Dubai & Abu Dhabi (U.A.E)
The Emirates work best as a deliberate pause — three or four winter days between flights, planned with the same care as a longer trip. Abu Dhabi's Grand Mosque and the Louvre outpost carry the culture; Dubai carries the spectacle and the desert beyond it, where the dunes at sunset are still the best thing in either emirate. We plan it November to March and skip the summer entirely.
Best for
- Stopovers
- Desert evenings
- Architecture
- Family ease
When to go
- Nov–Mar
- The cool season: desert trips, terrace dinners, walkable afternoons.
- Dec–Jan
- Peak comfort; book the desert nights early.
Photo: U.S. Department of State from United States · Public domain