Saudi Arabia
AlUla in January
🌤️ Cool seasonPleasant and mostly dry.
🎒 Pack: warm jacket for evenings
Why January scores 8.6What goes into the score
How it works- Weather comfort9.2
- ✓Comfortable temperatures (20°C highs / 6°C lows)
- ✓Comfortable humidity (dew point -0.4°C)
- ✓Mostly dry (~4 mm rain)
- Air quality7.7
- ✓Moderate (PM2.5 ~20 µg/m³)
- Seasonal hazards10.0
- ·No notable seasonal hazards
- Safety baseline5.0
- ·High caution
| Jan | Nov | |
|---|---|---|
| Score | 8.6 Excellent | 9.1 Excellent |
| Season | 🌤️ Cool season | ☀️ Warm dry season |
| High / low | 20° / 6° | 28° / 16° |
| Rain | 4 mm | 26 mm |
| Humidity | dew pt 0° | dew pt 5° |
| PM2.5 | 20 µg/m³ | 17 µg/m³ |
Typical-month data: NASA POWER (MERRA-2 reanalysis) 2015–2024 (modelled, not a forecast). Temperatures: al-Ula weather-station normals. Rainfall: al-Ula weather-station normals (national met service).
Holidays & crowdsJanuary 2027
No long holidaysNo long public-holiday weekends this month. School holidays aren't counted, so check those if you want to avoid family crowds.
No national public holidays in Saudi Arabia this month.
National holidays only; regional holidays and school breaks aren't included. Source: holidays (open-source public-holiday calendar).
Explore AlUlaEvents, sights, food & souvenirs
Check event dates locallyA desert region in northwest Saudi Arabia with sandstone canyons and ancient sites, including the Nabataean tombs of Hegra. It has become the country's flagship heritage destination.
Winter at TantoraDate variesDates vary; usually December to January
Winter festival of heritage, music and culture.
Why go: The cool season is the best time to visit, but book early.
Where: AlUla Old Town and around AlUla
Coming up later
AlUla Arts FestivalDate variesDates vary; usually February
Festival of contemporary art and exhibitions in the desert.
Why go: Adds art installations to a visit; check dates before travelling.
Where: Sites across AlUla
Hegra
Saudi Arabia's first UNESCO site, with over a hundred Nabataean tombs carved into rock.
💡 Access is by guided tour only; book in advance.
Elephant Rock (Jabal AlFil)
Huge natural rock formation shaped like an elephant.
💡 Go at sunset.
AlUla Old Town
Abandoned mud-brick town with restored lanes, shops and cafes.
Dadan and Jabal Ikmah
Ancient capital of the Dadan and Lihyan kingdoms and a nearby canyon of rock inscriptions.
Maraya
Concert hall covered in mirrors that reflect the surrounding desert.
AlUla dates
The oasis is known for its date palms and many date varieties.
💡 Farms, markets and cafes
Kabsa
Spiced rice with meat, Saudi Arabia's national dish.
💡 Local restaurants
Saudi coffee
Cardamom-spiced coffee served with dates.
💡 Cafes and hotels
AlUla dates
Locally grown dates in gift packs.
💡 Old Town shops and farm stalls
Moringa oil
Oil from the native moringa tree, used in skincare.
💡 Shops in AlUla Old Town
Local handicrafts
Crafts made by local artisans, such as weaving and pottery.
💡 Shops in AlUla Old Town