Best Holiday Destinations from the UAE: Where to Go, Month by Month

The short answer: the best holiday destination from the UAE depends on the month. From June to September, head somewhere cooler: Georgia, Armenia, Azerbaijan or Central Asia, all three to four hours away, plus Europe, Bali in its dry season, Salalah's green khareef and Kenya's wildebeest migration. From November to March, go to the sun instead: the Maldives, Sri Lanka's west and south coasts, Thailand and Egypt, or Europe's Christmas markets. Spring brings Japan's cherry blossom (usually late March to early April) and the Dutch tulips. Autumn suits Turkey, Jordan, Uzbekistan and Morocco.

Living in the UAE means you holiday against the calendar most people use: the Gulf summer is the season to leave, and the cool months are when Dubai is at its best. This guide matches the best places to visit from Dubai to each month, with the flight time, the reason to go and the trips we sell for each season. Use it with our UAE public holidays 2027 guide to make the most of the long weekends.

Where to go from the UAE, month by month

Month	Where to go	Why then
January	Maldives, Sri Lanka (west and south), Thailand, Egypt	Dry season in the Indian Ocean and Southeast Asia; Egypt is cool enough for temples
February	Maldives, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Lapland or Iceland	Still dry in the tropics; long dark nights for the northern lights
March	Japan, the Netherlands, Egypt, Jordan	Cherry blossom from late March, tulips from mid-March, and the Eid Al Fitr break
April	Japan, the Netherlands, Turkey, Uzbekistan	Early-April blossom, peak tulips, and spring in the Silk Road cities
May	Italy, Spain, Greece, Turkey, Bali	Warm, uncrowded Europe, the start of Bali's dry season, and the Eid Al Adha break
June	Georgia, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Europe, Bali	Mild mountain weather three hours away as the Gulf heats up
July	Salalah, Kenya, Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, Bali	Khareef rains turn Salalah green; the Masai Mara migration begins
August	Kenya, Salalah, Georgia, Europe, Sri Lanka (east coast)	Peak river crossings in the Mara; the east coast of Sri Lanka is dry
September	Europe, Georgia, Armenia, Kenya	Summer crowds gone, warm seas in the south, the wine harvest in Georgia
October	Turkey, Jordan, Uzbekistan, Egypt, Morocco	Pleasant days for sightseeing before winter
November	Egypt, Morocco, Japan, Europe in low season	Autumn leaves in Kyoto, cool desert days, cheaper European tours
December	Europe's Christmas markets, Maldives, Sri Lanka, Thailand	Festive cities in Europe, dry season in the tropics, and the winter school break

Summer (June to September): escape the heat

This is when most UAE residents travel, so book early, especially for the school holidays.

• The Caucasus. Tbilisi, Yerevan and Baku are about three hours away and around ten degrees cooler than Dubai in July. Georgia's mountains at Kazbegi and Armenia's Lake Sevan are cooler still. Our 7-day Georgia Cultural Heritage Tour starts from AED 4,799 per person.
• Europe. Long days and every attraction open, though July and August are busy and hot in the south. June and September are the sweet spots. See our guide to planning a Europe trip from Dubai.
• Central Asia. Kyrgyzstan's yurt camps and lakes, and Almaty under Kazakhstan's mountains, are summer destinations, four to five hours from the UAE.
• Bali. April to October is Bali's dry season, with July and August the busiest months. Our 4-night Bali package starts from AED 3,899 per person; our Bali holiday guide covers the rest.
• Salalah's khareef. From about late June to late September, the monsoon turns the hills around Salalah, in southern Oman, green and misty, with waterfalls and highs in the high 20s. It is under two hours' flight from Dubai, and GCC residents can get Oman's e-visa for OMR 5.
• Kenya. The wildebeest river crossings in the Masai Mara usually run from July to October, with August and September the most reliable months. No date is ever guaranteed, so allow three or four days in the Mara. See our Kenya visa guide.
• Sri Lanka's east coast. When the west and south coasts get the monsoon, the east coast around Trincomalee and Arugam Bay is dry, from about May to September.

Autumn (October and November): sightseeing weather

As Dubai cools down, so do the places that are too hot to explore in summer.

• Egypt and Jordan. Temples in Luxor and Aswan and the walk into Petra are far more pleasant from October. Our Egypt Nile Adventure with Felucca Cruise runs nine days from AED 3,838, and the 15-day Egypt and Jordan Adventure from AED 7,621.
• Turkey. Istanbul, Cappadocia and the coast are warm without the summer crowds. Our Highlights of Turkey tour runs ten days from AED 6,409.
• Uzbekistan. Samarkand and Bukhara bake in summer; October's mild days suit their mosques and bazaars.
• Morocco. Marrakech, Fes and a night in the desert are at their best in spring and autumn. Our Highlights of Morocco runs twelve days from AED 7,774, with a departure on 9 November 2026.
• Japan in autumn. The maples turn red in Kyoto from mid to late November. Our 13-day Highlights of Japan tour leaves on 16 November 2026, from AED 10,853.

