Month by month
| Month | Conditions | What it means for provisioning |
|---|---|---|
| October | Heat breaking, 33 – 36°C | Season opens. Yachts arriving from the Med restock in Dubai. Quiet supplier weeks — book deep loads now. |
| November | 28 – 32°C, calm | Abu Dhabi Grand Prix and Dubai Boat Show pressure. Brief three to four weeks ahead. |
| December | 24 – 28°C | Owner and family weeks build to New Year. New Year week is the tightest of the season. |
| January | 20 – 25°C, occasional shamal | Peak charter. Shamal winds can delay tender deliveries at anchor. |
| February | 21 – 26°C | Strong charter demand, best all-round conditions. |
| March | 25 – 30°C | Bahrain Grand Prix. Last comfortable full-charter month. |
| April | 30 – 35°C | Season closes; reposition loads for the Med or Indian Ocean. |
The weeks that book out
- Abu Dhabi Grand Prix (late November/December) — Yas Marina berths and delivery slots are event-controlled.
- Dubai International Boat Show (late February/early March) — supplier and logistics capacity is absorbed by the show.
- Christmas and New Year — the single hardest week for allocation wine and specialty fresh.
- Bahrain Grand Prix (March/April) — Bahrain Bay and port access compress for the weekend.
- Ramadan — supply is fine, but delivery hours, warehouse staffing and service ashore shift; plan a week earlier than usual.
Shamal winds and delivery risk
The shamal is a northwesterly that can blow for one to three days, mostly December to March. It rarely stops a marina delivery, but it does stop tender rendezvous at anchor off Palm Jumeirah or the World Islands. If guests are aboard at anchor, we shift the load to the marina and time it for the calm window rather than gambling on the tender.
Frequently asked
When is the best time to charter in the Gulf?
January and February. Air temperatures sit in the low twenties, the sea is still warm, and conditions are the most consistent of the season.
Can you provision in the Gulf during summer?
Yes, and many yachts stay for refit or layup. Cold-chain handling matters far more in 45°C, so we shorten transport legs and deliver in the early morning.
How does Ramadan affect provisioning?
Product availability is normal. Delivery windows, warehouse hours and shoreside service change, so we brief a week earlier and schedule deliveries outside fasting hours.