Riyadh weather in May
In May, Riyadh sees average daytime highs of 39°C and overnight lows near 25°C, with 2 mm of rain across 0.6 wet days and about 13.2 hours of daylight. It is the 5th-warmest and 7th-wettest month of the year here.
Highs climb over the month, from about 36°C in the first days to 41°C by the end. The sky is clear or mostly clear about 77% of the time in May, and the air most often feels dry.
Daylight stretches from about 12 h 54 min at the start of May to 13 h 24 min by month's end. Set against the rest of the year, May is Riyadh's 7th-clearest and 6th-windiest month. For the whole year in context, see Riyadh's year-round climate.
- Daytime high
- 39°
- 5th warmest
- Overnight low
- 25°
- 8th coldest
- Rainfall
- 2 mm
- 0.6 wet days
- Daylight
- 13 h 12 min
- 5:14 AM – 6:25 PM
- Cloud cover
- 22%
- 7th clearest
- Wind
- 14 km/h
- 6th windiest
- Solar energy
- 7.62 kWh/m²
- Travel score
- 0.9
- out of 10
Riyadh is capital and largest city of Saudi Arabia.
- Density
- 2,339/km²
- people per km²
- Founded
- 1746
Air quality: WHO Ambient Air Quality Database. Density & description: Wikidata (CC0), GeoNames.
Temperature in May
Highs climb over the month, from about 36°C in the first days to 41°C by the end.
A typical May day in Riyadh reaches about 39°C in the afternoon and slips back to 25°C overnight — a 13°C spread between the day's warmth and the night's chill. On most days the high lands between 35°C and 42°C. Set against its neighbours, May runs about 6°C warmer than April and about 3°C cooler than June.
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 30 | 31 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Avg high (°C) | 36 | 36 | 37 | 37 | 37 | 37 | 37 | 37 | 38 | 38 | 38 | 38 | 38 | 39 | 39 | 39 | 39 | 39 | 39 | 39 | 40 | 40 | 40 | 40 | 40 | 40 | 41 | 41 | 41 | 41 | 41 |
| Avg low (°C) | 23 | 23 | 23 | 24 | 24 | 24 | 24 | 24 | 25 | 25 | 25 | 25 | 25 | 25 | 25 | 26 | 26 | 26 | 26 | 26 | 26 | 26 | 26 | 27 | 27 | 27 | 27 | 27 | 27 | 27 | 27 |
| Avg high (°C) | Avg low (°C) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 36 | 23 |
| 2 | 36 | 23 |
| 3 | 37 | 23 |
| 4 | 37 | 24 |
| 5 | 37 | 24 |
| 6 | 37 | 24 |
| 7 | 37 | 24 |
| 8 | 37 | 24 |
| 9 | 38 | 25 |
| 10 | 38 | 25 |
| 11 | 38 | 25 |
| 12 | 38 | 25 |
| 13 | 38 | 25 |
| 14 | 39 | 25 |
| 15 | 39 | 25 |
| 16 | 39 | 26 |
| 17 | 39 | 26 |
| 18 | 39 | 26 |
| 19 | 39 | 26 |
| 20 | 39 | 26 |
| 21 | 40 | 26 |
| 22 | 40 | 26 |
| 23 | 40 | 26 |
| 24 | 40 | 27 |
| 25 | 40 | 27 |
| 26 | 40 | 27 |
| 27 | 41 | 27 |
| 28 | 41 | 27 |
| 29 | 41 | 27 |
| 30 | 41 | 27 |
| 31 | 41 | 27 |
How May really feels in Riyadh
Once humidity and wind are folded in, May averages 31 days that feel above 32°C and 0 that feel at or below 0°C — the comfort signal a plain temperature reading hides.
The story in May is heat — humidity pushes the afternoon "feels like" well above the raw temperature.
Riyadh weather by month
How May compares with the rest of the year at a glance. May is the 5th-warmest and 7th-wettest month here — the current month is highlighted below.
| Month | High / Low (°C) | Rainfall (mm) | Wet days | Daylight (hours) | Travel score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 20° / 9° | 11 | 2 | 10.6 | 8.1 |
| Feb | 23° / 11° | 5 | 1.5 | 11.1 | 8.9 |
| Mar | 28° / 15° | 11 | 1.9 | 11.8 | 7.9 |
| Apr | 33° / 20° | 14 | 2.7 | 12.6 | 4.3 |
| May | 39° / 25° | 2 | 0.6 | 13.2 | 0.9 |
| Jun | 42° / 28° | 0 | 0 | 13.5 | 0.0 |
| Jul | 43° / 29° | 0 | 0 | 13.4 | 0.0 |
| Aug | 43° / 29° | 0 | 0 | 12.9 | 0.0 |
| Sep | 40° / 26° | 0 | 0 | 12.2 | 0.4 |
| Oct | 35° / 21° | 1 | 0.2 | 11.4 | 3.8 |
| Nov | 27° / 15° | 11 | 2.1 | 10.8 | 8.0 |
| Dec | 22° / 10° | 9 | 1.7 | 10.5 | 8.6 |
Cloud cover in May
The sky is clear or mostly clear about 77% of the time in May.
