SeasonMapAlUla (Al-'Ula) weather in January
Saudi Arabia
January in AlUla: nice, dry — an excellent time to visit.
#4 of 12 months in AlUla · #281 of 1383 destinations to visit in January · comfort 86/100 (tier A)
Updated September 2026 · climate normals from ERA5 reanalysis
Traveller notes on AlUla in January
Other months in AlUla
AlUla's forum rates November through March as the recommended season, with daytime temperatures settling into the low 20s°C — genuinely pleasant for walking around Hegra and the old town. Regulars flag the desert nights as cold enough to need real layers, a sharp contrast to the mild days.
Add your own note from AlUla's card on the map.
AlUla climate normals — January
| Daytime high | 22°C / 71°F | 😎 nice |
|---|---|---|
| Nighttime low | 8°C / 47°F | |
| Feels like (high) | 18°C / 64°F | |
| Rainfall | 3 mm / 0.1 in | ☀️ dry |
| Rainy days | 0 days | |
| Humidity | 47% | 🍃 comfortable |
| Dew point | 0°C / 32°F | |
| Sunshine | 9.6 h/day | |
| Daylight | 10.7 h | |
| Wind | 16 km/h / 10 mph | |
| Air quality (US AQI) | 52 | 🙂 moderate |
Monthly averages from ERA5 reanalysis. AQI is the mean US Air Quality Index for the month.
Crowds in AlUla in January
How busy the place itself is — school and mass holidays, the months an editor tagged, and how sought-after the weather makes them. Never part of the comfort score.
Peak crowdsAlUla Arts Festival, Winter at Tantora, school holidays in 6 of the markets that fill it(estimated)
Peak crowdsBusyShoulder seasonQuiet
Best months for AlUla's weather
Ranked by this destination's own climate comfort score across the year — a different thing from how busy it gets (see Crowds above).
Fair weatherAlUla's best weather comes in February, March and December — separate windows, not one continuous season.
Best weatherFair weatherToughest weather
What's on in AlUla in January
Recurring seasonal events, natural spectacles, closures and holidays — curated and sourced.
- Festival
AlUla Arts Festival
16 Jan – 14 Feb · usuallyMajor festivalCrowdedA month of installations and light works through the oasis and the old town, timed for the coldest and clearest weeks. The desert polo and the trail race sit inside the same window. Source ↗
- Nature
Dark-sky season
1 Oct – 31 Mar · usuallyAlUla keeps its skies dark deliberately, and the cool half of the year gives the steady, dust-free nights. Gharameel after moonset is the reason people stay a second night.
- Festival
Winter at Tantora
15 Dec – 12 Jan · usuallyMajor festivalCrowdedBook earlyThe winter concert programme, staged outdoors between the canyon walls over three weeks around the new year. Rooms in the valley are the year's scarcest while it runs. Source ↗
Where is AlUla?
AlUla in January — FAQ
- Is January a good time to visit AlUla?
- January in AlUla: nice, dry — an excellent time to visit. It ranks #4 of 12 months for AlUla on SeasonMap's comfort score (86/100).
- What is the weather like in AlUla in January?
- In January, AlUla averages a daily high of 21.6°C and a low of 8.2°C, with about 2.8 mm of rain over roughly 0.4 rainy days.
- What is the air quality in AlUla in January?
- AlUla has a mean US Air Quality Index of about 52 in January.