Quick answer
Walking dogs in UAE summer heat is safest before sunrise or well after sunset, kept short, slow and on shaded or grassy ground. Test the pavement first: if the back of your hand cannot stay on it for seven seconds, it is too hot for paws. Heatstroke is an emergency, and most cases in dogs are triggered by exercise, not hot cars.
Key takeaways
- Exercise is the biggest heatstroke trigger: in a UK study of 1,259 heat-related illness events, 74.2% were caused by exertion, against 5.2% from being left in a vehicle.
- Pavement gets far hotter than the air. In direct sun with no wind, asphalt has been measured at about 52°C (125°F) when the air was only 25°C (77°F). UAE summer air is often well above 40°C (104°F).
- Flat-faced breeds such as French Bulldogs, Pugs and Shih Tzus have higher odds of heat-related illness. Plan their walks extra carefully.
- If you suspect heatstroke, cool with cool (not ice-cold) water and get to a vet immediately, even if your dog seems to recover.
- On the hottest days, swap the walk for indoor enrichment: sniff games, food puzzles, training and long-lasting chews.
How hot is too hot for dogs?
There is no single safe temperature for every dog, because heat risk depends on humidity, sun, exercise, breed, age, weight and health. What we do know is that dogs cool themselves mainly by panting, with only a few sweat glands in their footpads (VCA), so hot, humid air makes cooling harder.
In the UAE, summer daytime temperatures routinely pass 40°C (104°F); on 2 August 2026, for example, Dubai and Sharjah were forecast to reach 46°C (115°F) (Khaleej Times). A useful local benchmark: from 15 June to 15 September, UAE law bans outdoor work in direct sun between 12.30pm and 3pm (Khaleej Times). If it is not considered safe for a person to work outside, it is not a time for a walk.
Which dogs are most at risk in the heat?
The largest study on this, using UK veterinary records for more than 900,000 dogs, found that brachycephalic (flat-faced) dogs had higher odds of every type of heat-related illness than dogs with medium-length muzzles. Young male dogs were more likely to overheat from exercise, while older dogs and dogs with breathing problems were more at risk from hot environments (Hall, Carter and O'Neill, 2020). VCA also lists muzzled dogs as higher risk, because a muzzle can restrict panting.
In UAE homes, that means extra care for French Bulldogs, Pugs, Shih Tzus and Bulldogs, older dogs, and any dog with a heart or breathing condition.
What is the best time to walk a dog in Dubai in summer?
The best time to walk a dog in a Dubai summer is around or before sunrise, and the second-best is late in the evening after the ground has had time to cool. Keep walks short and slow, choose shade, grass or sand you have tested, carry water, and skip the walk entirely on extreme days.
| Time of day (June to September) | Our guidance |
|---|---|
| Before and around sunrise | The best window for a proper walk. Test the ground anyway, especially if it held heat overnight. |
| Mid-morning to late afternoon | Avoid. Toilet breaks only, on shaded ground, kept to a minute or two. |
| 12.30pm to 3pm | No walks. This is the window in which outdoor work in direct sun is banned in the UAE. |
| After sunset | Possible for short, gentle walks once the hand test passes. Hard surfaces can stay warm after dark. |
Watch for the cues that your dog needs to stop: heavy panting, slowing down, lying on cool surfaces, seeking shade, or a bright red tongue. Turn for home at the first sign.
Hot pavement and paw burns: the 7-second hand test
To check whether the ground is safe for paws, press the back of your hand flat on it for seven seconds. If you cannot keep it there comfortably, it is too hot for your dog. This test is recommended by Washington State University's College of Veterinary Medicine and the UK's Kennel Club.
The numbers explain why. WSU's advisory, citing a 1970 thermal burn study, reports that in direct sun with no wind, asphalt reached:
| Air temperature | Asphalt temperature |
|---|---|
| 25°C (77°F) | about 52°C (125°F) |
| 30°C (86°F) | about 57°C (135°F) |
| 31°C (87°F) | about 62°C (143°F) |
The same advisory notes that human skin can be destroyed in 60 seconds on black pavement at 52°C (125°F). UAE summer air often runs 10°C to 15°C hotter than the warmest row in that table, so on a summer afternoon pavements, roads and paving can be far hotter still. Artificial turf and sand in full sun can also get very hot, so test them too.
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Walking dogs in UAE summer heat
The 7-second hand test
Press the back of your hand on the ground for seven seconds. Too hot for you means too hot for paws.
7. seconds
Back of your hand, flat on the ground. Test grass, sand and turf too.