Beyond those clear spells, partly cloudy skies cover about 11% of May, with mostly cloudy or overcast conditions the remaining 12%. Skies tend to open up as the month goes on.
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 30 | 31 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Clearer (%) | 82 | 82 | 82 | 84 | 84 | 84 | 84 | 84 | 85 | 85 | 85 | 85 | 87 | 87 | 87 | 87 | 88 | 88 | 88 | 88 | 90 | 90 | 90 | 90 | 91 | 92 | 92 | 92 | 94 | 94 | 94 |
| Cloudier (%) | 18 | 18 | 18 | 16 | 16 | 16 | 16 | 16 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 9 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 6 | 6 | 6 |
| Clearer (%) | Cloudier (%) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 82 | 18 |
| 2 | 82 | 18 |
| 3 | 82 | 18 |
| 4 | 84 | 16 |
| 5 | 84 | 16 |
| 6 | 84 | 16 |
| 7 | 84 | 16 |
| 8 | 84 | 16 |
| 9 | 85 | 15 |
| 10 | 85 | 15 |
| 11 | 85 | 15 |
| 12 | 85 | 15 |
| 13 | 87 | 13 |
| 14 | 87 | 13 |
| 15 | 87 | 13 |
| 16 | 87 | 13 |
| 17 | 88 | 12 |
| 18 | 88 | 12 |
| 19 | 88 | 12 |
| 20 | 88 | 12 |
| 21 | 90 | 10 |
| 22 | 90 | 10 |
| 23 | 90 | 10 |
| 24 | 90 | 10 |
| 25 | 91 | 9 |
| 26 | 92 | 8 |
| 27 | 92 | 8 |
| 28 | 92 | 8 |
| 29 | 94 | 6 |
| 30 | 94 | 6 |
| 31 | 94 | 6 |
Chance of precipitation in May
Riyadh gets around 2 mm of rain over 0.6 wet days in May. The line is the day-by-day chance of measurable precipitation.
Day to day, the chance of measurable rain averages around 2% and peaks near 7% on the wettest days. The odds ease toward the end of the month.
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 30 | 31 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rain chance (%) | 7 | 7 | 6 | 6 | 5 | 5 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Rain chance (%) | |
|---|---|
| 1 | 7 |
| 2 | 7 |
| 3 | 6 |
| 4 | 6 |
| 5 | 5 |
| 6 | 5 |
| 7 | 4 |
| 8 | 4 |
| 9 | 3 |
| 10 | 3 |
| 11 | 3 |
| 12 | 2 |
| 13 | 2 |
| 14 | 2 |
| 15 | 2 |
| 16 | 1 |
| 17 | 1 |
| 18 | 1 |
| 19 | 1 |
| 20 | 1 |
| 21 | 0 |
| 22 | 0 |
| 23 | 0 |
| 24 | 0 |
| 25 | 0 |
| 26 | 0 |
| 27 | 0 |
| 28 | 0 |
| 29 | 0 |
| 30 | 0 |
| 31 | 0 |
Humidity in May
Most of May feels dry — the stacked bands show each day's mix of comfort levels, read off the dew point.
By dew point, May lands in the dry band about 98% of days. It rarely turns muggy — the humid and sticky bands barely register.
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 30 | 31 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dry (%) | 92 | 92 | 93 | 94 | 94 | 94 | 94 | 95 | 95 | 97 | 97 | 98 | 98 | 98 | 98 | 99 | 99 | 100 | 100 | 100 | 100 | 100 | 100 | 100 | 100 | 100 | 100 | 100 | 100 | 100 | 100 |
| Comfortable (%) | 4 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Humid (%) | 3 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Muggy (%) | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Dry (%) | Comfortable (%) | Humid (%) | Muggy (%) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 92 | 4 | 3 | 1 |
| 2 | 92 | 4 | 3 | 1 |
| 3 | 93 | 4 | 2 | 1 |
| 4 | 94 | 3 | 2 | 1 |
| 5 | 94 | 3 | 2 | 1 |
| 6 | 94 | 3 | 2 | 1 |
| 7 | 94 | 3 | 2 | 1 |
| 8 | 95 | 2 | 2 | 1 |
| 9 | 95 | 2 | 2 | 1 |
| 10 | 97 | 2 | 1 | 0 |
| 11 | 97 | 2 | 1 | 0 |
| 12 | 98 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| 13 | 98 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| 14 | 98 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| 15 | 98 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| 16 | 99 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 17 | 99 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 18 | 100 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 19 | 100 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 20 | 100 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 21 | 100 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 22 | 100 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 23 | 100 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 24 | 100 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 25 | 100 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 26 | 100 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 27 | 100 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 28 | 100 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 29 | 100 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 30 | 100 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 31 | 100 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Wind in May
Winds average 14 km/h in May.
