Dubai in November

By Dom Bewley
Published: July 18, 2024
abu dhabi day trip

Head to Dubai in November? A good choice, friend. Just the right side of Dubai's intense summer period, it's the perfect time to see and do everything you want. Check out our guide to Dubai in November, and see what's on offer!

Including:

  • Dubai weather in November
  • Dubai's water parks
  • Swashbuckling sea tours
  • Ferrari World
  • Dubai's best eats
  • and more!
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Dubai in November: What to Expect

For the unprepared, Dubai's summer can seem to drag on for about half the year. And unlike summers you may have experienced, Dubai's is different. Highs of 105°F are common during peak heat, so you might want to give a summer vacation a miss.

However, November is when things really start to cool down. On average, you can expect highs of around 87°F and lows of around 68°F. So, if you're looking to pleasantly sizzle rather than catch fire, November might be the perfect time of year in Dubai!

During the day, you'll want to dress light in tees, summer dresses, shorts, and sandals. But in the evenings, you may want to change into light jackets, long-sleeved shirts, jeans, and proper shoes. November is a 'best of both' month, giving you the sun you want as well as the cool evenings to unwind and sleep. Plus, Dubai's weather is damn sure to be better than wherever you live during late autumn/early winter!

Dubai in November: What to Do

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Make a splash at Dubai's water parks

On particularly hot days, you'll want to make the most of the autumn sun. And where better to soak up some rays and stay cool at the same time than at a water park? Dubai has a handful of the watery wonders, but we recommend you check out Aquaventure Waterpark at Atlantis The Palm. There, you'll find plenty of rides that cater to both the young and old. Aquaconda throws you down a head-spinning snake of a ride, with twists and turns around every scaly corner. There's the death-defying Leap of Faith, which drops you off a near-sheer cliff of a jump, straight into a tunnel surrounded by sharks! And after all that excitement and more, they even have their own beach where you can relax or hop in a kayak!

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If you're planning a family vacation and want to treat the kids, LEGOLAND® Water Park caters to them especially, with 20 LEGO®-themed rides featuring some recognizable faces from the building-block franchise. The Joker Soaker pits you against Batman's worst enemy as you splash around his playground. And at LEGO® Slide Racers, you'll board your mat and bomb your way down this white knuckle ride. Thrills, chills, and hopefully, no spills await you.

It may sound strange, but water parks are some of the best things to do on a warm November day in Dubai.

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Live like a pirate with the Black Pearl sightseeing cruise!

Sightseeing is fun and all, but why not add a little spice to your tour of Dubai's best bits? By spice, we mean spiced rum, and that can only mean one thing. A tour courtesy of Captain Jack Sparrow from Pirates of the Caribbean!

With his unsteady hand around the wheel, you'll sail past Dubai Creek Harbour and on to Mohamed Bin Rashid. Prepare your cameras because you'll then pass the tallest building on Earth, the Burj Khalifa. You can even ask the captain himself to take a selfie if he's not imbibed too much.

All through the journey, the "worst pirate you've ever heard of" will comically remark on your surroundings, giving you insight into the history of the landmarks. He'll likely regale you with his escapades while he's at it, so prepare for some tall tales!

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Speedy Thrills at Ferrari World

On a warm November day, what better way to appreciate the sun with the wind running through your hair? Or, better yet, crashing into your face and throwing you back in your seat at 150mph? Welcome to Ferrari World, home to the world's fastest rollercoaster.

Only the bravest dare test themselves on Formula Rossa. To replicate the feeling of driving an F1 car, you'll be propelled 150mph in just under 5 seconds. At that speed, you'll feel the equivalent of 5Gs of force, which isn't far off jet fighter pilots. Can you take the Gs? Only one way to find out.

There are plenty of other rides to try while you're there, so if you have a passing interest in fast cars or simply want to ride some of the most white-knuckle rides on the planet, give it a go.

