The UAE in January 2027
A long cool stretch with the Shopping Festival to 17 January, Al Hosn Festival from the 15th, RAK Art from the 22nd and festivals running on at Al Wathba and Global Village.
The coolest month: highs about 24 to 25, nights about 14, and the clearest skies.
Desert nights, stargazing, hiking and outdoor dining.
Desert evenings can be genuinely cold, so bring a jacket. Weekends are busy.
12 events in January 2027
Dubai Miracle Garden reopens, Season 15
The flower park reopened for its 15th season with weekly themed celebrations and more than 50 floral displays.
Dubai Safari Park reopens, Season 8
The wildlife park reopened for its eighth season with the “Live More Wild Life” theme and a Royal Safari Experience for groups of up to ten.
Global Village Dubai, Season 31
Dubai's open-air world fair opened its 31st season on 14 October 2026 and runs until May 2027, with national pavilions, stage shows, rides and food stalls. Tickets are Dh25 on weekdays and Dh30 from Friday to Sunday and on public holidays.
Public Art Abu Dhabi Biennial
New commissions bring contemporary art into public spaces, opening first in the Al Ain Region and then in Abu Dhabi, with works remaining on display into 2027.
Sheikh Zayed Festival 2026-27
Abu Dhabi's biggest heritage-and-entertainment festival opens its 2026-27 season at Al Wathba on 30 October and runs for 136 days to 14 March 2027, with new music and theatre, art and photography exhibitions and a redesigned aerial light show.
Dubai Racing Carnival opens
Sixteen race meetings over the winter at Meydan, with new restaurants and hospitality, building to the Dubai World Cup on 27 March 2027. Entry was reported from Dh10.
Dubai Shopping Festival (32nd edition)
The 32nd Dubai Shopping Festival returns from 4 December 2026 to 17 January 2027: 45 days of retail promotions, live entertainment, concerts and citywide experiences.
Liwa International Festival 2026-27
The desert festival around Tal Moreeb, one of the world's tallest dunes, returns from 11 December 2026 to 2 January 2027 with motorsport, music, heritage and family programmes. The full 2026-27 schedule had not been released at the time of checking.
New Year's Eve in the UAE 2026
The 2026-27 New Year's Eve programmes had not been announced when this page was checked. Last year's pattern: Burj Khalifa and fireworks at 40+ sites in Dubai, a record-attempt show in Ras Al Khaimah and a drone-and-fireworks night at Sheikh Zayed Festival.
Al Hosn Festival 2027
A celebration of Emirati traditions, crafts, community and local flavours at Abu Dhabi's oldest stone building and its surrounding cultural site.
Dubai Marathon
One of the region's biggest road races, held on Sunday 17 January 2027.
RAK Art Festival 2027
An annual art festival in the historic village of Al Jazeera Al Hamra, listed on the festival's own site as 22 January to 14 February 2027.
Best in January
January 2027: common questions
What are the biggest events in the UAE in January 2027?+
Dubai Miracle Garden reopens, Season 15 (Opened 8 Oct 2026, runs to 31 May 2027); Dubai Safari Park reopens, Season 8 (Opened 12 Oct 2026); Global Village Dubai, Season 31 (Opened 14 Oct 2026, runs until May 2027); Public Art Abu Dhabi Biennial (Al Ain from 23 Oct 2026; Abu Dhabi from 15 Nov; on show into 2027); Sheikh Zayed Festival 2026-27 (30 Oct 2026 to 14 Mar 2027).
What is the weather like in the UAE in January?+
The coolest month: highs about 24 to 25, nights about 14, and the clearest skies.
Is January a good time to visit the UAE?+
A long cool stretch with the Shopping Festival to 17 January, Al Hosn Festival from the 15th, RAK Art from the 22nd and festivals running on at Al Wathba and Global Village. Desert evenings can be genuinely cold, so bring a jacket. Weekends are busy.
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