When to go · Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia in February
Great month. Warm and dry; Founding Day (22 Feb). In 2027 Ramadan starts about 8 Feb (check).
Key facts
- Verdict
- Great
- Crowds
- High
- Saudi Arabia
- Prices
- High
- Saudi Arabia
Verdict
Warm and dry; Founding Day (22 Feb). In 2027 Ramadan starts about 8 Feb (check).
Is another month better than February?
No other month rates higher than February for Saudi Arabia in this guide.
Weather in February
- Najd (centre) · Riyadh, Diriyah, Qassim, Edge of the Worldbest weather
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 resortsbest weather
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, Hailbest weather
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, Taifcool
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-Ahsabest weather
Very humid summers; shamal winds bring dust in early summer.
- Asir: Abha and the highlands · Asir Province, 2,200–3,000 mcool
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 escarpmentbest weather
Hot and humid most of the year; comfortable roughly November–March.
- Eastern Province: Gulf coast (Dammam, Khobar, Jubail, Qatif) · coast and islandsbest weather
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 oasisbest weather
Desert-inland: hotter days and cooler nights than the coast; spring dust storms are possible.
- Hejaz: Jeddah and the Red Sea coast · Jeddah, Yanbu, KAECbest weather
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, Medinabest weather
Hotter and drier than the coast; Medina nights cool in winter.
- Hejaz: Ta'if highlands · Ta'if and the Sarawat escarpmentcool
1,500 m+; the summer escape, rose harvest in April.
- Nejd: Riyadh and central Nejd · Riyadh, Al-Aflaj, Wadi al-Dawasirbest weather
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, Jubbahcool
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 coastfine
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, Qurayyatcool
Desert climate: big day–night swings, occasional winter frost, dust storms in spring.
- Riyadh24 °C (75 °F) / 10 °C (50 °F), 2 rain days75 °F (24 °C) / 50 °F (10 °C), 2 rain days
- Abha21 °C (70 °F) / 9 °C (48 °F), 3 rain days70 °F (21 °C) / 48 °F (9 °C), 3 rain days
- Al‑Aflaj22 °C (72 °F) / 10 °C (50 °F), 1 rain days72 °F (22 °C) / 50 °F (10 °C), 1 rain days
- AlUla25 °C (77 °F) / 8 °C (46 °F), 2 rain days77 °F (25 °C) / 46 °F (8 °C), 2 rain days
- Buraydah23 °C (73 °F) / 10 °C (50 °F), 2 rain days73 °F (23 °C) / 50 °F (10 °C), 2 rain days
- Dhahran24 °C (75 °F) / 14 °C (57 °F), 4 rain days75 °F (24 °C) / 57 °F (14 °C), 4 rain days
- Diriyah22 °C (72 °F) / 10 °C (50 °F), 0 rain days72 °F (22 °C) / 50 °F (10 °C), 0 rain days
- Duba29 °C (84 °F) / 19 °C (66 °F), 2 rain days84 °F (29 °C) / 66 °F (19 °C), 2 rain days
- Ha'il24 °C (75 °F) / 10 °C (50 °F), 1 rain days75 °F (24 °C) / 50 °F (10 °C), 1 rain days
- Hofuf24.8 °C (77 °F) / 10.9 °C (52 °F), 11.4 rain days77 °F (24.8 °C) / 52 °F (10.9 °C), 11.4 rain days
- Jizan25 °C (77 °F) / 16 °C (61 °F), 2 rain days77 °F (25 °C) / 61 °F (16 °C), 2 rain days
- Jubail24 °C (75 °F) / 13 °C (55 °F), 4 rain days75 °F (24 °C) / 55 °F (13 °C), 4 rain days
- Khamis Mushayt24 °C (75 °F) / 10 °C (50 °F), 9 rain days75 °F (24 °C) / 50 °F (10 °C), 9 rain days