Across May, daily wind ranges from about 14 km/h on the calmest days to 15 km/h at its breeziest. It stays fairly steady from day to day.
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 30 | 31 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wind speed (km/h) | 15 | 15 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 14 |
| Feels | light breeze | light breeze | light breeze | light breeze | light breeze | light breeze | light breeze | light breeze | light breeze | light breeze | light breeze | light breeze | light breeze | light breeze | light breeze | light breeze | light breeze | light breeze | light breeze | light breeze | light breeze | light breeze | light breeze | light breeze | light breeze | light breeze | light breeze | light breeze | light breeze | light breeze | light breeze |
| Wind speed (km/h) | Feels | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 15 | light breeze |
| 2 | 15 | light breeze |
| 3 | 14 | light breeze |
| 4 | 14 | light breeze |
| 5 | 14 | light breeze |
| 6 | 14 | light breeze |
| 7 | 14 | light breeze |
| 8 | 14 | light breeze |
| 9 | 14 | light breeze |
| 10 | 14 | light breeze |
| 11 | 14 | light breeze |
| 12 | 14 | light breeze |
| 13 | 14 | light breeze |
| 14 | 14 | light breeze |
| 15 | 14 | light breeze |
| 16 | 14 | light breeze |
| 17 | 14 | light breeze |
| 18 | 14 | light breeze |
| 19 | 14 | light breeze |
| 20 | 14 | light breeze |
| 21 | 14 | light breeze |
| 22 | 14 | light breeze |
| 23 | 14 | light breeze |
| 24 | 14 | light breeze |
| 25 | 14 | light breeze |
| 26 | 14 | light breeze |
| 27 | 14 | light breeze |
| 28 | 14 | light breeze |
| 29 | 14 | light breeze |
| 30 | 14 | light breeze |
| 31 | 14 | light breeze |
Sunrise & sunset in May
Daylight runs from about 12 h 54 min at the start of May to 13 h 24 min by month's end. The lit band spans sunrise to sunset each day.
Days grow by about 30 minutes over May. Sunrise moves from 5:23 AM to 5:08 AM, and sunset from 6:18 PM to 6:33 PM.
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 30 | 31 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Daylight (h) | 12.9 | 12.9 | 13.0 | 13.0 | 13.0 | 13.0 | 13.0 | 13.1 | 13.1 | 13.1 | 13.1 | 13.1 | 13.1 | 13.2 | 13.2 | 13.2 | 13.2 | 13.2 | 13.2 | 13.3 | 13.3 | 13.3 | 13.3 | 13.3 | 13.3 | 13.3 | 13.4 | 13.4 | 13.4 | 13.4 | 13.4 |
| Sunrise (AM) | 5:23 | 5:22 | 5:22 | 5:21 | 5:20 | 5:19 | 5:19 | 5:18 | 5:17 | 5:17 | 5:16 | 5:16 | 5:15 | 5:15 | 5:14 | 5:14 | 5:13 | 5:13 | 5:12 | 5:12 | 5:11 | 5:11 | 5:11 | 5:10 | 5:10 | 5:10 | 5:09 | 5:09 | 5:09 | 5:09 | 5:08 |
| Sunset (PM) | 6:18 | 6:18 | 6:19 | 6:19 | 6:20 | 6:20 | 6:21 | 6:21 | 6:22 | 6:22 | 6:23 | 6:23 | 6:24 | 6:24 | 6:25 | 6:25 | 6:26 | 6:26 | 6:27 | 6:27 | 6:28 | 6:28 | 6:29 | 6:29 | 6:30 | 6:30 | 6:31 | 6:31 | 6:32 | 6:32 | 6:33 |
| Daylight (h) | Sunrise (AM) | Sunset (PM) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 12.9 | 5:23 | 6:18 |
| 2 | 12.9 | 5:22 | 6:18 |
| 3 | 13.0 | 5:22 | 6:19 |
| 4 | 13.0 | 5:21 | 6:19 |
