Capital city in Riyadh Province, Saudi Arabia
Air quality in Riyadh
Severely polluted
The annual average PM2.5 in Riyadh was 41.6 µg/m³ in 2022, about 8.3 times the WHO guideline of 5 µg/m³. Dust storms and haze are common in spring; summer heat adds ground-level ozone. Check IQAir on windy days.
Key facts
- PM2.5: 41.6 µg/m³ yearly average (2022). Measured at Riyadh Region, 2 km away.
- PM10: 303.9 µg/m³ (2022).
- Worst months: Mar–Jun.
Air quality across Saudi Arabia
Quick answers
Is the air in Riyadh bad?
Severely polluted: 41.6 µg/m³ of PM2.5 on average, 8.3× the WHO guideline. It's usually worst in Mar–Jun.
When is the air worst in Riyadh?
Dust storms and haze are common in spring; summer heat adds ground-level ozone. Check IQAir on windy days.
How does Riyadh compare with the rest of Saudi Arabia?
People in Saudi Arabia breathe 74 µg/m³ of PM2.5 on average (2023, World Bank/WHO), against 41.6 µg/m³ measured here.
More about Riyadh
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Sources
- WHO Ambient Air Quality Database
- WHO air quality guidelines (2021)
- Live air quality map (WAQI)
- Visit Saudi
- Saudi eVisa
Annual averages are measured values reported to the WHO; check a live map for today's air. Compiled and reviewed by SoloSquare. How we compile and score this. Spotted something out of date? Tell us.