When to go · Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia in November
Great month. Comfortable everywhere except Asir nights; busy with festivals and conferences.
Key facts
- Verdict
- Great
- Crowds
- High
- Saudi Arabia
- Prices
- High
- Saudi Arabia
Verdict
Comfortable everywhere except Asir nights; busy with festivals and conferences.
Is another month better than November?
No other month rates higher than November for Saudi Arabia in this guide.
Weather in November
- 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 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, 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 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 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 escarpmentfine
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, Jubbahbest weather
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.
- Riyadh29 °C (84 °F) / 14 °C (57 °F), 2 rain days84 °F (29 °C) / 57 °F (14 °C), 2 rain days
- Abha23 °C (73 °F) / 11 °C (52 °F), 1 rain days73 °F (23 °C) / 52 °F (11 °C), 1 rain days
- Al‑Aflaj27 °C (81 °F) / 14 °C (57 °F), 1 rain days81 °F (27 °C) / 57 °F (14 °C), 1 rain days
- AlUla28 °C (82 °F) / 11 °C (52 °F), 1 rain days82 °F (28 °C) / 52 °F (11 °C), 1 rain days
- Buraydah27 °C (81 °F) / 13 °C (55 °F), 3 rain days81 °F (27 °C) / 55 °F (13 °C), 3 rain days
- Dhahran30 °C (86 °F) / 19 °C (66 °F), 3 rain days86 °F (30 °C) / 66 °F (19 °C), 3 rain days
- Diriyah26 °C (79 °F) / 12 °C (54 °F), 0 rain days79 °F (26 °C) / 54 °F (12 °C), 0 rain days
- Duba32 °C (90 °F) / 21 °C (70 °F), 1 rain days90 °F (32 °C) / 70 °F (21 °C), 1 rain days
- Ha'il27 °C (81 °F) / 12 °C (54 °F), 2 rain days81 °F (27 °C) / 54 °F (12 °C), 2 rain days
- Hofuf29.4 °C (85 °F) / 15.5 °C (60 °F), 13.6 rain days85 °F (29.4 °C) / 60 °F (15.5 °C), 13.6 rain days
- Jizan28 °C (82 °F) / 20 °C (68 °F), 2 rain days82 °F (28 °C) / 68 °F (20 °C), 2 rain days
- Jubail29 °C (84 °F) / 19 °C (66 °F), 3 rain days84 °F (29 °C) / 66 °F (19 °C), 3 rain days
- Khamis Mushayt25 °C (77 °F) / 11 °C (52 °F), 6 rain days77 °F (25 °C) / 52 °F (11 °C), 6 rain days
- Khaybar30 °C (86 °F) / 15 °C (59 °F), 3 rain days86 °F (30 °C) / 59 °F (15 °C), 3 rain days
- Khobar28 °C (82 °F) / 17 °C (63 °F), 2 rain days82 °F (28 °C) / 63 °F (17 °C), 2 rain days
- King Abdullah Economic City34 °C (93 °F) / 21 °C (70 °F), 2 rain days93 °F (34 °C) / 70 °F (21 °C), 2 rain days
- Najran29 °C (84 °F) / 15 °C (59 °F), 1 rain days84 °F (29 °C) / 59 °F (15 °C), 1 rain days
- Neom27 °C (81 °F) / 15 °C (59 °F), 2 rain days81 °F (27 °C) / 59 °F (15 °C), 2 rain days
- Onizah28 °C (82 °F) / 14 °C (57 °F), 4 rain days82 °F (28 °C) / 57 °F (14 °C), 4 rain days
- Qatif28 °C (82 °F) / 17 °C (63 °F), 2 rain days82 °F (28 °C) / 63 °F (17 °C), 2 rain days
- Qurayyat24 °C (75 °F) / 10 °C (50 °F), 3 rain days75 °F (24 °C) / 50 °F (10 °C), 3 rain days
- Sakakah24 °C (75 °F) / 10 °C (50 °F), 3 rain days75 °F (24 °C) / 50 °F (10 °C), 3 rain days
- Tabuk24 °C (75 °F) / 9 °C (48 °F), 3 rain days75 °F (24 °C) / 48 °F (9 °C), 3 rain days
- Ta'if26.8 °C (80 °F) / 12.5 °C (55 °F), 23 rain days80 °F (26.8 °C) / 55 °F (12.5 °C), 23 rain days
- Wadi al-Dawasir29 °C (84 °F) / 16 °C (61 °F), 1 rain days84 °F (29 °C) / 61 °F (16 °C), 1 rain days
- Yanbu28 °C (82 °F) / 18 °C (64 °F), 0 rain days82 °F (28 °C) / 64 °F (18 °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.
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
Nov: Great
Feb: Great
Crowds
Nov: High
Feb: High
Prices
Nov: High
Feb: High
Festivals listed
Nov: 3
Feb: 5
November: Comfortable everywhere except Asir nights; busy with festivals and conferences.
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
- Layers: a fleece or light jacket
Where to go in November
Rated best or good this month
Najd (centre)
Best weather of the year (Riyadh, Diriyah, Qassim, Edge of the World)
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)
Comfortable; busy with events.
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
Best months: Nov–Feb