Packing lists

What to pack for Dubai in December

December is the start of the best season in Dubai. The brutal summer heat is gone, afternoons are warm and sunny, and the sea is still warm enough to swim. Evenings are pleasant, but the desert gets surprisingly cold after dark, and the malls and hotels are air-conditioned all year.

So the list mixes beach clothes with smart, modest pieces. Dubai is relaxed about what visitors wear at hotels and beaches, but malls and the old town expect shoulders and knees to be covered, and mosques require much more. The city also loves to dress up for dinner, so pack something polished.

Checked

The weather

Daytime high
76°F
24°C. Warm, sunny and dry.
Overnight low
61°F
16°C. The desert drops much colder.
Sea temperature
75°F
24°C. Still warm for swimming.
Daylight
10.5 h
Sunset around 5:30pm.

The capsule

A week, one traveler, Atelier palette. Black, ivory and camel that go from the beach club to a rooftop dinner. A capsule is a few clothes in one palette (a base color, a neutral and an accent) that all go together. The full list below adds what sits outside it.

Atelier palette · 11 pieces · 8 outfits

Layers

  • Fine-gauge cardiganFine-gauge cardigan

Tops

  • Linen shirtLinen shirt
  • Silk topSilk top
  • Loose tunicLoose tunic

Bottoms

  • Wide-leg linen pantsWide-leg linen pants
  • Palazzo pantsPalazzo pants

Dresses

  • Linen maxi dressLinen maxi dress
  • Pool cover-upPool cover-up

Shoes

  • Flat sandalsFlat sandals
  • Leather sneakersLeather sneakers
  • Block-heel sandalsBlock-heel sandals

Three days from this capsule

Old Dubai souk
Pool and beach club
Skyline dinner

Shown for one traveler. Packlier packs a capsule like this for each person on the trip.

The full list

Clothes

  • Two swimsuits and a cover-up
  • Four or five tops, some with sleeves
  • Loose pants or a maxi skirt
  • A maxi dress or outfit for dinner
  • Something smart for a rooftop bar or brunch
  • Light cardigan or wrap for air conditioning
  • Warm layer for a desert evening

Shoes

  • Sandals
  • Sneakers for sightseeing and the desert
  • Dressier shoes for dinner

Day bag

  • Large scarf, for mosques and covering up
  • Sunscreen and sunglasses
  • Refillable water bottle
  • Clutch for dinner

Documents and tech

  • Passport, valid for six months
  • Travel insurance details
  • Card for tap-to-pay
  • Restaurant and brunch reservations
  • Type G plug adapter (230V)
  • Power bank

Toiletries

  • Moisturizer and lip balm
  • After-sun lotion
  • Prescriptions in original packaging, with a copy of the prescription

Gear worth the space

  • A large, light scarf

    It covers your hair and shoulders at a mosque, shades your neck in the desert and warms you up in the air conditioning.

  • A maxi dress

    Modest, cool and elegant enough for dinner, and it covers you for the old town and the souks.

  • Loose pants

    Comfortable in the heat and modest enough for everywhere you will go.

  • Smart sandals

    The city dresses up at night. A pair of block-heel sandals is comfortable and smart enough for anywhere.

Swimwear at the beach, covered shoulders and knees in the mall. Packlier packs both, plus a layer for the cold desert night.

Tell it where, when, why, which bag and which palette, and it packs the capsule, checks it against the bag and adds everything that is not clothing. Launching this year on Android, with iOS to follow.

One email at launch, nothing else.