Author: Igor
The UAE in winter is our favorite vacation spot and all 4 trips took place during the winter months.
In this text, we will focus specifically on holidays in the UAE in February 2021 - about prices, tourist reviews and the weather. We already have a lot of articles about the United Arab Emirates on our site, so then you can return to the menu and click on "Countries", choose the United Arab Emirates - and a page with the best materials will open for you (they will prepare for the country no worse than the stories of your friends)!
So, February trip to Dubai. It was very good: we swam, went on excursions, and all this without the heat.
The UAE is open for Russians. Subject to several conditions:
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Weather in the UAE in February - where is it warmer?
Dubai Marina Beach - included in our top, but there are a lot of people here
The weather in the UAE in February, in my opinion, is ideal. And that's why:
- Rainy days - 0
- Sunny days - more than 20
- Outdoors - not higher than + 25 ° С, but also not lower than + 20 ° С
In a word, it is neither hot nor cold, pleasantly warm. Of course, this is not the best month for beaching in most resorts (because to swim in January-February, you will have to get used to the water), but for everything else, it is excellent.
Important. The only resort where it is better to relax on the beach is Fujairah. Its location in another bay, Oman, plays into the hands - in February the water here warms up to almost +24, you can swim all month.
The February climate is good for sightseeing walks and excursions, which in the UAE take up half of the activities. I mean, in the cities themselves, with the exception of Dubai and Abu Dhabi, there is not much to do: so either you swim and sunbathe, or you go on excursions.
Reviews of tourists about the weather in Dubai in February vary. Someone argues that the wind, and therefore it is impossible to swim, and someone says (and I too) that it is possible, you just have to endure goosebumps for a couple of minutes. But there is no heat, because of which walking spaces in Dubai look like endless air-conditioned shopping centers.
Air and water temperature in the UAE (Dubai)
Do not believe those who write that the UAE is off-season in winter. There is only one off-season - and it is in summer, when the sun is able to melt concrete, and February +20 with a tail is a very season.
There is a difference between the UAE at the beginning of February and at the end of February, as can be seen from the table. The closer to March, the warmer it gets in the resorts.
Average temperature of water and air:
Resort | Air temperature, ° С | Water temperature, ° С | |
at the beginning of the month | in the end of the month | ||
Dubai | +23 | +20,5 | +21 |
Sharjah | +23 | +20,5 | +21 |
Ajman | +24 | +20,5 | +21,5 |
Ras al-Khaimah | +24,4 | +22 | +22,5 |
Abu Dhabi | +23,5 | +20 | +21 |
Fujairah | +24,2 | +23 | +23,5 |
Where is the best place to relax in the UAE in February?
Our already favorite beach La Mer / View of Dubai at night from the rooftop bar
We already have a large and cool text about UAE resorts - with all their benefits and differences, regardless of the season. Here, in the section, I will go over the suitability of a particular resort for a holiday in the UAE in February.
Dubai: in February, the weather is on the side of the vacationer - walk without a panama hat, walk without a spf. The weather will only spoil the plan to sunbathe to the state of a boiled crustacean and soak in the sea for hours - the sun is too gentle for this. Dubai is the most popular destination and prices are as high as Burj Khalifa. If you want to be cheaper, consider the following two resorts.
- Our guide to Dubai
- Separate area guide
Sharjah and Ajman: the first one borders with Dubai (literally touching a shopping center), the second - with Sharjah. The weather in February does not differ from the "Dubai" one, because there are 40 km between them. Another thing is surprising: how 40 and even 20 km can affect the cost in a positive way for the tourist - both for vouchers and food.
Ras al-Khaimah: warmer and even more budgetary, but boring and deserted. This is how I would describe this resort. And I would have chosen if the main goal of the rest was 1) an all-inclusive hotel on the seashore and a hundred thousand rubles cheaper than in Dubai, 2) just an inexpensive hotel and an active excursion.
- Our guide to Ras Al Khaimah
We went on an evening excursion from Dubai to Abu Dhabi
Abu Dhabi: center of attraction for all excursions, so many attractions! This is the capital of the United Arab Emirates - a large and developed city with skyscrapers, but less suitable for a classic holiday than Dubai, because the beaches are bad.
Fujairah: a resort where to relax in the UAE in February, I advise everyone who travels for the sun and sea. The best beaches in the whole country, all inclusive and warmest - you can swim without problems (+23 in the water). Nothing to do other than wandering around the hotel grounds (but they are good here).
So, which resort to choose in the UAE? If you are new to the land of oil achievements, then, of course, Dubai or Sharjah (depending on the budget). For the same money, you can find better hotels in Sharjah than in Dubai. If you need a beach and silence - then Fujairah or Ras al-Khaimah.
