When to go · Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia in April
Mixed month. 35 °C (95 °F)+ afternoons in Riyadh; sandstorms; still fine on the Red Sea early in the month.Mixed month. 95 °F (35 °C)+ afternoons in Riyadh; sandstorms; still fine on the Red Sea early in the month.
Key facts
- Verdict
- Mixed
- Crowds
- Low
- Saudi Arabia
- Prices
- Medium
- Saudi Arabia
Verdict
35 °C (95 °F)+ afternoons in Riyadh; sandstorms; still fine on the Red Sea early in the month.95 °F (35 °C)+ afternoons in Riyadh; sandstorms; still fine on the Red Sea early in the month.
Is another month better than April?
April is rated mixed. These months rate higher:
- NovemberGreatComfortable everywhere except Asir nights; busy with festivals and conferences.
- FebruaryGreatWarm and dry; Founding Day (22 Feb). In 2027 Ramadan starts about 8 Feb (check).
- OctoberGoodHeat easing late in the month; Riyadh Season and AlUla events begin.
- DecemberGoodCool; peak for AlUla, Hegra and desert camping. Bring a layer.
Weather in April
- Najd (centre) · Riyadh, Diriyah, Qassim, Edge of the Worldfine
Dry desert: 45 °C (113 °F)+ June–August, cold nights (5–10 °C (41–50 °F)) in January; dust storms March–May.Dry desert: 113 °F (45 °C)+ June–August, cold nights (41–50 °F (5–10 °C)) in January; dust storms March–May.
- Red Sea coast · Jeddah, Yanbu, the Red Sea resortsfine
Humid all year; summer feels like 45–50 °C (113–122 °F) with the humidity. Winter is the only comfortable walking season.Humid all year; summer feels like 113–122 °F (45–50 °C) with the humidity. Winter is the only comfortable walking season.
- North-west highlands and desert · AlUla, Hegra, Tabuk, Hailfine
Near-freezing desert nights in December–January (snow some years on Jabal al-Lawz near Tabuk); hot but dry summers.
- Asir mountains · Abha, Rijal Almaa, Al-Baha, Taiffine
2,000 m+: the summer escape, 20–30 °C (68–86 °F) with afternoon storms and fog; cold in winter.2,000 m+: the summer escape, 68–86 °F (20–30 °C) with afternoon storms and fog; cold in winter.
- Gulf coast · Dammam, Khobar, Al-Ahsahot
Very humid summers; shamal winds bring dust in early summer.
- Asir: Abha and the highlands · Asir Province, 2,200–3,000 mfine
The summer escape: 20–28 °C (68–82 °F) days when the rest of the country is 40 °C (104 °F)+. Afternoon rain June–September; nights need a layer.The summer escape: 68–82 °F (20–28 °C) days when the rest of the country is 104 °F (40 °C)+. Afternoon rain June–September; nights need a layer.
- Asir: Jizan and the Tihama coast · Red Sea plain below the escarpmenthot
Hot and humid most of the year; comfortable roughly November–March.
- Eastern Province: Gulf coast (Dammam, Khobar, Jubail, Qatif) · coast and islandsfine
Humid heat May–Sep; the coast is milder than inland but still 40 °C (104 °F)+ in July–August.Humid heat May–Sep; the coast is milder than inland but still 104 °F (40 °C)+ in July–August.
- Eastern Province: Al-Ahsa / Hofuf · inland oasisfine
Desert-inland: hotter days and cooler nights than the coast; spring dust storms are possible.
- Hejaz: Jeddah and the Red Sea coast · Jeddah, Yanbu, KAECfine
Humid heat May–Sep, 38–42 °C (100–108 °F); the best window is November to March.Humid heat May–Sep, 100–108 °F (38–42 °C); the best window is November to March.
- Hejaz: Mecca and the interior · Mecca, Medinahot
Hotter and drier than the coast; Medina nights cool in winter.
- Hejaz: Ta'if highlands · Ta'if and the Sarawat escarpmentbest weather
1,500 m+; the summer escape, rose harvest in April.
- Nejd: Riyadh and central Nejd · Riyadh, Al-Aflaj, Wadi al-Dawasirfine
Desert climate: mild winters (10–20 °C (50–68 °F) days), very hot summers (40 °C (104 °F)+). Rain is rare and falls mainly Nov–Apr.Desert climate: mild winters (50–68 °F (10–20 °C) days), very hot summers (104 °F (40 °C)+). Rain is rare and falls mainly Nov–Apr.
- Nejd: Al-Qassim and Ha'il (north Nejd) · Buraydah, Onizah, Ha'il, Jubbahfine
Higher and slightly cooler than Riyadh; winter nights near freezing, summer days still 38–42 °C (100–108 °F).Higher and slightly cooler than Riyadh; winter nights near freezing, summer days still 100–108 °F (38–42 °C).
- North Saudi Arabia: Tabuk and the northwest · Tabuk, Duba, NEOM coastbest weather
Highland Tabuk is cooler than the coast; summer days inland pass 40 °C (104 °F). Winter nights can be cold.Highland Tabuk is cooler than the coast; summer days inland pass 104 °F (40 °C). Winter nights can be cold.
- North Saudi Arabia: Jawf · Sakakah, Qurayyatbest weather
Desert climate: big day–night swings, occasional winter frost, dust storms in spring.
