Discovering Dubai: A Guide for Private Clients

4 February 2019, updated 8 October 2026

For private clients, Dubai works both as a winter destination and as a place to live. The season runs from October to April: in January, mean temperatures across the United Arab Emirates range from 16.4 to 20.0 °C, according to National Centre of Meteorology figures. Property worth at least AED 2 million can lead to a Golden Visa, and 500 homes sold for more than US$ 10 million in 2025, according to Knight Frank. Private jets land at Dubai International (DXB) or Al Maktoum International (DWC), both of which have private terminals.

This guide first appeared in February 2019 and has been rewritten for the 2026/27 season; the figures and dates below link to their sources.

When is the best time to visit Dubai?

The best time to visit Dubai is between October and April. National Centre of Meteorology figures, reported by Aletihad, show the difference: in January, mean temperatures across the country range from 16.4 to 20.0 °C, with average highs of 21.3 to 25.7 °C, while in June average highs reach 39.8 to 42.7 °C at a mean relative humidity of 43 per cent. When it is wet and cold in Europe, it is warm in the Emirates.

In 2027 the season includes Ramadan, which is projected to begin on 8 February, with Eid al-Fitr on 9 or 10 March, subject to the sighting of the moon, The National reports.

How does the Golden Visa work for property buyers?

Buying property worth at least AED 2,000,000 in the United Arab Emirates can qualify an investor for a Golden Visa, a residence permit that extends to the family. The conditions are set out by the Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs and Port Security (ICP), and the Ministry of Economy and Tourism confirms the minimum value and the use of a bank loan.

The official sources differ on the length of the visa. The UAE Government Portal (u.ae) lists five years for real estate investments and ten years for public investments, while ICP gives ten years for investors in the real estate sector. The term is worth confirming with the authority before buying with the visa in mind.

Which areas of Dubai lead the prime property market?

Sales of homes above US$ 10 million in Dubai were led in the first half of 2026 by Dubai Hills Estate, Palm Jumeirah and Palm Jebel Ali, according to Knight Frank, which notes that most of these deals had been closed before the regional conflict. For 2025 as a whole, the consultancy counted 500 sales above US$ 10 million, worth US$ 9.05 billion, 68 of them above US$ 25 million.

Palm Jumeirah covers 560 hectares and reaches five kilometres into the sea, with about 25,000 residents, according to its developer, Nakheel. Dubai Hills Estate is a 2,700-acre development within Mohammed Bin Rashid City, with its own golf club and mall, according to Emaar. Emirates Hills recorded seven sales above US$ 10 million in the fourth quarter of 2025, and Jumeirah Bay Island five.

What is worth seeing in Dubai?

Downtown Dubai, two square kilometres around the Burj Khalifa and the Dubai Mall, is the heart of the new city. Emaar, its developer, describes the Burj Khalifa as the world's tallest building. The world's highest observation deck is in the Shanghai Tower, at 561.3 metres, according to Guinness World Records, a record it has held since the tower was completed in 2015. After dark, the fountain on the lake at the foot of the tower plays to music at regular intervals.

The older city shows a different side. The traditional souks for gold and for spices are a short walk from each other, and a dhow cruise on Dubai Creek or in Dubai Marina shows the skyline from the water over dinner. It involves no walking at all, which makes it particularly pleasant for older guests. An evening in the desert, with dinner in a tented camp under the stars, rounds off a first visit. Assisted travel for older guests is planned differently: slower connections, the right assistance at each airport, and someone who knows the itinerary if something changes.

Where do private jets land in Dubai?

Private jets can land at Dubai International (DXB) or at Al Maktoum International (DWC) in Dubai South, and both airports have private terminals. The Mohammed bin Rashid Aerospace Hub at DWC recorded 9,753 private jet movements in the first half of 2025, 15 per cent more than a year earlier, according to Dubai South.

Private jet charter out of and into the Emirates, including at short notice, is part of our Dubai office's work, with aircraft, crew, slots and ground handling arranged as one mandate rather than three. Whether to charter or to buy is the subject of our note Buying a Private Jet, or Chartering One.

Where can I find the current travel advice for Dubai?

The current official travel advice is published by the Swiss Federal Department of Foreign Affairs (in German) and by the UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office, and both are worth reading when a trip is booked and again shortly before departure. Temporary closures of Gulf airspace disrupted air travel in 2026: in September 2026, Dubai Airports put its forecast for the year at around 70 million passengers, down from almost 100 million, Reuters reported.

Which restaurants in Dubai have MICHELIN stars in 2026?

Two restaurants in Dubai hold three MICHELIN stars in 2026, FZN by Björn Frantzén and Trèsind Studio, both confirmed in the fifth edition of the MICHELIN Guide Dubai, presented on 6 October 2026. The selection lists 122 restaurants across 38 cuisines. Orfali Bros was promoted to two stars, and Birch and KIGO received their first, which brings the one-star list to 14.

Four of the one-star restaurants were temporarily closed when the guide appeared and kept their stars, The National reported, so it is worth checking before booking. Restaurant reservations, events and access that is officially unavailable are part of what a personal concierge takes on for private clients and families.

Which dates are worth planning around in 2027?

The dates that shape 2027 in Dubai are Ramadan in February and March, Art Dubai in April and the Dubai Airshow in November.

Public holidays in the UAE apply to the public and private sectors alike, according to the UAE Government Portal, which does not yet list the dates for 2027. Dubai Watch Week, founded by Ahmed Seddiqi, last took place from 19 to 23 November 2025, its seventh edition.

Our Dubai office, Veltracon Lifestyle FZCO, is registered at IFZA Dubai and is one of four offices across three time zones, so a request made while one office sleeps is already being worked in another. What it covers is set out on our page on luxury concierge in Dubai, and for the flight there, our note on the best long-haul private jets is a good place to start.