Prices for tours in the UAE in February - 2021
Apparently, the UAE in the winter of 2021 will be the only warm destination for all of us ... Specifically, Russians are allowed to enter the UAE now, but it's easier to fly on their own: buy tickets on Aviasales (there are flights from Moscow, Kazan, Grozny and Yekaterinburg) and book a hotel on RoomGuru (the service compares prices Hotels can be found cheaper by several search engines at once, including Booking).
Russians do not need a visa to the UAE, and it takes only 4 hours to fly from Moscow.
But you can also go on a tour - although now they are more expensive due to regular flights.
The UAE is a typical "package" country. That is, it is definitely more profitable to relax with a tour operator, prices for tours in the UAE are often much cheaper than an air + hotel separately. All the times we went on a tour within 60 thousand rubles for two - to good hotels with breakfasts.
I book tours on aggregators - compare prices and buy where it is cheaper:
- Travelata
- Level.Travel
- Onlinetours
In fact, these are the three largest online travel agencies with direct connections to tour operators (that is, vouchers without extra charges). Only we - the buyers - are our own travel agents in terms of choosing a hotel. But I like it, they certainly will not impose under the most beautiful sauce what is actually beneficial to the manager in the first place. In general, I have been using them for more than 4 years and I am satisfied.
How much do tours to the UAE cost in February 2021:
Dubai | 3 * - from 60,000 rubles 4 * - from 65,000 rubles 5 * - from 75,000 rubles 1 line - from 95,000 rubles |
Sharjah | 3 * - from 53,000 rubles 4 * - from 57,000 rubles 5 * - from 70,000 rubles 1 line - from 68,000 rubles |
Ras al-Khaimah | 3 * - from 55,000 rubles 4 * - from 57,000 rubles 5 * - from 70,000 rubles 1 line - from 78,000 rubles |
Abu Dhabi | 3 * - from 66,000 rubles 4 * - from 70,000 rubles 5 * - from 80,000 rubles 1 line - from 85,000 rubles |
Fujairah | 3 * - from 58,000 rubles 4 * - from 60,000 rubles 5 * - from 70,000 rubles 1 line - from 80,000 rubles |
Good hotels in Dubai and Sharjah
Our room at the Hilton Al Barsha / View from Burj Khalifa - I advise you to go up (price from $ 40)
There are more than a hundred of them - good hotels - in the two emirates, but I will mention those where I was myself, or considered as an option on the advice of friends.
Top tips for choosing a hotel in Dubai: Look close to the metro station, in Dubai it is convenient and relatively inexpensive. Taxis are only beneficial for short trips. However, if you decide to rent a car, then the location of the hotel is no longer affected, and you can save a lot!
- Last time we stayed at 4 * DoubleTree by Hilton Al Barsha (Dubai) - a standard city hotel from the high-quality Hilton chain.Clean, with hearty breakfasts and a location better than you can imagine: 20 minutes walk to the metro, 15 of which fall at the intersection of the huge Mall of the Emirates (in addition to shopping, there is also a famous ski park under the roof of Ski Dubai).
- 3 * Centro Sharjah by Rotana (Sharjah) is a budget chain business hotel, but in terms of rooms, breakfasts and service, no worse than the Dubai "four" above! And with an outdoor heated pool on site - even better. There is one and a big disadvantage: the location is near Sharjah airport, where there is nothing around, no shop, no cafe. You have to get to the beach or Dubai either by a free and not very convenient transfer from the hotel, or by taxi, or by a rented car. We mixed the first two options, now, probably, we would take a car.
- 4 * Coral Beach Resort (Sharjah) - for both adults and children. Beachfront hotel with active entertainment for small ones - from water slides to club. For parents, there is an “all inclusive” (a choice, you can limit yourself to breakfasts) and an outdoor heated pool with sea water - a beach holiday in February can be saved!
- 3 * Ibis Style Sharjah (Sharjah) - is always in the top three of inexpensive tours in the UAE, but this is never a "garbage dump" as in Turkey. The hotel benefits from its location - in the center of everything from grocery and souvenir shops to the waterfront, good breakfasts and service. The beach is far away, but for this there is a shuttle bus twice a day.
- 5 * Dukes The Palm (Dubai) - attracts with a price that is more or less adequate for a location on the Palm, novelty (the hotel is 3 years old) and a cool view from the beach to the skyscrapers of Dubai Marina. There are many reviews, and they are not bad - but most often they complain about dust and noise from the construction site around.
- 5 * Rixos The Palm (Dubai) - one of the canonical hotels from photos on Instagram by geolocation “Dubai”. I am still afraid of its price, but all of the acquaintances who were in this hotel say that it is worth their money. 5 stars, ultra all inclusive, excellent beach line and territory and a lot of entertainment for small ones - the ideal of a hotel where it is better to go with a child.
More hotels in the UAE to choose from:
What to do in the UAE in February?
We flew by helicopter over the city (in Dubai one of the most profitable helicopter excursions - below is the link where we took it)
For 4 trips, we have tried almost all excursions - the main entertainment activities in the UAE: desert safari, climbing Burj Khalifa, sightseeing in different cities, boat trips and helicopter flights. So for a novice tourist, the list of "things to do in February" cannot but be extensive.