| 5 | 13.0 | 5:20 | 6:20 |
| 6 | 13.0 | 5:19 | 6:20 |
| 7 | 13.0 | 5:19 | 6:21 |
| 8 | 13.1 | 5:18 | 6:21 |
| 9 | 13.1 | 5:17 | 6:22 |
| 10 | 13.1 | 5:17 | 6:22 |
| 11 | 13.1 | 5:16 | 6:23 |
| 12 | 13.1 | 5:16 | 6:23 |
| 13 | 13.1 | 5:15 | 6:24 |
| 14 | 13.2 | 5:15 | 6:24 |
| 15 | 13.2 | 5:14 | 6:25 |
| 16 | 13.2 | 5:14 | 6:25 |
| 17 | 13.2 | 5:13 | 6:26 |
| 18 | 13.2 | 5:13 | 6:26 |
| 19 | 13.2 | 5:12 | 6:27 |
| 20 | 13.3 | 5:12 | 6:27 |
| 21 | 13.3 | 5:11 | 6:28 |
| 22 | 13.3 | 5:11 | 6:28 |
| 23 | 13.3 | 5:11 | 6:29 |
| 24 | 13.3 | 5:10 | 6:29 |
| 25 | 13.3 | 5:10 | 6:30 |
| 26 | 13.3 | 5:10 | 6:30 |
| 27 | 13.4 | 5:09 | 6:31 |
| 28 | 13.4 | 5:09 | 6:31 |
| 29 | 13.4 | 5:09 | 6:32 |
| 30 | 13.4 | 5:09 | 6:32 |
| 31 | 13.4 | 5:08 | 6:33 |
Solar energy in May
Average shortwave solar energy reaching the ground each day in May, about 7.62 kWh/m².
For context, solar energy here swings from a low near 4.2 kWh/m² to a high of 7.73 kWh/m² in June across the year — May's 7.62 kWh/m² sits near the top of that range.
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 30 | 31 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Solar energy (kWh/m²) | 7.3 | 7.4 | 7.4 | 7.4 | 7.4 | 7.4 | 7.5 | 7.5 | 7.5 | 7.5 | 7.5 | 7.6 | 7.6 | 7.6 | 7.6 | 7.6 | 7.6 | 7.7 | 7.7 | 7.7 | 7.7 | 7.7 | 7.7 | 7.7 | 7.7 | 7.7 | 7.7 | 7.7 | 7.7 | 7.7 | 7.8 |
| Level | Intense | Intense | Intense | Intense | Intense | Intense | Intense | Intense | Intense | Intense | Intense | Intense | Intense | Intense | Intense | Intense | Intense | Intense | Intense | Intense | Intense | Intense | Intense | Intense | Intense | Intense | Intense | Intense | Intense | Intense | Intense |
| Solar energy (kWh/m²) | Level | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 7.3 | Intense |
| 2 | 7.4 | Intense |
| 3 | 7.4 | Intense |
| 4 | 7.4 | Intense |
| 5 | 7.4 | Intense |
| 6 | 7.4 | Intense |
| 7 | 7.5 | Intense |
| 8 | 7.5 | Intense |
| 9 | 7.5 | Intense |
| 10 | 7.5 | Intense |
| 11 | 7.5 | Intense |
| 12 | 7.6 | Intense |
| 13 | 7.6 | Intense |
| 14 | 7.6 | Intense |
| 15 | 7.6 | Intense |
| 16 | 7.6 | Intense |
| 17 | 7.6 | Intense |
| 18 | 7.7 | Intense |
| 19 | 7.7 | Intense |
| 20 | 7.7 | Intense |
| 21 | 7.7 | Intense |
| 22 | 7.7 | Intense |
| 23 | 7.7 | Intense |
| 24 | 7.7 | Intense |
| 25 | 7.7 | Intense |
| 26 | 7.7 | Intense |
| 27 | 7.7 | Intense |
| 28 | 7.7 | Intense |
| 29 | 7.7 | Intense |
| 30 | 7.7 | Intense |
| 31 | 7.8 | Intense |
Hazard calendar for Riyadh
In May, Riyadh sits inside its dust season. The full year is below, with each hazard's peak months called out.
Riyadh sees seasonal dust haze (February–September), heaviest in May.
Is May a good time to visit Riyadh?
Our two travel scores rate May for general sightseeing and for beach or pool weather — 0 (poor) to 10 (ideal).
May is a weaker month for outdoor sightseeing in Riyadh.
What to pack for Riyadh in May
From May's temperature range, rain chance, sun and wind — what's worth putting in the bag.