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Exciting desert tours

If you want to take your white-knuckle adventures to Dubai's dunes, why not try a desert tour? Whether you want to try your hand at quad-biking, driving a dune buggy, riding a camel, or a relaxing BBQ evening, you've got plenty of options.

No matter which you'll choose, you can expect 5-star service. A plush 4x4 will pick you up from your hotel and take you out of the city. And, when the experience is over, they'll bring you right back.

The perfect way to avoid all the hassle of booking cabs or planning public transport routes, our desert tours ensure you get to see stunning sights and thrilling experiences without the headache!

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Grab some grub

And finally, after all the excitement of your trip, you might be feeling pretty hungry. Thankfully, Dubai has tons of restaurants that cater to every culinary desire under the sun. But who wants to click links when they can read our recommendations?

For South American delights, try Coya. This Peruvian restaurant, which also borrows generously from Spanish and far Eastern cuisine, is well known around Dubai as one of the best in town. It's also on the expensive side, so bear that in mind.

For French food and a lively evening atmosphere, hit up Bagatelle. A great menu combined with live music after dark makes it the perfect nighttime visit.

Or, if all-you-can-eat brunch sounds too good to pass up, check out Bubbalicious. Located in the Marriott's Westin Dubai Mina Seyahi Beach Resort & Marina, you'll be free to gorge on lobster, curry, and countless other world dishes.

And that's our guide to Dubai in November! Looking to add to your itinerary? Check out Go City. With our All-Inclusive Pass or Explorer Pass, you can see all of Dubai's best bits when and how you want.

Dom Bewley
Go City Travel Expert

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Things to do in Bur Dubai

Contradictorily meaning ‘mainland Dubai’, Bur Dubai is an island separated from the rest of the emirate by Dubai Creek. The term can be used to describe the entire island that results – stretching across to the At the Top observation decks of the Burj Khalifa in downtown. However, it’s more generally used to describe the area immediately opposite the Deira neighborhood around the Al Fahidi Historic District. You’re sure to find yourself here at some point, so what are the main things to do in Bur Dubai? Site of the original settlement that developed into the modern day city, Bur Dubai has plenty of history and atmosphere. Still an important hub for everything from culture to commerce, you won’t want to miss this neighborhood when visiting the region. Grab a bird’s eye view Whilst Dubai as a whole isn’t short of lofty panoramas, the historic nature of Bur Dubai means most of its structures only rise to three or four stories. One way to take in the mix of old and new is at Dubai Frame, whose upper reaches stand 150 meters over Zabeel Park. Forming a physical link between the historic and the contemporary, the frame’s interior contains a museum detailing the city’s past, and features suggesting how it may develop in future. Its upper levels have the expansive vistas you would expect alongside glass-bottomed floors so that visitors can look roughly 40 stories directly down. Described as the world’s largest picture frame, it may be better to think of it as a magical door between one world and another... Explore the quiet streets of Al Fahidi The Al Fahidi Historic District, lining the northernmost parts of Dubai Creek, takes visitors back to Dubai’s humble origins as a trading post between the sea routes of the Middle East and the home of pearl divers. An unofficial living museum, its alleyways are a huge contrast to the thoroughfares of downtown Dubai, whilst many of its structures date back to the nineteenth century when barjeel wind towers provided cooling air currents in homes long before the advent of modern air conditioning. Although home to important historic documents and photographs, it’s the structure itself of Sheikh Saeed Al Maktoum House which holds our fascination, being the residence of one of Dubai’s most important rulers from 1912 until his death in 1958. However, the district’s oldest structure is Al Fahidi Fort, now Dubai Museum. Perhaps best reached as part of a Hop-On Hop-Off sightseeing bus tour, it is Dubai’s oldest surviving structure, dating from 1787. As well as slightly twee dioramas of everyday life before the oil boom, there are some real treasures worthy of any museum in the world. Delve into the culture of Bur Dubai If your visit to Dubai Museum has you yearning to discover more about Emirati culture consider making your next stop the Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Centre for Cultural Understanding (SMCCU). Established in 1998 to foster cross-cultural comprehension, it organizes a range of events designed to bridge the gap between Dubai’s traditions and visitors’ understanding of them. There are regular visits to Jumeirah Mosque whatever your religious beliefs, as well as the chance to take part in a traditional tea ceremony or Emirati meal, with a host of dishes laid out on the floor in the time-honored manner. For dining with a view, we’d instead recommend a dhow dinner cruise of Dubai Creek. Taking place as the sun sets and the lights flicker on over landmarks including the National Bank of Dubai building, you can tuck in to an all-inclusive buffet dinner of international scope. Hit the shops For shopping in Bur Dubai with a touch of the OTT it’s difficult to beat the ancient Egyptian theme of WAFI Mall. Its name means trustworthy in Arabic, and there are few more trustworthy places to laden your arms with shopping bags than here. Passing the ranks of Anubis sculptures, obelisks and giant pharaonic statues you’ll enter a space that’s home to 350 stores and stained glass pyramids decorating the interior with splashes of color. If money’s no object, check out the designer stores, which include Burberry. They stand beside a range of smaller independent boutiques with just as much to recommend them. The same can be said for the Textile Souk back beside Dubai Museum. Each trader’s wealth of silks, cottons, damasks and colorful linens are ideal for anyone planning some interior design or looking for the next viral post on Instagram – in which case why not share them with @GoCity? 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The waterfront at Dubai Creek in Deira
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Cool things to do in Deira Dubai

