Saudi Arabia in January

Cool days, cold desert nights; AlUla and Riyadh Season at their peak — book ahead.

January is rated good. These months rate higher:

• FebruaryGreatWarm and dry; Founding Day (22 Feb). In 2027 Ramadan starts about 8 Feb (check).
• NovemberGreatComfortable everywhere except Asir nights; busy with festivals and conferences.

• Najd (centre) · Riyadh, Diriyah, Qassim, Edge of the Worldcool

  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, Hailcool

  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.

• Riyadh21 °C (70 °F) / 8 °C (46 °F), 2 rain days70 °F (21 °C) / 46 °F (8 °C), 2 rain days
• Abha20 °C (68 °F) / 8 °C (46 °F), 2 rain days68 °F (20 °C) / 46 °F (8 °C), 2 rain days
• Al‑Aflaj20 °C (68 °F) / 8 °C (46 °F), 1 rain days68 °F (20 °C) / 46 °F (8 °C), 1 rain days
• AlUla22 °C (72 °F) / 6 °C (43 °F), 2 rain days72 °F (22 °C) / 43 °F (6 °C), 2 rain days
• Buraydah20 °C (68 °F) / 8 °C (46 °F), 3 rain days68 °F (20 °C) / 46 °F (8 °C), 3 rain days
• Dhahran22 °C (72 °F) / 12 °C (54 °F), 5 rain days72 °F (22 °C) / 54 °F (12 °C), 5 rain days
• Diriyah20 °C (68 °F) / 8 °C (46 °F), 0 rain days68 °F (20 °C) / 46 °F (8 °C), 0 rain days
• Duba28 °C (82 °F) / 18 °C (64 °F), 2 rain days82 °F (28 °C) / 64 °F (18 °C), 2 rain days
• Ha'il22 °C (72 °F) / 9 °C (48 °F), 2 rain days72 °F (22 °C) / 48 °F (9 °C), 2 rain days
• Hofuf22 °C (72 °F) / 9 °C (48 °F), 13 rain days72 °F (22 °C) / 48 °F (9 °C), 13 rain days
• Jizan24 °C (75 °F) / 15 °C (59 °F), 2 rain days75 °F (24 °C) / 59 °F (15 °C), 2 rain days
• Jubail22 °C (72 °F) / 12 °C (54 °F), 5 rain days72 °F (22 °C) / 54 °F (12 °C), 5 rain days
• Khamis Mushayt22 °C (72 °F) / 9 °C (48 °F), 5 rain days72 °F (22 °C) / 48 °F (9 °C), 5 rain days
• Khaybar23 °C (73 °F) / 9 °C (48 °F), 2 rain days73 °F (23 °C) / 48 °F (9 °C), 2 rain days
• Khobar21 °C (70 °F) / 11 °C (52 °F), 4 rain days70 °F (21 °C) / 52 °F (11 °C), 4 rain days
• King Abdullah Economic City30 °C (86 °F) / 18 °C (64 °F), 1 rain days86 °F (30 °C) / 64 °F (18 °C), 1 rain days
• Najran26 °C (79 °F) / 12 °C (54 °F), 1 rain days79 °F (26 °C) / 54 °F (12 °C), 1 rain days
• Neom21 °C (70 °F) / 9 °C (48 °F), 3 rain days70 °F (21 °C) / 48 °F (9 °C), 3 rain days
• Onizah21 °C (70 °F) / 8 °C (46 °F), 4 rain days70 °F (21 °C) / 46 °F (8 °C), 4 rain days
• Qatif21 °C (70 °F) / 11 °C (52 °F), 3 rain days70 °F (21 °C) / 52 °F (11 °C), 3 rain days
• Qurayyat16 °C (61 °F) / 4 °C (39 °F), 3 rain days61 °F (16 °C) / 39 °F (4 °C), 3 rain days
• Sakakah16 °C (61 °F) / 3 °C (37 °F), 3 rain days61 °F (16 °C) / 37 °F (3 °C), 3 rain days
• Tabuk17 °C (63 °F) / 3 °C (37 °F), 2 rain days63 °F (17 °C) / 37 °F (3 °C), 2 rain days
• Ta'if23.1 °C (74 °F) / 8.7 °C (48 °F), 10 rain days74 °F (23.1 °C) / 48 °F (8.7 °C), 10 rain days
• Wadi al-Dawasir22 °C (72 °F) / 10 °C (50 °F), 1 rain days72 °F (22 °C) / 50 °F (10 °C), 1 rain days
• Yanbu24 °C (75 °F) / 14 °C (57 °F), 0 rain days75 °F (24 °C) / 57 °F (14 °C), 0 rain days

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.

• 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 · Saudi Arabia

High

Prices · Saudi Arabia

High

High-price month: see what to book ahead.

Weather, crowds and prices for any two months in Saudi Arabia, side by side.

• Layers: a fleece or light jacket

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Rated best or good this month

• Red Sea coast

  Best weather of the year (Jeddah, Yanbu, the Red Sea resorts)

• Gulf coast

  Best weather of the year (Dammam, Khobar, Al-Ahsa)

• Riyadh

  Cool days 15–22°C (59–72°F), cold nights near 8°C (46°F); the best month.Cool days 59–72°F (15–22°C), cold nights near 46°F (8°C); the best month.

• Al‑Aflaj

  Best months: Oct–Mar (cooler, <35 °C (95 °F))Best months: Oct–Mar (cooler, <95 °F (35 °C))

• AlUla

  Best months: Nov–Mar

• Buraydah

  Best months: Nov–Feb

• Dhahran

  Best months: Nov–Feb

• Diriyah

  Best months: Nov–Feb

• Duba

  Best months: Oct–Mar

• Ha'il

  Best months: Nov–Feb

• Hofuf

  Best months: Nov–Feb

• Jizan

  Best months: Oct–Mar (cooler, less heat)