Days until winter

38 days to go
37days
10hours
28min
59sec
Monday, 21 December 2026 = 12 Rajab 1448 AH
Time elapsed since the previous date90%

Upcoming dates

GregorianHijriDayIn
21 December 202612 Rajab 1448 AHMonday38 days
22 December 202724 Rajab 1449 AHWednesday404 days
21 December 20285 Shaban 1450 AHThursday769 days
21 December 202915 Shaban 1451 AHFriday1,134 days
21 December 203025 Shaban 1452 AHSaturday1,499 days
Astronomical winter starts at the December solstice, on 21 or 22 December depending on the year; the date here is calculated for Riyadh time.

Astronomical winter starts in 38 days. In the northern hemisphere winter begins with the winter solstice, which this year falls on Monday, 21 December 2026 in Riyadh time. In the Arabian folk calendar the real cold starts with Al-Murabbaniya on 7 December, and meteorologists count December, January and February as winter.

The winter solstice in Riyadh time

At the solstice the sun is overhead at the Tropic of Capricorn and the day is the shortest of the year; in Riyadh daylight lasts only about 10½ hours. In 2026 the moment falls at about 23:50 on 21 December Riyadh time, in 2027 on the morning of 22 December and in 2028 on 21 December. Upcoming dates are in the table above.

Winter in the Arabian folk calendar

SeasonStartsLengthCharacter
Al-Murabbaniya7 December40 days (to 15 January)Cold sets in, long nights; includes the solstice
Al-Shabt16 January26 days (to 10 February)Usually the coldest nights
Al-AqaribAfter Al-ShabtTo early springChangeable weather; cold eases

Astronomical, meteorological and folk winter

  • Astronomical: from the December solstice to the March equinox.
  • Meteorological: 1 December to the end of February.
  • Folk: from Al-Murabbaniya on 7 December.

Northern regions such as Tabuk, Turaif, Al-Qurayyat and Arar see the lowest temperatures, sometimes near or below freezing, with occasional snow on the Tabuk highlands; Jeddah and the eastern coast stay mild. For forecasts and alerts, follow the National Center for Meteorology. Planning a trip? Use the days between dates calculator.

Winter FAQ

How many days until winter?

38 days until the winter solstice on Monday, 21 December 2026 (Riyadh time).

When does winter start in Saudi Arabia?

Astronomically on 21 or 22 December, meteorologically on 1 December, and in the folk calendar with Al-Murabbaniya on 7 December.

What is Al-Murabbaniya?

The first 40 days of the cold season in the Arabian folk calendar, from 7 December to about 15 January.

What is the coldest time of winter?

Usually late Al-Murabbaniya and Al-Shabt, from mid-January to early February.

Official sources

Content last reviewed: 12 November 2026