- Khaybar26 °C (79 °F) / 11 °C (52 °F), 2 rain days79 °F (26 °C) / 52 °F (11 °C), 2 rain days
- Khobar23 °C (73 °F) / 12 °C (54 °F), 3 rain days73 °F (23 °C) / 54 °F (12 °C), 3 rain days
- King Abdullah Economic City31 °C (88 °F) / 19 °C (66 °F), 1 rain days88 °F (31 °C) / 66 °F (19 °C), 1 rain days
- Najran28 °C (82 °F) / 14 °C (57 °F), 1 rain days82 °F (28 °C) / 57 °F (14 °C), 1 rain days
- Neom23 °C (73 °F) / 10 °C (50 °F), 2 rain days73 °F (23 °C) / 50 °F (10 °C), 2 rain days
- Onizah24 °C (75 °F) / 10 °C (50 °F), 3 rain days75 °F (24 °C) / 50 °F (10 °C), 3 rain days
- Qatif23 °C (73 °F) / 12 °C (54 °F), 3 rain days73 °F (23 °C) / 54 °F (12 °C), 3 rain days
- Qurayyat19 °C (66 °F) / 6 °C (43 °F), 3 rain days66 °F (19 °C) / 43 °F (6 °C), 3 rain days
- Sakakah19 °C (66 °F) / 5 °C (41 °F), 3 rain days66 °F (19 °C) / 41 °F (5 °C), 3 rain days
- Tabuk20 °C (68 °F) / 5 °C (41 °F), 2 rain days68 °F (20 °C) / 41 °F (5 °C), 2 rain days
- Ta'if25.3 °C (78 °F) / 10.3 °C (51 °F), 1 rain days78 °F (25.3 °C) / 51 °F (10.3 °C), 1 rain days
- Wadi al-Dawasir25 °C (77 °F) / 12 °C (54 °F), 1 rain days77 °F (25 °C) / 54 °F (12 °C), 1 rain days
- Yanbu25 °C (77 °F) / 15 °C (59 °F), 0 rain days77 °F (25 °C) / 59 °F (15 °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.
Ramadan big impact
About 8 Feb – 9 Mar 2027 (lunar, moves yearly — check)
No eating, drinking or smoking in public in daylight (non-Muslims too); restaurants open at sunset (iftar) and stay open late; shops close in the afternoon and reopen until 01:00–02:00; offices work short hours.
Founding Day
22 Feb
Public holiday for the first Saudi state (1727); events in Diriyah and Riyadh, traditional dress everywhere.
Riyadh Season and other winter seasons
Oct–Mar (dates vary)
Concerts, boxing and events; hotel prices rise around big nights. AlUla, Diriyah and Jeddah run their own seasons.
Friday prayer
Every Friday
Most shops closed until after midday prayer (about 13:00); malls open in the afternoon.
Riyadh Season check
Autumn to spring, dates vary · Riyadh
Concerts, parks and shows; hotels book up.
Crowds and prices
- Crowds · Saudi Arabia
- High
- Prices · Saudi Arabia
- High
High-price month: see what to book ahead.
Compare two months
Weather, crowds and prices for any two months in Saudi Arabia, side by side.
Verdict
Feb: Great
Nov: Great
Crowds
Feb: High
Nov: High
Prices
Feb: High
Nov: High
Festivals listed
Feb: 5
Nov: 3
February: Warm and dry; Founding Day (22 Feb). In 2027 Ramadan starts about 8 Feb (check).
November: Comfortable everywhere except Asir nights; busy with festivals and conferences.
Saudi Arabia: figures are long-term averages from this guide, not a forecast.
What to pack
- Layers: a fleece or light jacket
Where to go in February
Rated best or good this month
Najd (centre)
Best weather of the year (Riyadh, Diriyah, Qassim, Edge of the World)
Red Sea coast
Best weather of the year (Jeddah, Yanbu, the Red Sea resorts)
North-west highlands and desert
Best weather of the year (AlUla, Hegra, Tabuk, Hail)
Gulf coast
Best weather of the year (Dammam, Khobar, Al-Ahsa)
Pleasant; Founding Day on Feb 22.
Best months: Oct–Mar (cooler, <35 °C (95 °F))Best months: Oct–Mar (cooler, <95 °F (35 °C))
Best months: Nov–Mar
Best months: Nov–Feb
Best months: Nov–Feb
Best months: Nov–Feb
Best months: Oct–Mar
Best months: Nov–Feb