Best time to visit Saudi Arabia

Saudi Arabia can get hot to the point of uninhabitable in some areas in summer, but the country experiences four seasons, winter being the best time to visit. Saudi Arabia’s internal clock isn’t just governed by climate. This devout country marks time with religious events: from the call to prayer five times a day, to Ramadan, Eid and other events in the Islamic calendar.

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Best time to visit Saudi Arabia

Summer lasts from May to October in Saudi Arabia – by far its longest, hottest season.

The official tourist season runs from October to March, however the best months to visit Saudi Arabia are between November and February when the weather is coldest. The country has an arid desert climate, and it’s best to go when it’s cool enough to be out seeing the archaeological sites, where there’s very little shade. The average daily high in Riyadh is still 28°C in November, but it drops to 22°C in December. It’s cooler in the mountains, and the south of Saudi Arabia even experiences the effects of the Indian Ocean monsoon.

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A month by month guide on when to go to Saudi Arabia

January in Saudi Arabia

Good month for visiting

Pleasant temperatures

Cold in the mountains

Visit Saudi Arabia in January for mild to cool temperatures. It’s the coldest month and temperatures in Riyadh, one of the hottest provinces, dip to an average daily high of 20°C. Nights in the desert can be a lot colder, and the famous Dakar Rally comes to tackle Saudi Arabia’s sand dunes. There might be a small amount of snowfall in the mountains.

January is a good month for our Saudi Arabia small group tour

February in Saudi Arabia

Popular winter season coming to an end

Comfortable temperatures

Lots of events

This is the last month of the most popular and best time to visit the country, its winter season. Temperatures in Riyadh are an average high of 23°C, whilst Jeddah’s average high is 29°C. Come to Saudi Arabia in February expecting lots of events as part of the ‘season’ – from professional sport to performances from world-famous musical artists.

March in Saudi Arabia

Short spring begins

Green mountains

Last month of main tourism season

Saudi Arabia in March is at the start of its very short spring growing season. From March to April are the ‘wettest’ months in Asir, Saudi Arabia’s south-west mountain region, which gets most of its sparse rainfall in spring. It’s enough to make the mountains green and leafy – or leafy for Arabia, at least. The main tourist season ends this month. This is the last month for our small group tours before they start again in October.

April in Saudi Arabia

Roses harvested to make rosewater

Short spring ends

Last month for small group tours

Saudi Arabia has a very short spring, lasting until the end of this month. The rose harvest in the Taif region ends this month and you might see beautiful roses in the markets – they are used to make rosewater. Some of our small group tours continue in Saudi Arabia in April; the average high in Riyadh is now 33°C and the UV index is at a maximum. Sandstorms are more frequent during the spring months, but they are rarely cause for concern.

May in Saudi Arabia

Summer begins

Extreme heat

Humid in Jeddah

Spring is over. It starts to get hot in Saudi Arabia in May; Jeddah experiences extreme humidity from this month until October. Hotels may be reducing their rates, but some close all together in the summer months. Our small group tours are now over – the average daily high in Riyadh is 39°C and it doesn’t really drop below 24°C at night.

June in Saudi Arabia

Visit mountainous provinces

Stay inside during the day

Extreme temperatures

Temperature records get broken in Saudi Arabia in June – sometimes it gets as high as 50°C. People don’t walk anywhere in the day, but stay inside and under air conditioning, and go out at night. In Riyadh it’s stifling and there’s no breeze. Provinces with high mountains, like Asir and Al-Bahah, are far cooler: between 25°C and 30°C, and pleasant to visit.

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Riyadh sits on a desert plateau and can see an astonishing 50°C in summer.

July in Saudi Arabia

High summer

Extreme heat and humidity

Cooler in the mountains

Saudi Arabia in July is experiencing high summer. The average maximum daily high in Riyadh is 43°C, and it can get much hotter – the record is 55°C. You won’t have much luck heading to the sea either, as the coast isn’t much cooler, and gets almost intolerably humid. Cities aren’t very busy. People head to the mountains for cooler climes. At the high mountain resort of Abha, it’s a slightly more manageable 30°C average high in the summer.

August in Saudi Arabia

High temperatures and humidity

Cooler in the mountains

Date harvest

It’s stiflingly hot in Saudi Arabia in August, with temperatures reaching 43°C in the capital of Riyadh. The sea temperature in Jeddah is 31°C; the land is an average of 38°C and can feel unbearable. The UV index is as high as a kite. Spare a thought for date harvesters, who finish picking the fruit this month.

September in Saudi Arabia

Small group tours start

Starting to cool

Still hot in Riyadh

It’s starting to cool down at last in Saudi Arabia in September, down to an average high of 40°C in Riyadh. Some of our small group tours start midway through this month. Saudi Arabia’s National Day is on 23 September; look out for people in green and white – the country’s colours – and buildings lit up with green lights.

October in Saudi Arabia

Temperatures more comfortable

Still very warm

Beginning of autumn

Temperatures start to fall in Saudi Arabia in October and so more of our small group tours start this month. It’s considered the start of the tourism season; Riyadh Season, a programme of cultural events, starts. Autumn begins towards the end of the month. The average daily high in October in Riyadh is now 35°C. Ever fancied snorkelling in a warm bath? Red Sea temperatures are still 30°C.

