When balloons fly, and when they do not
The flying season, the best months and the weather that cancels.
Balloons in Dubai fly from late September to the end of May. In June, July and August the ground heats too fast after sunrise and the air is too unstable, so both operators stop.
Best months: November to March, when the pre-dawn desert is cool, the air is still and the light is clear. December and January give the sharpest visibility; October and April are warmer but often have the dramatic hazy sunrises.
What cancels a flight: wind above roughly 15 km/h at ground level, fog, rain, or the sand haze that follows a windy day. The pilot makes the call at about 4 am, so cancellations are usually known before or during pickup. In a normal season perhaps one morning in fifteen is lost. You are offered the next available morning or a full refund.
To protect your flight, book it for the first or second morning of your stay so a rebooking still fits, and keep the following morning free if you can.
Weekday flights are marginally quieter on the ground, but the flight itself is the same size whichever day; the basket takes 16 to 24 passengers and every position has a view.