In May, Riyadh sees daytime highs around 39°C and nights near 25°C. Pack light clothes and sun protection.
UV index in Riyadh in May
Clear-sky midday UV in May peaks around 10 (very high — sun protection essential). The full-year curve, shaded by WHO exposure level, is below.
Under clear skies, the midday UV index in Riyadh peaks around July 20 at about 11 (extreme) — sunscreen, a hat and midday shade are essential. It bottoms out near December 15 at about 4 (moderate).
The index reaches 3 or more — the level where the WHO recommends sun protection — every month of the year.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| UV index (midday) | 6 | 7 | 9 | 7 | 10 | 9 | 11 | 11 | 9 | 8 | 5 | 3 |
| Level | High | Very high | Very high | Very high | Extreme | Very high | Extreme | Extreme | Very high | Very high | Moderate | Moderate |
| UV index (midday) | Level | |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 6 | High |
| Feb | 7 | Very high |
| Mar | 9 | Very high |
| Apr | 7 | Very high |
| May | 10 | Extreme |
| Jun | 9 | Very high |
| Jul | 11 | Extreme |
| Aug | 11 | Extreme |
| Sep | 9 | Very high |
| Oct | 8 | Very high |
| Nov | 5 | Moderate |
| Dec | 3 | Moderate |
Air quality in Riyadh in May
Average fine-particle pollution (PM2.5) through the year — so you can see where May falls, not just the annual average.
Air quality in Riyadh is worst in March — around 93 µg/m³ PM2.5 (unhealthy), about 1.8× the cleanest month (October, 51 µg/m³).
Modeled monthly averages (CAMS reanalysis, 2015–2024).
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PM2.5 (µg/m³) | 68 | 75 | 93 | 89 | 85 | 71 | 70 | 65 | 54 | 51 | 59 | 63 |
| Level | Unhealthy | Unhealthy | Unhealthy | Unhealthy | Unhealthy | Unhealthy | Unhealthy | Unhealthy | Poor | Poor | Unhealthy | Unhealthy |
| PM2.5 (µg/m³) | Level | |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 68 | Unhealthy |
| Feb | 75 | Unhealthy |
| Mar | 93 | Unhealthy |
| Apr | 89 | Unhealthy |
| May | 85 | Unhealthy |
| Jun | 71 | Unhealthy |
| Jul | 70 | Unhealthy |
| Aug | 65 | Unhealthy |
| Sep | 54 | Poor |
| Oct | 51 | Poor |
| Nov | 59 | Unhealthy |
| Dec | 63 | Unhealthy |
Where is Riyadh?
Riyadh sits at 24.7°N, 46.7°E, 612 m above sea level, in Saudi Arabia. The nearest listed city is ‘Irqah, 11 km away.
Topography around Riyadh
How much the land rises and falls, and what covers it, within 3, 16 and 80 km of Riyadh.
Within 3 km, the terrain around Riyadh has only modest variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 58 m around an average of 610 m above sea level; within 16 km, only modest variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 194 m; within 80 km, large variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 688 m.
The land around Riyadh is covered by artificial surfaces (86%) within 3 km, artificial surfaces (74%) and bare terrain (23%) within 16 km, and bare terrain (93%) within 80 km.
Saudi Arabia travel facts
- Travel advisory
- Level 3
- Reconsider Travel
- Power plugs
- Type G
- 230 V · 60 Hz
- Prices
- ≈ 47% of US
- price level, 2025
- GDP per capita
- $34,537
- 2025
- Happiness
- 6.8 / 10
- World Happiness, 2025
- Homicide rate
- 0.9
- per 100k, 2019
- Road deaths
- 35.9
- per 100k/yr, 2019
- Income group
- High
- World Bank
- English
- Very low
- EF EPI 404
Sources: World Bank, US State Department, World Happiness Report, WHO/UNICEF, EF EPI, CIA World Factbook.
Data sources
Temperature, precipitation, cloud, humidity, wind and solar figures are a 1991–2020 climatology for Riyadh (24.6877°, 46.7219°, elevation 612 m), computed from hourly ERA5 reanalysis — contains modified Copernicus Climate Change Service information. Sun figures are astronomical calculations, not observations. City data © GeoNames, CC BY 4.0. Map outlines from Natural Earth (public domain); interactive map © Google. UV index is derived from CAMS (Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service) clear-sky UV data — contains modified Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service information. Monthly air-quality (PM2.5) seasonality is from the CAMS EAC4 reanalysis (Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service), scaled to the WHO annual mean where available. Topography is sampled from the Copernicus DEM GLO-90 elevation model (© ESA/Airbus) and ESA WorldCover 2021 land cover (CC BY 4.0).