Saudi Arabia
Jeddah in May
☀️ Dry seasonVery hot and mostly dry. Watch for extreme heat risk.
🎒 Pack: light, breathable clothes & sunscreen · sunglasses & hat
Why May scores 6.8What goes into the score
How it works- Weather comfort6.5
- !Very hot (37°C highs / 25°C lows)
- ✓Slightly humid (dew point 15°C)
- ✓Mostly dry (~0 mm rain)
- Air quality—
- Seasonal hazards8.5
- !Extreme heat: Average daily high 37°C
- Safety baseline5.0
- ·High caution
| May | Jan | |
|---|---|---|
| Score | 6.8 Good | 9.2 Excellent |
| Season | ☀️ Dry season | ☀️ Dry season |
| High / low | 37° / 25° | 29° / 19° |
| Rain | 0 mm | 13 mm |
| Humidity | dew pt 15° | dew pt 14° |
| PM2.5 | — | — |
Typical-month data: NASA POWER (MERRA-2 reanalysis) 2015–2024 (modelled, not a forecast). Temperatures: Jeddah weather-station normals. Rainfall: Jeddah weather-station normals (national met service).
Holidays & crowdsMay 2027
Holiday weekA long local holiday falls this month. Expect crowds at sights, fuller trains and flights, and higher hotel prices on those dates. Book ahead.
- Eid al-Adha 14–19 May · 6 days off in a row
National holidays only; regional holidays and school breaks aren't included. Source: holidays (open-source public-holiday calendar).
Explore JeddahEvents, sights, food & souvenirs
Check event dates locallySaudi Arabia's port city on the Red Sea is the traditional gateway to Mecca. Visitors come for the coral-stone houses of Al-Balad, a long seafront corniche and Red Sea diving.
No major events on our calendar for May.
Coming up later
Saudi National DayEvery year23 September every year
National celebrations with fireworks.
Why go: Crowds and traffic on the corniche; public holiday.
Where: Corniche and across the city
Red Sea International Film FestivalDate variesDates vary; usually early December
International film festival with screenings and events.
Why go: Hotels fill up; some screenings are open to the public.
Where: Historic Jeddah and venues across the city
RamadanDate variesMoves about 11 days earlier each year; roughly mid-February to mid-March in 2026 and February to early March in 2027
Holy month of fasting with lively night markets and gatherings in Historic Jeddah.
Why go: Do not eat or drink in public during daylight; evenings in Al-Balad are atmospheric.
Where: Across the city, especially Al-Balad
Al-Balad (Historic Jeddah)
UNESCO-listed old town of coral-stone houses with wooden latticed balconies.
💡 Explore in the evening when it is cooler and the souqs are busy.
Nassif House
Restored historic merchant's house in Al-Balad.
Jeddah Corniche
Long seafront promenade with parks, sculptures and beaches.
King Fahd's Fountain
One of the tallest fountains in the world, best seen at night from the corniche.
Al-Rahma Mosque (Floating Mosque)
Mosque built over the water on the corniche.
💡 Dress modestly; women should cover their hair when visiting.
Mutabbaq
Crispy stuffed pan-fried pastry with meat or egg.
💡 Street stalls, especially in Al-Balad
Saleeg
Creamy rice cooked in broth and milk, a Hejazi speciality.
💡 Traditional Hejazi restaurants
Foul
Slow-cooked fava beans, a common breakfast.
💡 Breakfast shops across the city
Sayadiyah
Fish served with spiced rice and caramelised onions.
💡 Seafood restaurants
Dates
Premium Saudi dates, often in gift boxes.
💡 Date shops and malls
Oud and perfume oils
Traditional fragrances and incense.
💡 Perfume shops in Al-Balad
Misbaha
Prayer beads in many materials.
💡 Souqs in Al-Balad