But February in the UAE also has its own "zest". Sharjah hosts every year in February Light Festival - Festival of Lightwhen local attractions for 10 days are illuminated in the evenings as they can in the UAE. Moreover, only in Sharjah, some Dubai in February cannot boast of such a thing. In 2021, the festival is likely to be postponed.
Best excursions
We also went on a desert safari and rode speed boats around Dubai Marina (both excursions are inexpensive, so I definitely recommend)
So, February is a good time for excursions. There are a huge number of them, with a price tag from $ 10 to infinity, as they like in the Emirates.
Which I recommend first of all:
(I will leave links to services where we ourselves took this or that excursion - it turned out cheaper, they are all Russian-speaking)
- Desert Safari
Price: from $ 35 for daytime, from $ 45 for evening - on Sputnik.
Tips: the daytime one is cheaper, and the evening one is more beautiful. The program usually includes jeep racing on the dunes, camel riding and tea with dates. Details here.
- Excursion to Abu Dhabi
Price: from $ 60 - on Sputnik.
Tips: if there are four or more of you in the company, I recommend to overpay a little and take a private excursion to Tripster and plan your route, and the guide will already tell and show you everything. And so there are day and evening excursions - we were on both, I liked the day one with a visit to the Sheikh Zayed Mosque and the al-Cornish embankment.
- Sightseeing in Dubai
Price: from $ 130 for an individual walk in your company - on Tripster, from $ 20 for a group ride on Sputnik.
Tips: oh, there is a huge choice here, you can take a double-decker bus that travels through the main attractions, you can take a guide with a car, or you can take a good old group bus.
- Sea speedboat on Dubai Marina
Price: from $ 33 - on GetYourGuide.
Tips: cool and inexpensive excursion, in terms of price-experience ratio is on the level of Burj Khalifa. And if you also love speed ... We liked it so much that I reviewed the tour on Youtube, take a look.
View of the city from the Burj Khalifa lookout - in the distance you can see the Parus Hotel
- Climbing Burj Khalifa
Price: from $ 36, fell in price due to the events of 2020, the usual price is $ 42 - on GetYourGuide.
Tips: I resisted this rise for a long time, so we made it only on our fourth trip (it was necessary earlier, of course). I've been on a bunch of lookouts around the world and thought I wouldn't be impressed anymore (Wrong). It is not only more convenient to take tickets online, but also cheaper - read how here.
- Helicopter flight over Dubai (just ah-ah!)
Price: from $ 180 for 12 minutes - on GetYourGuide.
Tips: definitely my best excursion ever, for all 30+ countries and over 100 cities! I have long wanted to fly in a helicopter, and everywhere the price tag was (or so it seemed to me) too high. And in Dubai it somehow came together ... in the end I made a video about the helicopter and a separate text.
Where is the best place in the UAE with children in February?
La Mer beach (at least once it is worth coming here, and there you will make your own conclusions)
Holidays in the UAE in February with a child are good at any resort. Yes, there is no tourist season, as well as the heat, in fact. You can choose to relax on the territory of the hotel or walk more, whatever you like best. If you do not plan to go to the city too much, you can choose cheaper resorts (Sharjah or Ras al-Khaimah) and go on your own or take an excursion to Dubai a couple of times. And there are free transfers from hotels.
If you want the warmest resort in February, you should choose Fujairah. There is nothing to do there, but if the rest in the hotel and the climate are important to you, why not.
In general, family vacations with children in the UAE are adequate at any time, except for summer and early autumn (due to the heat). Otherwise, it is safe here, clean beaches with excellent infrastructure, a large selection of various hotels, cafes and restaurants with European cuisine and cu-u-ucha water parks and amusement parks! Here >> we have listed all the activities according to the age of the little tourists.
Should you go to Dubai in February? My experience and reviews of tourists
View of Burj Khalifa from Bin Rashid Boulevard
Of course it is. You will see the country without regard to "it's too hot, we are sitting in the room", many do not get this luxury, because holidaymakers love to go to the most seasonal hell.
Reviews of tourists about the UAE in February coincide with mine almost completely, except that for some the water seems cold. Yes, you need to get used to it, but, in my opinion, it is better this way than the heat under +45. There is also a compromise: choose a hotel with a heated pool, go to the sea to sunbathe and return to swim in a warm pool (similar ones are mentioned in the selection of hotels).
Pros and cons of rest
+ Great time for walks and excursions
+ You can comfortably sunbathe on the beaches everywhere, and comfortably swim in Fujairah
+ Less tourists
+ Only in February, Sharjah hosts an illumination festival
+ Well, prices for tours in the UAE for February are as low as ever
- The sea is cooler than in season (again, except for Fujairah)
- It happens that a strong wind rises
- I don't see any more downsides at close range! :)