE, you have picked the coolest and arguably the busiest month of the year. The festive crowds thin out after New Year, but the calendar stays packed with golf, literature, heritage festivals and the final weeks of the city’s biggest shopping celebration. Days are warm rather than hot, evenings call for a light jacket, and almost everything worth doing outdoors is at its best. Here is how we would plan the month.
January is usually the coolest month on the coast. Daytime highs in Dubai and Abu Dhabi typically sit around 23 to 25°C, while nights drop to around 14 to 16°C, and lower still in the desert and the mountains. Humidity averages roughly 65%, which is noticeable in early-morning mist and fog along Sheikh Zayed Road and the coast. The sea is at its coolest too, generally around 21 to 22°C: refreshing for a swim, chilly for long sessions, and perfect for paddleboarding or kayaking. January is also one of the few months when rain is a real possibility, usually short, sharp showers that can cause localised flooding and traffic, so keep an eye on the forecast before a big outdoor day.
This is the month to say yes to everything outside. Desert camps are in full swing and overnight stays are comfortable rather than sweaty, though you will want a warm layer after sunset. Hatta’s trails, the waterfront promenades at Dubai Marina and JBR, and the beaches of Abu Dhabi are all at their most pleasant. Outdoor dining is a big part of January life, so terraces and rooftop venues fill up fast, especially at weekends. If you are coming as a visitor, January is also a brilliant time for a long walk through Al Fahidi and along Dubai Creek, where the shade and breeze make the heritage quarter easy to explore at any hour. Our attractions guide has more ideas for big-ticket days out.
Exact dates change every year, so check the official organiser before you plan around any of them.
January is high season, which means demand is high for almost everything. Desert camps and glamping stays, popular weekend brunches, hotel staycations and golf tee times all benefit from early booking. Ticketed sporting and cultural events can sell out their best seats weeks ahead. Buy tickets only through official sellers or the event’s own website. If you are planning a family trip into the mountains or the desert, reserve guided tours early too, as operators run at capacity on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays.
Most UAE schools are still on winter break for the first few days of January, with classes usually resuming in the first full week of the month. That makes New Year week and the first weekend busy at theme parks, malls and beaches, before things settle down once term starts. If you have flexibility, mid January weekdays are the quietest time to visit the big family attractions. Our kids’ events page lists family-friendly things happening now.
Ramadan and the two Eids follow the Islamic lunar calendar, which is about 11 days shorter than the Gregorian year, so they move roughly 11 days earlier every year. Over a cycle of years Ramadan works its way back through the winter, and in some years it overlaps January. When it does, expect shorter working hours, quieter daytimes, iftar and suhoor offers in the evenings, and a respectful approach to eating and drinking in public during daylight. Dates are confirmed by moon sighting close to the time, so always check the official announcement.
January is the ideal month to leave Dubai for a day or two. Jebel Jais in Ras Al Khaimah can be genuinely cold at the summit, so pack proper layers for the zipline and viewing decks. Abu Dhabi has the Louvre Abu Dhabi, Saadiyat beaches and the heritage programme at Qasr Al Hosn; see our Abu Dhabi guide. Sharjah’s museums and the Al Majaz Waterfront are relaxed and easy to combine with a family day, and the east coast around Fujairah is lovely for a drive, though the water is cool for snorkelling. Browse our Ras Al Khaimah guide for mountain and beach ideas.
A few final tips. Pack for two climates, with a T-shirt for midday and a jumper for the evening. Allow extra travel time, as fog can slow traffic in the early morning and rain can cause delays. Use the Metro for central Dubai events to avoid peak-season parking queues. And if you only have one weekend, look at our weekend picks and then move on to February, which keeps the good weather going.
Organising something this January? Submit an event and we will take a look.
We list 32 events in Dubai and the UAE in January 2027, including GLXY Cup New Year Ice Hockey Tournament 2026 in Dubai (30 Dec), The Final Slope New Year’s Eve 2026 in Dubai (31 Dec), Argy Presents Neworld – New Year’s Eve at Ushuaïa Dubai Harbour Experience (31 Dec). Tickets start from AED 150. Every listing links to the official ticket page.
No, January is still beach weather in Dubai, just milder than the rest of the year. Daytime highs usually reach around 23 to 25°C and the sea is typically about 21 to 22°C, which feels fresh rather than warm. Sunbathing at JBR, Kite Beach or La Mer is comfortable, though swimmers who feel the cold may prefer a heated hotel pool for longer sessions.
Yes, January is one of the months when rain is most likely in the UAE, though it usually comes as short, heavy showers rather than days of drizzle. Dubai averages only a few rainy days in the month. Downpours can cause flooding on some roads and slow traffic, so check the forecast before long drives to Hatta, Jebel Jais or the east coast.
The Dubai Shopping Festival usually runs from early December into mid January, so its final weeks often fall in this month. Expect mall-wide promotions, raffles, fireworks and live entertainment until it closes. Exact dates are announced each year by Dubai’s Department of Economy and Tourism, so confirm them before planning a shopping trip around the final weekend.
The Dubai Desert Classic is the big January golf event, usually played on the Majlis course at Emirates Golf Club, close to Dubai Internet City and the Al Khail Road. It is part of the DP World Tour and draws major international names. Spectator tickets are sold through the official tournament channels, and the event has a relaxed fan village atmosphere. See more on our sports events page.
Bring warm layers to a desert camp near Dubai in January, because temperatures in the dunes can drop to around 10 to 12°C after dark. A fleece or light jacket, long trousers and closed shoes work well for the evening, with a T-shirt and sunglasses for the afternoon. Modest, comfortable clothing suits the traditional entertainment at most camps.
Yes, most UAE schools return from winter break in the first week of January, usually after New Year’s weekend. That means theme parks, malls and beaches are busiest in the opening days of the month and noticeably calmer once term restarts. Families with flexibility will find mid January weekdays the quietest time to visit popular attractions.
Jebel Jais in Ras Al Khaimah is at its most dramatic in January, when summit temperatures can fall into single figures and the views are often clearest. It is roughly a two-hour drive from Dubai. Take a proper jacket for the viewing decks, the Jais Flight zipline or the hiking trails, and set off early, as weekend traffic up the mountain road builds by midday.
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