Winter BBQ nights at Al Qudra: timing, what to bring, kits

Winter is when a barbecue near the lakes makes sense. November to March has warm days and cool evenings, and the official camping season runs from 1 November to 30 April. The catch is that the sun sets early, and the published rules favour a day-time barbecue on a stand, so the plan is to cook in the last hours of light and be packed up before dark.

This is general guidance, not legal advice, and signs on site take priority. For the rules and fines, read is BBQ allowed at Al Qudra Lakes?, and for parks with BBQ areas see BBQ spots near Dubai.

1. Winter weather and your barbecue

Average daily highs for Dubai are about 31°C in November, 26°C in December, 24°C in January (the coolest month), 25°C in February and 29°C in March, from published climate tables. These are city figures, so the open desert is often cooler at night and can feel hotter in the sun. Bring a jacket for mornings and nights in January, and a jumper for after sunset in any month.

Rain, when it comes, clusters between about December and March, usually as short showers. Keep out of wadis and low ground when rain is forecast. Fog can also form overnight and in the early morning in the cooler months, so drive slowly and keep your lights on low beam. Skip the fire on windy days, because embers travel far.

2. Timing: sunset and the last two hours

Use the sun as your timetable. The earliest sunsets of the year fall between mid-November and mid-December: about 17:30 on 15 November and 17:31 on 15 December, then about 17:50 on 15 January and 18:12 on 15 February. These come from the computed table in our sunrise and sunset guide, which covers every month from October to April, so check an official source on the day.

The last two hours before sunset give golden light and a gentler lake, but they are busier, so arrive early to park. In mid-November, with sunset at about 17:30, that means arriving at about 15:30. Light the fire 30 to 40 minutes before you plan to cook, in a spot sheltered from the wind, and keep meat in the cooler until the coals are white.

Plan to leave before it gets fully dark. Lighting around the lakes is limited and, once the sun is down, the lakes can look alike, so keep a location pin and a charged phone, and pack up straight after you eat. Go early on weekends, because desert and park spots fill up from Thursday evening through Saturday.

3. What to bring for a cool evening

• Layers: a jumper for after sunset, and a hat and sunscreen by day.
• Light: a Geepas LED lantern is AED 55 and torches are AED 12 to 55, because there is no ambient light.
• Hot drinks: karak chai is AED 7 a cup, a vacuum flask is AED 25 to keep it hot, and hot chocolate is AED 17 at the café.
• Chairs and a mat: chairs from AED 35 and beach mats AED 20 to 52. Sand is hot by day and cold at night.
• Ice and a cooler: raw meat needs to stay cold. Ice is AED 15 a bag; buy it last.
• Water: at least 2 litres per person, even in winter. It starts at AED 2 for 500 ml at Zad.
• Bin bags and wet wipes. Take everything home.

The grill, charcoal, fire-starter and tongs checklist is in BBQ spots near Dubai.

4. Kits to order for pickup

If you would rather not assemble it item by item, these kits are packed for your pickup time at the Last Exit. Order online and pay at pickup. The contents are on each kit page.

• Lake BBQ Box (AED 125, for 4 to 6): the all-in-one barbecue set. Order for pickup.
• BBQ Refill (AED 65): for people who already own a grill.
• Campfire Night Kit (AED 129, for up to 6): for an evening by the fire pit.
• Stargazing Kit for Two (AED 129): for the sky after the light fades.

5. The rules in one paragraph

Use a stand or a fire pit, never the sand, and treat overnight camping and bonfires at the lake edge as not permitted. The details, the fines and the official sources are in is BBQ allowed at Al Qudra Lakes? and in our camping rules and permits guide.

6. After dinner: the sky

On a moonless night, our stargazing guide covers the sky after the light fades. The 2026-27 new moons include 9 November and 9 December. Desert nights from November to March can be properly cold, so bring layers and a flask, and remember that the lakes look alike in the dark.

Frequently asked questions

Zad Food Store is open 24/7 at the Last Exit, Al Qudra Road (Seih Al Salam), Dubai, the last stop before the desert since 2013.