Riyadh: In a striking weather anomaly, parts of Saudi Arabia witnessed rare and heavy snowfall this week, transforming stretches of northern desert into a white landscape. Regions such as Tabuk and Al-Jawf saw thick snow blanket golden sand dunes as temperatures plunged below freezing, with visuals of camels trekking through snow quickly going viral on social media.
Even Al-Ahsa in the eastern province—known for its warm climate—reported snowfall, while widespread rain lashed northern and central areas including Bir Bin Hermas, Al-Ayinah and Ammar.
How rare is it?
Snowfall in northern Saudi Arabia is uncommon but not unprecedented, especially in elevated parts of Tabuk. What has surprised weather watchers this time is the scale and spread, with flat desert plains seeing snow—something not observed for decades.
According to the National Centre of Meteorology (NCM), the Kingdom’s most intense cold wave was recorded in 1992, when temperatures at Hail dipped to –9.3°C. Historical accounts also note a Siberian polar surge in January 1973 that reportedly brought significant snowfall to Riyadh.
Snow has fallen in Saudi Arabia. In the country’s northern regions, it has happened for the first time in the past 30 years
The snow covered desert areas across thousands of square kilometers — from the Tuwaiq mountain range in the west to regions closer to Riyadh. Local TV… pic.twitter.com/IKPzalcZ1v
— NEXTA (@nexta_tv) December 21, 2025
Why now?
Climate experts point to climate change as a contributing factor. The World Meteorological Organisation says the Arab region is warming nearly twice as fast as the global average—fueling a “warming paradox” where warmer air holds more moisture, increasing the likelihood of extreme weather events.
Local channels dubbed the snowfall a “historic event,” with videos showing residents playing in the snow and even snowboarding down desert slopes.
Snow has fallen in Saudi Arabia. In the country’s northern regions, it has happened for the first time in the past 30 years
The snow covered desert areas across thousands of square kilometers — from the Tuwaiq mountain range in the west to regions closer to Riyadh. Local TV… pic.twitter.com/IKPzalcZ1v
— NEXTA (@nexta_tv) December 21, 2025
Looking ahead
NCM spokesperson Hussein Al-Qahtani said a cold air mass interacting with rain-bearing clouds is driving the conditions, with snowfall also reported in Al-Majmaah and Al-Ghat. A deep low-pressure system from the Mediterranean has pushed frigid air south into the Arabian Peninsula, keeping temperatures low across northern and central regions.
Interestingly, a colder future already figures in Saudi Arabia’s long-term plans. Under Vision 2030 led by Mohammed bin Salman, the Kingdom is developing Trojena within the Neom project—a high-altitude winter destination set to host the Asian Winter Games in 2029.
For now, forecasters say the chill will linger, with more rain—and the chance of snow—remaining on the cards.
