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Best time to visit Saudi Arabia: month by month
Short answer
November to February is the best period, with highs of about 19–29°C inland and cooler nights, especially in AlUla. From May to September, inland temperatures reach about 39–44°C and Jeddah is extremely humid; rain is rare all year.
Month by month
| Month | High | Low | Rainy days | Crowds |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 19°C | 9°C | 5 | high |
| Feb | 24°C | 11°C | 1 | high |
| Mar | 30°C | 16°C | 1 | medium |
| Apr | 33°C | 20°C | 3 | medium |
| May | 39°C | 25°C | 0 | low |
| Jun | 42°C | 28°C | 0 | low |
| Jul | 44°C | 30°C | 0 | low |
| Aug | 43°C | 30°C | 0 | low |
| Sep | 40°C | 26°C | 0 | low |
| Oct | 35°C | 22°C | 0 | medium |
| Nov | 29°C | 17°C | 1 | high |
| Dec | 23°C | 11°C | 2 | very high |
Temperatures and rainy days: Copernicus ERA5 averages, 2021–2023. Crowd levels are our estimate.
Season by season
Winter (Dec–Feb)
Highs of about 19–24°C in the data, with cool nights near 9–11°C; the main season, with AlUla's winter festival.
Spring (Mar–Apr)
Warming quickly to about 30–33°C; March is still good for sightseeing.
Summer (May–Sep)
Very hot, with highs of about 39–44°C and no rain; outdoor sightseeing is difficult.
Autumn (Oct–Nov)
October is about 35°C and November about 29°C; November marks the start of the good season.
Events worth planning around
- Winter at Tantora festival in AlUla (roughly December–February)
- Saudi National Day (23 September)
- Ramadan, with changed opening hours (moves about 11 days earlier each year)
- Hajj season, when Jeddah airport is very busy (dates follow the Islamic calendar)
When to avoid
May to September is too hot for most outdoor sightseeing. Avoid the Hajj period if you plan to fly through Jeddah, and expect high AlUla prices in the peak festival weeks.
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Common questions
What is the best month to visit Saudi Arabia?
December to February: highs of about 19–24°C inland and cool nights.
Is Saudi Arabia too hot in summer?
Yes for most sightseeing: inland highs reach about 39–44°C from May to September.
When is Winter at Tantora?
Roughly December to February in AlUla; hotels fill early, so book ahead.