November to March. The rest is a negotiation with the sun.

The safari season in Dubai is roughly November to March. Those are the months when the evening is pleasant, the dunes are firm enough to drive, and you are not drinking water out of fear. December and January are the best of it: twenty-five degrees in the afternoon, fifteen at night, and a sky that actually shows stars once you are away from the highway.

Summer

June to September is forty to forty-eight degrees in the afternoon. The safari still runs, but the dune bashing is shortened, the camp opens later, and the whole evening is arranged around shade. It is doable. It is not comfortable, and nobody should pretend otherwise. If you are travelling with small children or older parents in July, book a private car with air conditioning that works and skip the bashing.

Ramadan

During Ramadan the camps run a different programme. The belly-dance and the loud music are off, the food service starts after sunset, and the atmosphere is quieter and, honestly, more pleasant for some guests. If you booked a safari specifically for the show, check the dates before you book. If you booked for the dunes and the stars, Ramadan is a good time.

Weekends and holidays

Friday and Saturday nights are the busiest, and the camps fill with local families as well as tourists. If you want the quiet version, go on a Sunday or a Monday. Avoid the week between Christmas and New Year unless you enjoy queues.