November in Saudi Arabia

Small group cultural tours

Good temperatures for sightseeing

Pleasantly warm autumn

Temperatures drop in Saudi Arabia in November. It’s 28°C in the capital. This is the second month of Saudi Arabia’s short autumn and the start of the best window for visiting Saudi Arabia, which is from November to February. It’s now mild enough to be outdoors and enjoy the archaeological sites. There are lots of options for small group departures on our holidays.

November is a good month for our Saudi Arabia cultural tour

December in Saudi Arabia

Popular month for visitors

Festivals and events

Pleasant temperatures

There are lots of cultural events, sporting events and festivals in Saudi Arabia in December. Jeddah holds its Red Sea International Film Festival – a novelty in a country that banned cinema for decades. In other cities the ‘Saudi Season’ is in full swing. Temperatures have sunk to an average daily high of 22°C. It’s colder in the mountain areas: you might even get snow on peaks like Jabal al-Lawz.

Riyadh, Saudi Arabia Weather Chart

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RAIN (mm)

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Best times to visit Saudi Arabia for festivals & events

AlUla Skies Festival (mid-April)

Every morning for the duration of this mid-April festival, hot-air balloons ascend over the oasis city of AlUla, making a dramatic desert landscape all the more memorable. The festival also features night-time concerts – where inflated tethered balloons become glowing lanterns – and astronomy workshops.

Saudi National Day (23 September)

Saudi National Day celebrates the unification and founding of the kingdom under King Abdul Aziz bin Abdul Rahman Al Saud in 1932. You might see airshows, fireworks, drone art and buildings all lit up in green for the occasion.

Riyadh Season (October to March)

Dubbed the biggest entertainment festival in the world, Riyadh Season sees Saudi Arabia hosting scores of events and sports tournaments in which world-famous athletes participate. There’s tennis, boxing matches and football games, plus music festivals with performances from international artists – and, of course, a grand opening ceremony.

Red Sea International Film Festival (December)

For a long time, cinemas were closed in Saudi Arabia. A 35-year ban was lifted in 2018. Shortly afterwards, Saudi Arabia launched the Red Sea International Film Festival – the first was held in 2021. The event takes place in Jeddah and hopes to support a fledgling film industry in the country.

Ramadan (ninth month of the Islamic calendar)

Saudi Arabia is considered the birthplace of Islam, so it’s no surprise that Ramadan – marking when the Qur’an was given to the Prophet Muhammed – is a big deal here. Make sure you’re aware of and respect the strict fasting that takes place; shops won’t serve food before sunset and it can be inconsiderate to eat in public in the day. However, when night falls, the atmosphere transforms from rest and reflection to communal celebrations. As the sun sets and the Maghrib call to prayer sounds, many eateries, markets and cafés open their decorated doors – and stay open all night.

Eid al-Fitr (directly after Ramadan)

Ramadan concludes with the biggest celebrations in the Saudi calendar: Eid, when gifts are given, and the end of the fast is marked with feasting. There’s a fantastic atmosphere in the country, with lanterns lighting up cities, special Eid sweets stocking the shelves, and people out and about in their best outfits. Although it’s a three-day celebration, shops tend to close on the second and third days so that those celebrating can see their families.

Our travellers also ask…

What are the best months to visit Saudi Arabia?

December to February are the best months to visit Saudi Arabia. This is when the temperatures are coolest and there are lots of events and festivals. We have lots of small group tours departing at this time.

What is the hottest month in Saudi Arabia?

July and August are tied as the hottest months in Saudi Arabia – the average daily high in Riyadh over these months is 43°C. Go outside in the day and you will be able to feel it on your skin like a hair dryer; most people don’t go outside on foot until the evening. It might be less hot in Jeddah, but it experiences extreme humidity, which makes it feel worse. Temperature records have been broken in June, too – in 2010, it reached 52°C in Jeddah in June.

Does Saudi Arabia have snow?

Yes! The fact that it can snow in Saudi Arabia gets a lot of press for very little actual snow – but January is when the phenomena is most likely, and only on the top of some of the mountains. Go to the north-west of the country to see for yourself; Jabal al-Lawz, known as the Almond Mountain, has plenty of hiking trails that are good in winter.

Does Saudi Arabia have four seasons?

Yes, Saudi Arabia has four seasons, but they are not of equal length. A short spring from March to April is followed by a long summer that lasts from May to mid-October. Mid-October to November comprises a brief autumn, before a winter from November to February.

How many times a year does it rain in Saudi Arabia?

It barely rains at Saudi Arabia’s major tourist sights and a region might get its yearly rainfall from just one or two rain showers. Some months receive no rain at all; others might have one or two days when rain falls. Jeddah’s rainiest month is November, when it receives a measly 2cm of precipitation. Riyadh’s rainiest months are March and April, where it might receive 3cm a month over six or seven days. The mountainous areas – such as Saudi Arabia’s southwestern Jazan region – receive more precipitation.

Best time to visit Saudi Arabia

Best time to visit Saudi Arabia