Weather in Saudi Arabia

October through March is the optimal period to visit Saudi Arabia, when temperatures across the kingdom drop from their brutal summer peaks to manageable and often genuinely pleasant levels. Riyadh and the Najd interior experience winter days of 20–25°C (68–77°F), cool enough for comfortable outdoor exploration of archaeological sites and desert landscapes. The Red Sea coast around Jeddah is pleasant year-round but is at its finest in winter, with comfortable diving and snorkeling conditions and cooler evenings. The AlUla region in the northwest is particularly spectacular in winter, when the desert light at dawn and dusk illuminates the Nabataean tombs with extraordinary warmth.

Summer, from May through September, brings extreme heat across most of the country — Riyadh regularly reaches 45°C (113°F) and higher, making outdoor activity during the day genuinely dangerous. Jeddah and the coastal Hejaz region are somewhat more bearable due to sea breezes, but humidity can be high. The holy month of Ramadan, whose dates shift annually with the lunar calendar, changes the rhythm of the country significantly — daytime activities contract and evening life becomes spectacularly vibrant. Non-Muslim visitors are welcome during Ramadan but should be aware of restrictions on public eating, drinking, and smoking during daylight hours.