Your guide to July 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.
Finding things to do in July in the UAE is really about working with the heat rather than against it. This is the height of summer, when most residents plan their days around air conditioning, early mornings and late evenings, and when the big outdoor venues have closed for the season. The upside is real: quieter roads, summer sales, hotel deals, a festival built around families and shopping, and some of the best indoor attractions in the region with shorter queues than you will find in winter. Here is how we approach the month.
July is one of the two hottest months of the year. Daytime highs in Dubai average around 41 to 42°C, and nights rarely dip much below 30°C. The sea is bath warm at roughly 32°C, which feels pleasant for a quick dip at dawn but offers little relief by midday. Average relative humidity sits around 55%, yet coastal mornings and evenings often feel far muggier, and the occasional dusty, hazy day is part of the season. Inland areas such as Al Ain and the desert are drier but hotter still.
The headline event of the month is Dubai Summer Surprises, the city’s long running summer festival, which usually opens in late June or early July and runs until late August. It combines mall sales and flash discounts, raffles, hotel and staycation offers, free concerts and plenty of family entertainment. Modesh, the festival’s yellow mascot, is the star of Modesh World, an indoor family attraction that is usually held at Dubai World Trade Centre during the festival. Over in Sharjah, the emirate runs its own summer shopping campaign, Sharjah Summer Promotions, with mall discounts and family activities. Keep an eye on our offers page for deals that pop up during the season.
July is when Dubai’s indoor attractions earn their keep. Ski Dubai at Mall of the Emirates gives you real snow and sub zero temperatures, and the Dubai Aquarium and Underwater Zoo at The Dubai Mall is an easy add on to a shopping trip. The Museum of the Future near Emirates Towers suits curious teenagers and adults, while IMG Worlds of Adventure is one of the world’s largest indoor theme parks. Ice rinks, trampoline parks, bowling alleys, cinemas and climbing walls fill the gaps on weekday afternoons. Evenings are the time for live entertainment: comedy nights, theatre and concerts at indoor venues carry on through summer, so browse our shows and theatre listings for the latest line up.
For most schools in the UAE, July marks the start of the long summer break, which typically lasts until late August. Exact dates depend on the curriculum and, for private schools, the individual school, so check your own calendar. Many families travel abroad, which is why roads and restaurants feel noticeably calmer. For those who stay, summer camps at schools, sports clubs, malls and hotels are the backbone of the month, covering everything from football and swimming to coding, art and drama. Book early, as the most popular camps fill up fast. Our kids events page rounds up family friendly activities across the city.
Outdoor life does not stop entirely in July, it simply shifts. Sunrise beach walks, early paddleboarding sessions and dawn cycling at tracks such as Al Qudra are popular with the committed, and water parks stay busy because the pools keep everyone cool. Hotel pools with day passes are a summer favourite, especially those with shaded cabanas. After dark, waterfront promenades at places such as Dubai Marina and Bluewaters come back to life once temperatures ease slightly. Avoid desert drives, hikes and long walks between 10am and 5pm, and never leave children or pets in a parked car, even for a moment.
Islamic holidays follow the lunar Hijri calendar, which is about 11 days shorter than the Gregorian year, so Ramadan, Eid Al Fitr, Eid Al Adha, the Hijri New Year and the Prophet’s Birthday arrive roughly 11 days earlier each year. Over a cycle of about 33 years each of them passes through every month, July included. In some years one of these occasions brings a public holiday into the summer, while in others it falls well outside it. Official holiday dates are confirmed by the UAE authorities, often only shortly before, once the moon sighting is known. When a holiday does land in the summer, expect busier malls, special family events and travel peaks.
Several emirates offer a breather from the city. In the Al Dhafra region of Abu Dhabi, the Liwa Date Festival usually takes place in July, celebrating the date harvest with competitions, heritage displays and local produce. On Yas Island, Ferrari World, Warner Bros. World and SeaWorld Abu Dhabi are largely indoor, and the Louvre Abu Dhabi on Saadiyat Island makes a calm, cool afternoon; see our Abu Dhabi guide. In Ras Al Khaimah, the mountain air on Jebel Jais is noticeably cooler than on the coast, which makes it a popular summer escape. Sharjah’s museums, including the Sharjah Museum of Islamic Civilization, are ideal for an air conditioned culture day, and the east coast around Fujairah offers a change of scene for snorkellers who go out early.
Wherever you are, our best advice for July is to pick one anchor activity per day and build around it: an early swim, a long lunch indoors, then an evening show or a mall walk. The air conditioned Dubai Metro links many malls directly and saves parking in the sun. Looking ahead, see what changes in August, or check this weekend’s picks for something to do right now.
Organising something this summer? Submit an event and we will help people find it.
The list below shows every event we have for July 2027 across Dubai and the UAE, from concerts and comedy to family events and sport.
Dubai typically sees daytime highs of 41 to 42°C in July, with overnight lows that rarely fall much below 30°C. Average relative humidity is around 55%, but coastal mornings and evenings can feel far stickier, and dusty, hazy days are common. Inland spots such as Al Ain and the desert are drier but even hotter, so most residents plan outdoor activities for before 8am or after sunset.
Yes, you can swim in the sea in Dubai in July, but the water averages about 32°C, so it feels more like a warm bath than a refreshing dip. Early morning is the best time, before the sand heats up and the sun becomes intense. Lifeguarded public beaches such as Jumeirah Public Beach and Kite Beach are popular dawn spots, and hotel pools with shaded areas are a cooler alternative later in the day.
Yes. Since 2023 Dubai Municipality has run dedicated night swimming beaches, with stretches at Jumeirah and Umm Suqeim lit up after sunset and watched by lifeguards. On a July evening the sand has cooled and the sun is gone, which makes a night swim far more comfortable than a midday one. Swim only in the marked, lit areas while lifeguards are on duty, and check Dubai Municipality for current hours.
Dubai has plenty of indoor spaces where children can let off steam in July, including Ski Dubai at Mall of the Emirates, IMG Worlds of Adventure, trampoline parks, ice rinks and soft play centres in the big malls. Summer camps run by schools, sports clubs and hotels are another reliable option for weekdays. Book camps early, as the most popular ones fill quickly, and see our kids events page for ideas.
Yes, Jebel Jais, the UAE’s highest peak in Ras Al Khaimah, is a popular summer escape because the mountain air is noticeably cooler than on the coast. It is roughly a two hour drive from Dubai, and visitors go for the scenic road, viewpoints, mountain dining and adventure activities. It still gets warm in the middle of the day, so arrive early, carry water and check that any activity you want is operating before you set off.
In July in the UAE, wear loose, light coloured, breathable clothing, a wide brimmed hat and sunglasses, and use a high factor sunscreen. Cotton and linen work better than synthetic fabrics in the humidity. Carry a refillable water bottle at all times and take a light layer for malls, cinemas and the Dubai Metro, which are strongly air conditioned. In malls and cultural sites, keeping shoulders and knees covered is a respectful choice.
The Liwa Date Festival is an annual celebration of the date harvest that usually takes place in July in Liwa, in the Al Dhafra region of Abu Dhabi. Farmers compete for prizes across date varieties, and visitors can browse fresh dates, local produce and handicrafts, alongside heritage activities that reflect Emirati farming traditions. It is a good cultural outing for anyone curious about life beyond the cities, though it involves a long drive into the desert.
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