What's on in Riyadh (Saudi Arabia), Saudi Arabia through the year

Busy — Riyadh Season, school holidays in 6 of the markets that fill it

• Holiday

  Ramadan

  18 Feb – 19 MarClosures

  Government hours shrink, restaurants close until sunset and the city does its shopping between ten at night and three in the morning. Traffic before iftar is genuinely bad. Source ↗

Still on: Riyadh Season (10 Oct – 15 Mar (usually))

Peak crowds — Ramadan, Founding Day

• Holiday

  Founding Day

  22–23 FebMajor festivalCrowdedClosures

  A public holiday on 22 February with historical dress, markets and displays at Diriyah. Offices close and the restored mud-brick quarter is at its busiest. Source ↗

Still on: Ramadan (18 Feb – 19 Mar), Riyadh Season (10 Oct – 15 Mar (usually))

Peak crowds — Ramadan, Eid al-Fitr

• Holiday

  Eid al-Fitr

  20–23 MarRamadan & EidClosuresCrowdedBook early

  A week where much of the city leaves and what stays open is the entertainment season's last push. Domestic flights are the hardest thing in the country to book. Source ↗

• Hazard

  Spring dust storms

  1 Mar – 31 May · usuallyDust seasonClosures

  The wind off the interior turns the sky ochre for a day or two at a stretch, cancelling flights and putting sand through every window frame. Several a spring is normal. Source ↗

Still on: Ramadan (18 Feb – 19 Mar), Riyadh Season (10 Oct – 15 Mar (usually))

Shoulder season — school holidays in 3 of the markets that fill it, an ordinary month

Nothing new starts in April.

Still on: Eid al-Fitr (20–23 Mar), Spring dust storms (1 Mar – 31 May (usually))

Shoulder season — school holidays in 2 of the markets that fill it, an ordinary month

Nothing new starts in May.

Still on: Spring dust storms (1 Mar – 31 May (usually))

Quiet — school holidays in 3 of the markets that fill it, one of its worst months for weather

• Season

  The interior summer

  1 Jun – 15 Sep · usuallyExtreme heatClosures

  Dry heat with nothing to break it, and a city built to be driven through rather than walked. Everything outdoors closes and rates drop to their lowest of the year.

Quiet — school holidays in 5 of the markets that fill it, one of its worst months for weather

Nothing new starts in July.

Still on: The interior summer (1 Jun – 15 Sep (usually))

Quiet — school holidays in 4 of the markets that fill it, one of its worst months for weather

Nothing new starts in August.

Still on: The interior summer (1 Jun – 15 Sep (usually))

Busy — Saudi National Day, school holidays in 3 of the markets that fill it

• Holiday

  Saudi National Day

  23–24 SepNational holidayCrowdedClosures

  The 23 September holiday: green everywhere, air displays, concerts and a long weekend that fills the domestic flights. It also marks the start of the events season. Source ↗

Still on: The interior summer (1 Jun – 15 Sep (usually))

Busy — Riyadh Season, school holidays in 3 of the markets that fill it

• Festival

  Riyadh Season

  10 Oct – 15 Mar · usuallyMajor festivalCrowded

  The city's entertainment season runs from October into March: zones, concerts, funfairs and restaurants built for the months when being outdoors is possible at all. Source ↗

Busy — Riyadh Season

Nothing new starts in November.

Still on: Riyadh Season (10 Oct – 15 Mar (usually))

Busy — Riyadh Season, school holidays in 5 of the markets that fill it

Nothing new starts in December.

Still on: Riyadh Season (10 Oct – 15 Mar (usually))