Asphalt gets far hotter than the air
Direct sun, no wind
Air 25°C 77°F
Asphalt 52°C / 125°F
Air 30°C 86°F
Asphalt 57°C / 135°F
Air 31°C 87°F
Asphalt 62°C / 143°F
UAE summer air is often above 40°C (104°F).
Hand test: WSU College of Veterinary Medicine and The Kennel Club. Temperatures as reported by WSU (2017).
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Signs of burned paw pads, and what to do
WSU lists limping or refusing to walk, pads that look blistered or peeling, or missing outer skin, and constant licking of the paws. Burns should always be seen by a vet, who may provide pain relief, clean and dress the wounds, and fit a cone to stop licking. On the way, you can rinse the paws gently with cool water. If your dog's paw licking continues after the burns heal, read our guide to why dogs lick their paws.
Dog heatstroke signs
Heatstroke is a life-threatening emergency in which a dog's body temperature rises faster than it can cool down. VCA describes a temperature above 39.4°C (103°F) as abnormal, and organ failure becoming likely at around 41.2°C to 42.7°C (107°F to 109°F).
Signs to watch for, according to VCA, include:
- Fast, heavy breathing and panting that does not settle
- Dry or sticky gums, abnormal gum colour, or bruising on the gums
- Lethargy, weakness or reluctance to move
- Disorientation or confusion
- Seizures
Read this graphic as text
Dog heatstroke
Heatstroke is an emergency
Above 39.4°C (103°F) a dog is overheating. Around 41.2°C to 42.7°C (107°F to 109°F), organs can fail.
Signs
- Heavy panting that will not settle
- Dry or sticky gums, odd gum colour
- Weakness, confusion
- Seizures
Do
- Move to shade or AC
- Cool, not ice-cold, water on head, belly, armpits, feet
- Fan or AC to help evaporation
Don't
- Ice packs or ice-cold water
- Wet towels left on the dog
- Rubbing alcohol
- Waiting to see
Drive to a vet now Complications can appear hours to days later, even if your dog seems better.
Based on VCA Animal Hospitals guidance on heat stroke in dogs.
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What to do if you think your dog has heatstroke
- Move your dog out of the heat into shade or air conditioning.
- Cool with cool water, not ice-cold water. VCA advises pouring cool water over the head, stomach, armpits and feet, and using a fan or air conditioning to help evaporation.
- Do not cover your dog with wet towels, which can trap heat, and do not use ice packs or rubbing alcohol.
- Call ahead and drive to the nearest vet straight away, cooling on the way. VCA notes that complications can appear hours to days later, so a vet check is essential even if your dog seems better.
Vets stop active cooling once a dog's temperature falls to about 39.4°C (103°F), because over-cooling can cause hypothermia, which is another reason to let the clinic take over.
Exercise, not cars, causes most heatstroke
Most people know never to leave a dog in a parked car, and that remains true. But a major study using UK primary-care veterinary records found that exercise caused most heat-related illness in dogs: 74.2% of events were exertional, 12.9% were caused by hot environments, and 5.2% by being confined in a vehicle (Hall, Carter and O'Neill, 2020). The authors also found that heatstroke in cars was not less deadly than heatstroke from exercise.
This was a UK study, where summers are far milder than ours. In the UAE, the lesson is even sharper: a game of fetch or a run on a warm evening can be enough to tip a dog over. The authors were careful to say that dogs still need exercise, just adjusted for heat: shorter, slower and at the coolest times.
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Exercise, not cars
What actually triggers heatstroke in dogs
Share of 1,259 heat-related illness events in UK dogs under veterinary care.
Exercise
74.2%
Hot environment
12.9%
Left in a vehicle
5.2%
Flat-faced breeds had higher odds of every type of heat-related illness.
In the UAE: walk at sunrise or after sunset, short and slow.
Hall, Carter and O'Neill, Animals, 2020: UK primary-care records of over 900,000 dogs.
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Indoor enrichment ideas for hot days
On days when it is not safe to walk, your dog still needs to use their nose, brain and jaws. Mental work tires dogs out more than many owners expect. Ideas that work well in UAE apartments and villas:
- Sniff games. Scatter part of a meal across a rug or hide treats around a room and let your dog search.
- Food puzzles and stuffed toys. Feed breakfast from a puzzle feeder or a frozen stuffed toy instead of a bowl.
- Short training sessions. Five minutes of new tricks or practising "settle" on a mat is real mental exercise.
- Long-lasting chews. Chewing is a natural, self-soothing behaviour, and a long chew can keep a dog engaged for a long stretch.