Only a short hop from the international airport, Deira still manages to be one of the most charismatic of Dubai’s neighborhoods. Forming a part of Old Dubai, its port continues to be a place for traditional dhow trading vessels to be loaded and unloaded by hand, sailing their small cargoes between Dubai, the Middle East and even India. Its streets are dominated by souks – dedicated to gold, spices and perfumes – where Arabic is still more likely to be heard than English. When it comes to things to do in Deira Dubai there’s also a smattering of small museums and even a beachfront park. Plenty of reasons to take a turn in Dubai’s original downtown district! Enjoy the creek-side setting Long before the observation decks at the Burj Khalifa, the world’s tallest building, existed and long before Dubai came together with its neighbors to form the United Arab Emirates, there was Deira. As the historic location for mooring dhows, it was the obvious place for the young city’s souks to develop. The simplest of ports, just mooring bollards lining the northern entrance to Dubai Creek, Deira’s ageless waterfront provides a contrast to the usual image of Dubai. Its handcrafted and wooden built ships haven’t changed much in centuries – except for the fact they now contain engines as well as sails. Still dodging the piracy of the high seas, there’s nowhere in Deira with more atmosphere and no better way to discover it than with a creek sightseeing cruise. However, even staying on dry land there are lots of ways to take in the neighborhood’s traditional way of living and working. For instance, Deira’s multitude of souks are a world away from the polished floors and mood music of Dubai’s malls, providing a much more visceral shopping – or window shopping – experience. Choose between the gold, spice and perfume souks depending on what interests you most. Delve into Deira’s history A one minute walk from the Gold Souk is the Dubai Municipality Museum. 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It once belonged to an affluent pearl merchant called Sheikh Ahmed Bin Dalmouk, who also financed the next-door Al Ahmadiya School – one of Dubai’s most prestigious. Step within, and you’ll learn about life behind closed doors, from the majlis meeting place on the ground floor to the kitchens and bathrooms. Relax in Deira’s green spaces A short distance further along the creek from Deira’s wharves, and edged by three of the most luxurious hotels in Deira is Dubai Creek Golf and Yacht Club. A ribbon of verdant green dotted with lakes, bunkers and palms, there are three difficult golf courses to choose between. The average traveler will probably have the most fun at the insta-ready #minigolfdubai course. Although there aren’t any rotating windmills or crazy angles to contend with, there are a series of challenging holes as perfectly manicured as the club’s beginner-friendly nine-hole course or the 7000 yard 18-hole championship course. 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Ian Packham

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