Is the air quality good in Riyadh?
As of May 20, 2026, at 7:30 AM (local time, GMT+3), air quality in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, has reached hazardous levels, with the Air Quality Index (AQI) exceeding 300. PM10 is the dominant pollutant driven by an active dust storm.
While the air quality remains poor today, Riyadh’s average PM2.5 concentration in 2025 was 28.8 µg/m³, corresponding to an AQI of 86 (“moderate”), already 5.76 times higher than the WHO annual guideline of 5 µg/m³. Today’s PM2.5 levels, however, are nearly 49 times above WHO guidelines, with air quality roughly four times worse than the city’s annual average.
At this level, every resident faces serious health risks, not only sensitive groups. All outdoor activity should be avoided entirely. For a complete, real-time view of current pollution levels, see Riyadh's air quality map.
Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, ranked among the most polluted major cities globally, as of May 20, 2026, at 7:30 AM (local time). Source: IQAir.
Air quality map of Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, as of May 20, 2026, at 7:30 AM (local time). Source: IQAir.
When will the air quality improve in Riyadh?
Weather warnings covering Riyadh were issued on May 19, 2026, with dusty conditions expected to persist and posing risks of poor visibility and respiratory complications.
Conditions are expected to improve once the dust storm front passes and winds subside, typically within 24 to 48 hours of peak activity.
However, dust storms in Saudi Arabia impact almost all parts of the country and can form from sources as far afield as Libya and Iraq, meaning fresh dust pulses may arrive before full recovery is possible (1).
Lasting relief from chronic dust episodes depends on broader regional land degradation and desertification control measures.
Hourly air quality forecast for Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, as of May 20, 2026, at 7:30 AM (local time). Source: IQAir.
What is causing poor air quality in Riyadh?
The dust storms that frequently hit Riyadh originate from the deserts of Iraq, passing through Kuwait before reaching the Saudi capital, loading the atmosphere with tons of suspended dust that drastically curtails visibility and raises PM10 and PM2.5 concentrations to dangerous levels (2).
Some storms are driven by the extremely dry al-Bawareh winds, churned up by atmospheric pressure over the eastern Mediterranean basin, which barrel down onto the eastern Arabian Peninsula. These walls of dust can reach heights of up to 2,000 meters with wind speeds of 100 km/h, posing major hazards to both air and land transportation (3).
Beyond natural dust, Riyadh's air is also burdened year-round by rapid urbanization, heavy reliance on private vehicles generating nitrogen oxides and fine particles, industrial and oil sector emissions, and construction dust, with the city's arid climate and stagnant conditions further hindering pollutant dispersal.
How can I protect myself from poor air quality?
- Get a free air quality app for real-time air quality alerts and forecasts.
- Shut doors and windows and set the HVAC to recirculate mode.
- Contribute to your community’s outdoor air quality data.
- Stay indoors when air quality is poor; if you do need to go outdoors, wear a KN95/FFP2 mask.
- Run a high-performance air purifier to filter particles, gases, and other pollutants.
