What to pack for Dubai
Dubai is the destination where packing advice genuinely matters, because the gap between what works at your hotel pool and what works in a mall is wider than most places.
The short version: modest in public, layers indoors, and more sun protection than the season suggests.
Clothing
- Clothes that cover shoulders and knees for malls, souks and public areas
- Swimwear for the hotel pool and beach clubs, worn only there
- A light layer or pashmina for indoors, where air conditioning is fierce
- Something smarter for brunch or a rooftop, most of which have a dress code
- Loose breathable fabrics rather than anything tight, in summer especially
Footwear
- Comfortable shoes for very long indoor walks
- Sandals for the beach and pool
- Closed shoes for a desert trip, since sand gets everywhere
Sun and toiletries
- High factor sun cream, all year round
- A hat and sunglasses
- Lip balm with SPF
- Hand cream, because the air conditioning is drying
Essentials
- Passport, and a photo of it stored separately
- Boarding passes or booking references
- Travel insurance details
- Bank cards, plus one kept somewhere separate
- Any prescription medication in its original packaging
- Phone charger and a plug adapter if needed
Worth having
- A refillable bottle, since you will drink more than you expect
- A power bank for long days out
- A light scarf that doubles as modest cover and an air conditioning layer
Things specific to Dubai
The dress code is about public places
Hotel pools, beach clubs and private beaches are relaxed. Malls, souks and public transport expect shoulders and knees covered. One scarf in your bag covers the difference all day.
Summer changes the shape of the day
From June to September, outdoor plans need to be early morning or evening. Put the leave time on your plans and set it early rather than optimistically.
Indoors is genuinely cold
Restaurants and cinemas run air conditioning hard. A layer is not optional even in August.
Most commonly forgotten
- A layer for air conditioning
- Modest clothing for malls
- A power bank
- Lip balm with SPF
Build your own list instead of copying this one
A generic packing list does not know what you are doing on the Tuesday. Yours does.
On Holiday Board, whatever you attach to a plan as a bring item, and whatever outfit you pick for it, turns up on your personal packing list automatically. Sunscreen wanted by three different days appears once and tells you which three. Tick it off as you pack, and what you tick is yours alone.
Questions
- What is the one thing people forget when packing for Dubai?
- A layer for air conditioning. The full list of common misses is above.
- Do I have to work from a generic list?
- No, and it is better not to. Holiday Board builds your packing list from your own plans: whatever you said to bring, plus whatever you said you are wearing, with duplicates merged into one line.
- Can everyone in the group have their own list?
- Yes. Each traveller gets their own list and their own ticks. One person packing their passport does not mark off anyone else's.
Related
Let the holiday write your packing list
Plan what you are doing and what to bring. The list is waiting for you the night before you fly.
Create your Holiday BoardFree to start. No card needed. £6.99 per holiday if you want the lot.