Extreme Heat in Dubai, Extreme Price Drops in Hotels

It was 104°F last week in Dubai, 106°F in Riyadh and Abu Dhabi temperatures rose past 120°F in June.

Scorching heat like this is not good for attracting travelers, but Middle Eastern countries try to keep visitors coming.  

In Dubai, hotels respond by slashing rates. In June and July, luxury hotels were priced at $250 a night, compared to the year-to-date average of $435, according to Philip Wooler, Middle East head for STR, which monitors hotel performance across the region by working with hotel owners and operators. 

In December, the peak month for travel when temperatures are pleasant, occupancy rates in Dubai can reach 90%, and luxury rates average $620, but can go much higher. Even economy hotels can cost upwards of $280 a night during the final month of the year.

"I'm a huge advocate that Dubai can do pretty well over the summer months," said Wooler. "The value for money in Dubai over the summer months is phenomenal. [You have] the best hotels in the world at much lower prices.