Winter (December to February): beaches and festive Europe

• The Maldives. The dry season runs from about December to April, with calm seas and clear water for snorkelling. Every visitor gets a free 30-day visa on arrival. Our 3-night Maldives package starts from AED 5,000 per person.
• Sri Lanka's west and south. November to April is the season for Galle, Mirissa and the beaches south of Colombo, about 4.5 hours from Dubai, with a free ETA for UAE, Indian and Pakistani passports.
• Thailand. The cool, dry months make Bangkok bearable and the Andaman coast at its best. Our 6-day Thailand package starts from AED 2,500.
• Europe at Christmas. Markets open from mid-November in Vienna, Prague and across Germany. The Europe Taster Christmas tour leaves London on 22 December 2026, from AED 6,850. For a quieter, cheaper trip, Central Europe in Low Season leaves on 14 November 2026, from AED 5,528.
• The northern lights. Finnish Lapland, northern Norway and Iceland have the longest, darkest nights from December to February, though auroras appear from September to March. Ask us to plan a trip.

Planning a December holiday from Dubai? The UAE National Day weekend, Thursday 2 to Sunday 5 December, is four days: enough for Georgia, Armenia, Azerbaijan or Oman. For the winter school break, book the Maldives, Thailand and Europe's Christmas departures by October, because they fill first.

Spring (March to May): blossom, tulips and two Eid breaks

• Japan's cherry blossom. In Tokyo the first blooms usually open around 21 to 24 March, with full bloom about a week later; Kyoto is similar. The official 2027 forecasts come out in the new year. Our 10-day Ultimate Japan Adventure starts from AED 9,199 per person. Our Japan itinerary from Dubai suggests a route.
• The Dutch tulips. Keukenhof's gardens open from mid-March to early May; the 2027 season is expected to run from 18 March to 9 May. Our 6-day Netherlands Discovery package starts from AED 4,999.
• Turkey, Greece, Italy and Spain. April and May bring warm days, open-air dining and lower prices than summer. Our Taste of Greece and Taste of Italy tours run seven days from AED 5,271 and AED 4,940.
• Bali. The dry season starts in April. Avoid landing on Nyepi, Monday 8 March 2027, when the island and its airport shut for 24 hours.

Plan around the UAE's 2027 holidays

The expected 2027 dates below come from our UAE public holidays 2027 guide. The Islamic holidays depend on the moon and can move by a day.

Holiday	Expected break	Good fits
Eid Al Fitr	Tuesday 9 to Sunday 14 March, up to 6 days	Egypt, Jordan, Sri Lanka, the Maldives, Thailand
Arafah Day and Eid Al Adha	Saturday 15 to Tuesday 18 May, 4 days	Georgia, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Turkey; Europe with a few days of leave
National Day	Thursday 2 to Sunday 5 December, 4 days	Georgia, Armenia, Oman, Egypt

Frequently asked questions

Where is the best place to travel from Dubai in December?

For sun, the Maldives, Sri Lanka's west and south coasts and Thailand are in their dry season. For something festive, Europe's Christmas markets run from mid-November to Christmas. For the four-day National Day weekend, Georgia, Armenia, Azerbaijan or Oman are close enough.

Where should UAE residents go in summer?

Somewhere cooler and close: Georgia, Armenia and Azerbaijan are about three hours away, and Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan four to five. Europe, Bali in its dry season, Salalah's khareef from late June to late September and Kenya's migration from July are the other summer favourites.

What are the best holiday destinations from the UAE for a long weekend?

Georgia, Armenia and Azerbaijan, at about three hours, are the classic long weekends. Oman, by road or a short flight, is closer still, and Salalah is a summer favourite. With four or five days, Uzbekistan, Nepal and Sri Lanka also work.

When is cherry blossom season in Japan in 2027?

The official forecasts come out in the new year, but Tokyo's blossom usually opens around 21 to 24 March and reaches full bloom about a week later, with Kyoto close behind. Plan for the last week of March or the first week of April, and book early, because it is Japan's busiest season.

When is the best time to visit the Maldives from the UAE?

December to April, the dry season, brings calm seas and the clearest water. The rest of the year is wetter but quieter and often cheaper. The Maldives is about four hours from Dubai, and every visitor gets a free 30-day visa on arrival.

What are the best holiday packages from the UAE?

That depends on the season and your budget. Our most popular include the 7-day Georgia tour from AED 4,799, Bali from AED 3,899, Thailand from AED 2,500 and guided Europe tours from AED 4,389, all per person. See the full range on our tour packages from Dubai page.

Plan your next holiday from the UAE

Tell us when you can travel, who is going and their passports, and we will suggest the destinations that are at their best then, with the flights, hotels and visas arranged by our team in Dubai. Browse our tour packages from Dubai, the Europe and Asia holiday packages and every guided tour, or contact us.

Related guides

• Weekend getaways from Dubai
• UAE public holidays 2027
• Cheapest countries to visit from Dubai
• Europe trip from Dubai
• Flight times from Dubai
• Visa-free countries for UAE residents
• Bali holiday guide

Last checked 9 October 2026 against Oman's tourism announcements for the khareef season, Japan's historical cherry blossom records, the Keukenhof season announcements, Maldives and Sri Lanka weather patterns, the UAE's expected 2027 holidays and our live trip prices. Dates and entry rules change, so check them before you book.