- Corridor or hallway games. Gentle fetch or tug in an air-conditioned space, stopping before your dog pants heavily.
- Indoor spaces and daycare. Some UAE cities have air-conditioned indoor dog play spaces and daycare. Check vaccination requirements, group sizes and supervision before you go.
Always keep fresh water out, and add an extra bowl in a cool room.
A natural, long-lasting indoor job for hot days: only 3 ingredients, rawhide-free, 87% protein and up to 6 hours of chewing. Choose the size by your dog's weight (Small up to 10 kg, Medium 10 to 25 kg, Large over 25 kg) and supervise, as with all hard chews.
See the Original Yak ChewAyurPet's take
We would always rather you skip a walk than risk one. A UAE summer is not the time to keep up a winter routine, and a day of sniff games, training and a good chew will not hurt any healthy dog.
Ayurveda has a concept for this. Ritucharya, the traditional seasonal routine, treats the hot season as a time to cool down: lighter activity, rest in the heat of the day, and staying hydrated. That is traditional wisdom rather than clinical evidence, but it lines up neatly with what modern veterinary research says about heat and exercise. The one thing we would never do is treat suspected heatstroke at home: cool your dog and drive to a vet.
Senior dogs are especially vulnerable in the heat; our guide to helping a senior dog age well in Dubai has more. For chew choices, see are yak chews safe for dogs? and our guide to rawhide alternatives for dogs.
Frequently asked questions
What temperature is too hot to walk a dog in Dubai?
There is no single cut-off, because humidity, sun, breed and fitness all matter. As our practical rule of thumb, on summer days when the air is above the mid-30s °C (mid-90s °F), walk only around sunrise or late evening, keep it short, and always do the 7-second hand test on the ground first.
What time is it safe to walk my dog in the UAE summer?
Around or before sunrise is safest, with short, gentle walks after sunset as a second option. Avoid the middle of the day completely; between 12.30pm and 3pm, outdoor work in direct sun is banned in the UAE from 15 June to 15 September.
How do I know if the pavement is too hot for my dog?
Press the back of your hand on it for seven seconds. If you cannot hold it there comfortably, it is too hot for paws. In direct sun, asphalt can reach about 52°C (125°F) when the air is only 25°C (77°F).
What are the first signs of heatstroke in dogs?
Heavy panting that does not settle, dry or sticky gums, unusual gum colour, weakness, confusion and, in severe cases, seizures. Move your dog to a cool place, cool with cool water and go to a vet immediately.
Can I use ice to cool my dog down?
No. VCA advises against ice packs, ice-cold water and rubbing alcohol. Use cool water on the head, belly, armpits and feet with a fan, and do not leave wet towels on your dog, as they can trap heat.
Which dog breeds struggle most in UAE heat?
Flat-faced breeds such as French Bulldogs, Pugs, Shih Tzus and Bulldogs have higher odds of heat-related illness, as do older dogs and dogs with breathing problems. Keep their outdoor time especially short.
If your dog has a heart, breathing or weight issue, ask your vet to help you plan safe summer exercise. Our online vet consultation is one way to do that from home.
How we researched this: written by the AyurPet research team from peer-reviewed studies, veterinary sources and UAE official guidance listed below; last reviewed October 2026.
References
- Hall EJ, Carter AJ, O'Neill DG. Dogs don't die just in hot cars: exertional heat-related illness (heatstroke) is a greater threat to UK dogs. Animals. 2020. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7459873/
- VCA Animal Hospitals. Heat stroke in dogs. VCA Animal Hospitals. n.d.. vcahospitals.com/know-your-pet/heat-stroke-in-dogs
- Washington State University. Protect your pet's feet from heat, burns. WSU College of Veterinary Medicine news. 2017. archive.news.wsu.edu/press-release/2017/07/06/protect-pets-feet-from-heat/
- The Kennel Club. Hot pavements. The Kennel Club (UK). n.d.. www.thekennelclub.org.uk/hotpavements
- Khaleej Times. UAE midday break starts June 15: work under direct sunlight banned during peak afternoon hours. Khaleej Times. 2026. www.khaleejtimes.com/uae/uae-midday-break-starts-june-15/uae-midday-break-starts-june-15-work-under-direct-sunlight-banned-during-peak-afternoon-hours
- Khaleej Times. UAE weather: fair to partly cloudy skies; mercury to hit 46°C in Dubai, Sharjah. Khaleej Times. 2026. www.khaleejtimes.com/uae/weather/august-2-2026