What to pack for Dubai in December

A UV index of 5.5 burns skin in under 15 minutes without protection.

Glare off sand and water is relentless on the coast.

Coastal humidity at 63 percent draws insects year-round, even in December.

International travel and unfamiliar food mean cuts and stomach trouble happen.

This country runs on Type C or G. Get one with USB-C so you're not fighting over the single outlet.

Daylight lasts 10.6 hours so devices need charging before the sun sets.

Set it up before you land. Signal drops for long stretches outside cities.

Dark by 5:30pm. Every campsite chore after that is a two-hands job.

Overhead bins on international routes are tight so compact luggage matters.

City exploration and national parks both need a bag that fits your shoulders.

Fits the overhead on every airline that matters. Skip the checked-bag line entirely.

For the passport, the chargers, and the one dry pair of socks.

Heat and humidity at 63 percent make sweat-soaked fabric cling to skin.

The coast is right there and the water stays warm enough in December.

For temples, mosques, and churches that check at the door.

Sand and salt water require footwear that drains fast and won't rot.

Treat the clothes once and it lasts weeks.

One brick charges the laptop, phone, and camera.

Hotel and cafe wifi is shared with everyone else in the building. A VPN keeps your banking and email to yourself.

International airports and crowded souks are places where bags get lost.

Packing tight keeps a 35-liter bag from becoming two checked bags.

Coastal humidity and salt spray corrode phones unless they stay sealed.

December heat means clothes need washing every two days, not weekly.

Airports and planes are loud so quiet makes rest possible on arrival.

Highs of 79°F mean legs stay bare almost every day.

Ten hours of daylight means ten hours of sun on your head.

Tap water is safe but hands touch surfaces all day in crowds.

Bites itch worse in heat and sunburn makes the itch unbearable.

A power bank needs short cables to stay compact in carry-on luggage.

A few phrases go a long way. Ten minutes a day before you leave is plenty.

International travel requires your passport to stay dry and readable at all times.

International flights mean your luggage moves through multiple hands and scanners.

Humidity at 63 percent makes toiletries leak and mold grows fast.

Long flights to international destinations mean neck strain without support.