Longest and shortest day in Riyadh
In Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, the longest day of 2026 is around the June solstice on Sunday, 21 June 2026, with 13h 40m of daylight, and the shortest is around the December solstice on Monday, 21 December 2026, with 10h 36m.
| Turning point | Date | Sunrise | Sunset | Day length |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| March equinox | Friday, 20 March 2026 | 05:57 | 18:04 | 12h 7m |
| June solstice | Sunday, 21 June 2026 | 05:04 | 18:45 | 13h 40m |
| September equinox | Tuesday, 22 September 2026 | 05:41 | 17:49 | 12h 8m |
| December solstice | Monday, 21 December 2026 | 06:33 | 17:09 | 10h 36m |
| Month | Sunrise | Sunset | Day length |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 06:39 | 17:25 | 10h 46m |
| February | 06:27 | 17:47 | 11h 20m |
| March | 06:02 | 18:02 | 11h 59m |
| April | 05:31 | 18:15 | 12h 44m |
| May | 05:09 | 18:29 | 13h 20m |
| June | 05:03 | 18:43 | 13h 40m |
| July | 05:13 | 18:45 | 13h 32m |
| August | 05:27 | 18:27 | 13h 0m |
| September | 05:39 | 17:57 | 12h 18m |
| October | 05:51 | 17:26 | 11h 35m |
| November | 06:09 | 17:06 | 10h 57m |
| December | 06:29 | 17:06 | 10h 37m |
Why the day gets longer and shorter in Riyadh
Earth's axis is tilted about 23.4 degrees, so as the planet orbits the Sun, Riyadh leans toward the Sun for part of the year and away for the rest. When it leans toward the Sun the days lengthen and the Sun climbs higher; half a year later the opposite happens. The size of the swing depends on how far Riyadh sits from the equator: the further away, the bigger the difference between the longest and shortest day.
Frequently asked questions about day length in Riyadh
When is the longest day in Riyadh?
The longest day in Riyadh falls around the June solstice, on Sunday, 21 June 2026 in 2026, with about 13h 40m of daylight, sunrise at 05:04 and sunset at 18:45.
When is the shortest day in Riyadh?
The shortest day in Riyadh falls around the December solstice, on Monday, 21 December 2026 in 2026, with about 10h 36m of daylight, sunrise at 06:33 and sunset at 17:09.
How much does day length change through the year in Riyadh?
Between the longest and shortest day, Riyadh gains and loses about 3h 4m of daylight. The change is fastest around the March and September equinoxes and slowest near the solstices.
Every figure is computed from Riyadh's coordinates with SunCalc, not looked up from a table.