Al Madinah Province in western Saudi Arabia combines Madinah, the city of the Prophet's Mosque, with AlUla's UNESCO-listed Hegra, the Red Sea port of Yanbu, and early Islamic sites at Badr, Khaybar and Uhud. This guide covers sights, hotels, food, access rules for non-Muslims and getting around.
Madinah lies on a high desert plateau about 600 m above sea level, ringed by volcanic lava fields. Summers are extremely hot and dry (highs of 41-43C), winters are mild with cool nights (lows near 12-15C), and rain is rare but can bring flash floods, mostly from November to April. AlUla is similar but cooler at night in winter, with lows near 8-10C; Yanbu on the Red Sea coast is more humid and slightly milder in summer. All figures are approximate climate norms.
Best time to visit
Best: November to March
Peak Season: Ramadan, Hajj season (about mid-May 2027) and winter holidays
Avoid: June to September (highs of 41-43C) unless the visit is for a specific religious occasion
Summary: Cooler months keep ziyarah, Hegra tours and desert drives comfortable. Outside Ramadan and school holidays, weekdays are calmer.
Notes: Dates of Ramadan, Eid and Hajj depend on moon sighting and can shift by a day. Rawdah and Umrah permits are booked through the Nusuk platform (nusuk.sa and the Nusuk app).
Month-by-month weather
Typical conditions throughout the year.
January
18C/64F
Mild days with cool nights, the most comfortable month. (typical high 24C, low 12C; approximate)
February
20C/68F
Warm and dry. Ramadan 2027 is expected to begin around 8 February (subject to moon sighting). (typical high 27C, low 13C; approximate)
March
24C/75F
Warm by afternoon; Eid al-Fitr 2027 is expected around 9-10 March. (typical high 31C, low 17C; approximate)
April
29C/84F
Hot days; plan outdoor visits for early morning and evening. (typical high 36C, low 21C; approximate)
May
33C/91F
Very hot. Hajj 2027 is expected around mid-May with heavy crowds. (typical high 40C, low 25C; approximate)
June
35C/95F
Extreme heat; heat exhaustion is a real risk outdoors. (typical high 42C, low 27C; approximate)
July
36C/97F
Extreme heat, dry; avoid daytime hikes. (typical high 43C, low 28C; approximate)
August
35C/95F
Extreme heat; school-holiday crowds. (typical high 42C, low 28C; approximate)
September
34C/93F
Still very hot; Saudi National Day on 23 September. (typical high 41C, low 26C; approximate)
October
29C/84F
Heat easing with comfortable evenings. (typical high 36C, low 21C; approximate)
November
24C/75F
Pleasant days; occasional heavy showers and flash floods are possible from November. (typical high 30C, low 17C; approximate)
December
20C/68F
Comfortable days and cool nights; busy with winter-holiday visitors and AlUla events. (typical high 25C, low 13C; approximate)
The seasons
What to expect in each part of the year.
Spring
Months: Mar-May
Warm to hot, about 30-40C by day; comfortable in March and rising fast.
Summer
Months: Jun-Aug
Extreme heat of 41-43C with strong sun and low humidity inland.
Fall
Months: Sep-Nov
Very hot in September, easing to about 28-30C by November.
Winter
Months: Dec-Feb
Mild days around 22-26C and cool nights near 10-14C; AlUla nights can reach single digits.
Crowds & peak times
When to expect tourists and when to avoid them.
- High Season
- Ramadan (especially the last ten nights), Hajj season (about mid-May 2027), and the winter and summer school holidays; AlUla peaks from December to February.
- Shoulder Season
- October and March-April outside Ramadan.
- Low Season
- June to September except school holidays; quiet hours at Masjid an-Nabawi are mid-morning and mid-afternoon.
Major events & festivals
Time your visit around what matters.
Ramadan 2027 begins
Taraweeh prayers fill Masjid an-Nabawi; restaurants open after sunset and stay open until suhoor; daytime public eating is not acceptable.
Eid al-Fitr
Public holiday; heavy domestic and Umrah travel.
Hajj and Eid al-Adha 2027
Pilgrims visit Madinah before and after Hajj; very crowded and hot.
Winter at Tantora (AlUla)
AlUla's winter arts and music season; verify dates at experiences.alula.com.
Saudi National Day
Public holiday with celebrations; some shops change hours.