Saudi Arabia weather by month

You are unlikely to need an umbrella in Saudi Arabia: it is one of the driest countries in the world with vast tracts of desert which attract less than 200mm (8in) of rainfall a year. What rainfall there is comes between November and May, except in the mountains of the southwest where light rainfall is possible at any time of year.

The mountains are the best place to be in the height of summer when inland areas can bake in temperatures as high as 48°C (118°F).

The heat is exacerbated on the Persian Gulf and Red Sea coasts by high humidity which keep nights hot and sticky: there is some danger of heat exhaustion or even heat stroke in the hottest areas. Inland, lower humidity levels bring a sharp drop in temperatures at night and can cause frosts in winter.

	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
Maximum daytime temperature °C	20	23	28	33	39	42	43	43	40	35	28	22
Hours of sunshine (daily)	8	8	8	9	10	11	10	10	10	10	9	8
Days with some rainfall	3	3	6	7	3	0	0	0	0	0	1	4

More weather >>

More about Saudi Arabia

Saudi Arabia by month

Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec

Recommended for Saudi Arabia

Intrepid Travel sale: up to 15% off selected trips

Sale

Save up to 15% on selected small trips worldwide
Book tours across Europe, Africa, Asia & the Americas
Travel before 31st March 2027 (inclusive)

Go to Intrepid Travel deal >>

Expires at 23:59 on Saturday 31st Oct 2026 · View all Intrepid Travel offers

The climate guide for Saudi Arabia (Riyadh) shows long term monthly weather averages processed from data supplied by CRU (University of East Anglia), the Met Office & the Netherlands Meteorological Institute. Find out more about our data sources.

Saudi Arabia climate overview

This vast country accounts for the majority of the Arabian Peninsula. Important in the ancient world for its frankincense and then as the birthplace of Islam, today Saudi Arabia's importance lies in its unrivalled reserves of oil.

Western Saudi Arabia is dominated by a mountain chain running the entire length of the country. The narrow lowland coastal strip along the Red Sea is very humid all year, and accompanied by hot summer temperatures.

The Empty Quarter in the south is the largest sand desert in the world. This vast arid expanse of spectacular dunes can become extremely hot by day and cool by night, even cold during the winter. An average of ten hours sunshine during the summer is the norm with virtually no rain all year. The Empty Quarter is largely inaccessible by road.

In stark contrast to the rest of the country is the huge Al-Hasa oasis. This mass of lush vegetation centred on the eastern town of Hofuf, is made up of miles upon miles of date palms with tiny villages embedded within. The climate here is very hot and dry during the summer, becoming warm with occasional showers during the winter months. However, it is far enough away from the Arabian Gulf coast to escape the extreme summer humidity.

Islam's holiest city, Mecca - with the famous Grand Mosque, and the religious sites in the immediate vicinity are strictly off-limits to non-Muslims, as are the scared sites at Medina.

All visitors to Saudi Arabia require a Saudi Arabian sponsor.

What to pack for Saudi Arabia

Light, loose clothing is ideal for a visit to Saudi at any time of year but you should take warmer clothing to cope with air-conditioning and tor chilly nights when venturing into the desert.

Top Saudi Arabia destinations

Below are average maximum temperatures at popular countries, regions and places in Saudi Arabia for next month - November. Select a destination to see the climate guide for all months of the year.