Riyadh weather in May
Riyadh in May averages 32°C (90°F), 6 mm of rain and 8.7 hours of sun a day. It is one of the driest months of the year here.
Of the twelve months in Riyadh, May is the fifth warmest, the sixth wettest and the sixth sunniest.
- Average temp
- 32°C (90°F)
26–39°C · 78–103°F
- Rainfall
- 6 mm
Not much rain
- Sunshine
- 8.7 h
hours per day
What is Riyadh like in May?
Daytime
Days are hot, often above 32°C.
Rain
Rain is usually light.
Evening
Evenings stay warm.
What should I pack for Riyadh in May?
High-factor sun cream
With 8.7 hours of sun a day, burn time is short even in shade.
Sunglasses and a brimmed hat
Midday glare is the part people underpack for, not the heat itself.
Loose cotton or linen
Synthetics stop working once you are sweating through them all day.
A refillable water bottle
Daily highs this warm need roughly double the water a temperate day does.
A layer for the evening
The day swings about 14°C between its low and its high.
Comfortable walking shoes you can rinse
Dry warm weather is walking weather, and dust gets into everything.
May compared with April and June
May in Riyadh is 5.4°C warmer than April and 18 mm drier than it, which averages 27°C (81°F).
May in Riyadh is 3.2°C cooler than June and about as wet as it, which averages 36°C (96°F).
Daylight in Riyadh in May
On 15 May the sun is up for 13 hours 21 minutes in Riyadh, rising about 05:09 and setting about 18:30 local time.
May ends 29 minutes longer than it begins, so the last week of the month is a different length of day from the first.
Where to stay in Riyadh
Dates are a starting point for May.
Travel guides for Riyadh
What to read before you book.
Riyadh weather by month
TemperatureRainfall
How May compares with the rest of the year
May is highlighted. Every other month links to its own page.
| Month | Average | Rainfall |
|---|---|---|
| January | 15°C / 59°F | 18 mm |
| February | 18°C / 64°F | 6 mm |
| March | 21°C / 71°F | 22 mm |
| April | 27°C / 81°F | 24 mm |
| May | 32°C / 90°F | 6 mm |
| June | 36°C / 96°F | 0 mm |
| July | 37°C / 98°F | 1 mm |
| August | 36°C / 98°F | 0 mm |
| September | 33°C / 92°F | 0 mm |
| October | 28°C / 83°F | 1 mm |
| November | 22°C / 71°F | 14 mm |
| December | 16°C / 61°F | 13 mm |
Check another month
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FAQs about Riyadh in May
May climate averages for Riyadh, 1991–2020.
Riyadh averages 32°C (90°F) in May, ranging from about 26°C (78°F) at night to 39°C (103°F) in the afternoon. That is a 1991–2020 average, so an individual week can run either side of it.
Barely. May sees only about 6 mm, so rain is unlikely to affect your plans.
No. May averages 32°C (90°F) against 36°C (96°F) in June — 3.2°C cooler.
May is 5.4°C warmer than April, and 18 mm drier.
It is outside the easiest window. The most comfortable stretch here is February to April; May sits outside it, which usually means more heat, more rain, or both — worth it if you would rather have the place to yourself.
About 8.7 hours of sun a day on the 1991–2020 average — among the brighter months anywhere.
This page does not show today's weather. It is a 1991–2020 climate normal from Meteostat — a long-run average of what May is usually like, which is what you want when booking months ahead. For today or the coming week, check a live forecast.
About 13 hours 21 minutes of daylight in mid-May, against 13 hours 40 minutes in June and 10 hours 37 minutes in December.
On 15 May, sunrise is about 05:09 and sunset about 18:30 local time. Both shift across the month — the month ends 29 minutes longer than it starts.