- Riyadh33 °C (91 °F) / 19 °C (66 °F), 4 rain days91 °F (33 °C) / 66 °F (19 °C), 4 rain days
- Abha26 °C (79 °F) / 14 °C (57 °F), 7 rain days79 °F (26 °C) / 57 °F (14 °C), 7 rain days
- Al‑Aflaj33 °C (91 °F) / 19 °C (66 °F), 1 rain days91 °F (33 °C) / 66 °F (19 °C), 1 rain days
- AlUla33 °C (91 °F) / 15 °C (59 °F), 1 rain days91 °F (33 °C) / 59 °F (15 °C), 1 rain days
- Buraydah34 °C (93 °F) / 19 °C (66 °F), 3 rain days93 °F (34 °C) / 66 °F (19 °C), 3 rain days
- Dhahran33 °C (91 °F) / 22 °C (72 °F), 4 rain days91 °F (33 °C) / 72 °F (22 °C), 4 rain days
- Diriyah35 °C (95 °F) / 18 °C (64 °F), 0 rain days95 °F (35 °C) / 64 °F (18 °C), 0 rain days
- Duba33 °C (91 °F) / 22 °C (72 °F), 1 rain days91 °F (33 °C) / 72 °F (22 °C), 1 rain days
- Ha'il33 °C (91 °F) / 16 °C (61 °F), 0 rain days91 °F (33 °C) / 61 °F (16 °C), 0 rain days
- Hofuf35.7 °C (96 °F) / 20 °C (68 °F), 12.5 rain days96 °F (35.7 °C) / 68 °F (20 °C), 12.5 rain days
- Jizan31 °C (88 °F) / 22 °C (72 °F), 1 rain days88 °F (31 °C) / 72 °F (22 °C), 1 rain days
- Jubail33 °C (91 °F) / 22 °C (72 °F), 3 rain days91 °F (33 °C) / 72 °F (22 °C), 3 rain days
- Khamis Mushayt27 °C (81 °F) / 14 °C (57 °F), 36 rain days81 °F (27 °C) / 57 °F (14 °C), 36 rain days
- Khaybar35 °C (95 °F) / 20 °C (68 °F), 3 rain days95 °F (35 °C) / 68 °F (20 °C), 3 rain days
- Khobar33 °C (91 °F) / 20 °C (68 °F), 2 rain days91 °F (33 °C) / 68 °F (20 °C), 2 rain days
- King Abdullah Economic City36 °C (97 °F) / 24 °C (75 °F), 1 rain days97 °F (36 °C) / 75 °F (24 °C), 1 rain days
- Najran33 °C (91 °F) / 20 °C (68 °F), 3 rain days91 °F (33 °C) / 68 °F (20 °C), 3 rain days
- Neom31 °C (88 °F) / 17 °C (63 °F), 1 rain days88 °F (31 °C) / 63 °F (17 °C), 1 rain days
- Onizah34 °C (93 °F) / 19 °C (66 °F), 6 rain days93 °F (34 °C) / 66 °F (19 °C), 6 rain days
- Qatif33 °C (91 °F) / 20 °C (68 °F), 2 rain days91 °F (33 °C) / 68 °F (20 °C), 2 rain days
- Qurayyat30 °C (86 °F) / 15 °C (59 °F), 3 rain days86 °F (30 °C) / 59 °F (15 °C), 3 rain days
- Sakakah30 °C (86 °F) / 14 °C (57 °F), 3 rain days86 °F (30 °C) / 57 °F (14 °C), 3 rain days
- Tabuk30 °C (86 °F) / 12 °C (54 °F), 1 rain days86 °F (30 °C) / 54 °F (12 °C), 1 rain days
- Ta'if30.6 °C (87 °F) / 16 °C (61 °F), 34 rain days87 °F (30.6 °C) / 61 °F (16 °C), 34 rain days
- Wadi al-Dawasir35 °C (95 °F) / 21 °C (70 °F), 2 rain days95 °F (35 °C) / 70 °F (21 °C), 2 rain days
- Yanbu33 °C (91 °F) / 22 °C (72 °F), 0 rain days91 °F (33 °C) / 72 °F (22 °C), 0 rain days
Festivals and holidays
Dates as our data lists them. Moving holidays (lunar and Islamic calendars, Easter) shift every year: check the date for your year before you build a trip on it.
Friday prayer
Every Friday
Most shops closed until after midday prayer (about 13:00); malls open in the afternoon.
Ramadan check
Islamic calendar, moves yearly · Riyadh
Hours shift, no public eating in daylight, late evenings.
Eid al-Fitr check
Islamic calendar, moves yearly · Riyadh
Multi-day holiday; shops close, hotels and flights full.
Crowds and prices
- Crowds · Saudi Arabia
- Low
- Prices · Saudi Arabia
- Medium
Compare two months
Weather, crowds and prices for any two months in Saudi Arabia, side by side.
Verdict
Apr: Mixed
Feb: Great (better)
Crowds
Apr: Low
Feb: High
Prices
Apr: Medium
Feb: High
Festivals listed
Apr: 3
Feb: 5
April: 35 °C+ afternoons in Riyadh; sandstorms; still fine on the Red Sea early in the month.
February: Warm and dry; Founding Day (22 Feb). In 2027 Ramadan starts about 8 Feb (check).
Saudi Arabia: figures are long-term averages from this guide, not a forecast.
What to pack
- Light, breathable clothes, a sun hat and sunscreen
Where to go in April
Rated best or good this month
Best months: Apr–Sep (rose harvest Apr–May)