Today in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, the sun rises at 5:11 AM and sets at 6:47 PM, giving the city exactly 13h 35m of daylight. That is 1 minutes shorter than yesterday—just past its peak, losing daylight slowly. With 166 days until the Winter Solstice on December 21, Riyadh is currently in its Summer season.
Golden Hour & Twilight Windows in Riyadh
For photographers, filmmakers, and outdoor enthusiasts, the morning golden hour in Riyadh runs from N/A to 5:44 AM. The evening golden hour begins at 6:14 PM and lasts until 6:47 PM.
Civil twilight—when there is still sufficient ambient light to see clearly outdoors—begins at N/A. Riyadh sits in the subtropics, where the annual swing in daylight is moderate.
Solar Noon & UV Index
Solar noon in Riyadh falls exactly at 11:59 AM, which is the moment the sun reaches its peak altitude of 48.53 above the horizon. At this specific time, the solar angle produces very high UV, typical of Riyadh in Summer. SPF 30+ is advisable for anyone spending more than 20 minutes outside.
Why Does Sunrise Shift in Riyadh?
At Riyadh's latitude of 24.638916°, the sun currently rises at an azimuth of 456.69° (E). Because of the Earth's axial tilt, this position shifts slightly every day. Sunrise and sunset times for Riyadh are calculated using advanced solar algorithms (SunCalc) based on coordinates 24.638916, 46.7160104. Times are mathematically accurate to ±30 seconds.
Historical Sunrise in Riyadh (Past Years)
Due to the Earth's precise orbit, solar times remain highly consistent year over year. Here is a comparison of today's sunrise and sunset times in Riyadh versus 1 year and 5 years ago:
| Year | Sunrise | Sunset | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|
| Today | 5:11 AM | 6:47 PM | 13h 35m |
| 2025 | 5:11 AM | 6:47 PM | 13h 35m |
| 2021 | 5:11 AM | 6:47 PM | 13h 35m |
Frequently Asked Questions
What time does the sun rise in Riyadh today?
In Riyadh, the sun rises at exactly 5:11 AM and sets at 6:47 PM today. This gives the city a total of 13h 35m of daylight.
When is golden hour in Riyadh today?
Today, morning golden hour in Riyadh runs from N/A to 5:44 AM. Evening golden hour begins at 6:14 PM and lasts until 6:44 PM.
Why does sunrise in Riyadh shift every day?
At Riyadh's latitude, the sun currently rises at an azimuth of 456.69° (E). Because of Earth's tilt, the city is just past its peak, losing daylight slowly until the Winter Solstice on December 21.
What is the UV Index in Riyadh at solar noon?
Solar noon occurs at 11:59 AM when the sun reaches 48.53. This produces very high UV, typical of Riyadh in Summer. SPF 30+ is advisable for anyone spending more than 20 minutes outside.
Has the sunrise time in Riyadh changed compared to previous years?
Due to the Earth's precise orbit, solar times remain highly consistent year over year. Exactly one year ago in 2025, sunrise was at 5:11 AM, and five years ago in 2021, it was at 5:11 AM.