Joanna James
Although most visitors head to Dubai during the cool winter months, Dubai is a popular travel hotspot that’s equally breathtaking all year round. From seasonal price slashes to summer-time festivities, here are 5 reasons Dubai is a year-round vacation hotspot for travellers.
While those hailing from colder climates may find the prospect of touring Dubai during the summer months daunting, most tourists are unaware of how many indoor recreational facilities, museums and entertainment venues occupy this dynamic desert city. In addition to the city’s iconic department stores and malls including Dubai Festival City and the Dubai Mall, there are trampoline parks (Air Maniax), sports compounds ( Bounce Al Quoz), theme parks (IMG Worlds of Adventure, Legoland Dubai) and attractions such as the Dubai Aquarium and Underwater Zoo which are spectacular all year round. The Dubai Coffee Museum, Al Shindagha Museum, Museum of the Future and Museum of Illusion are also among the city’s indoor points of interest that both educate and entertain.
The fact that Dubai is a playground for a wide variety of travellers is another reason why it is an all-season crowd-pleaser. While families can enjoy the expansive theme parks, splash centres and shopping malls in the city, Dubai’s luxury spas, resorts and dhow cruises allow couples and honeymooners the chance to indulge in a romantic sojourn in the desert. Shopaholics will hardly find a more potent retail paradise than this Emirati city, especially due to its shopping festivals and tax breaks while the traditional souqs and bazaars also provide enchanting cultural experiences in addition to big bargains. Active travellers also have the option of going skydiving, island hopping, dune bashing and skiing in Dubai, for most months of the year.
The Dubai Summer Surprises (DSS) is another compelling reason to head to Dubai during the warm summer months from June onwards. Offering discounted rates on stays at luxury hotels in Dubai, this period also provides big discounts on activity packages, entertainment and shopping experiences that budget travellers can’t afford to miss. This is the time of year when splurging on a getaway at La Suite Dubai Hotel & Apartments or other centrally located properties and wining and dining in Dubai’s best restaurants is an option for travellers of varying means.
Although the Dubai Shopping Festival is the most well-known event in Dubai’s calendar, the city hosts a plethora of exciting and engaging events all year round. The Dubai Food Festival, which typically takes place in February, and the Dubai International Jazz Festival, where global music icons including Mariah Carey, Duran Duran and Deep Purple have graced the stage, are other annual events that draw visitors. The Dubai Global Village pavilions and festivals, such as Art Dubai, have made the city a cultural melting pot for creatives while also drawing international pop acts and artists to host concerts in the city all year round.
While a vast majority of travellers may not head to Dubai aware of the beauty of the city’s beaches, the fact that the city boasts an impressive 1000km of pristine coastlines is reason enough to call it an underrated beach hub in the region. Enjoying more than 300 days of sunny skies each year, there’s no better destination for honeymooning couples and avid divers and snorkellers to set their sights on than Dubai’s World Islands.
A true believer that the pen is a mighty weapon, ventures into reaching the minds of every reader with the earnest hope of leaving an indelible stream of thought.
A travel writer who has a passion for fashion and a deep interest in admiring new and exotic attractions around the world.
