Riyadh - Post Report Question and Answers
What is the air quality like at post (good/moderate/bad)? Are there seasonal air quality issues? Does the air quality have an impact on health?
Air quality isn’t always great because of sandstorms. - Jul 2021
Air quality is not great here. Lots of cars and lots of people don’t help, but the sand in the air is the worst part. The air quality is always bad except right after it rains, which rarely happens. Our entire family has been affected by the air quality. You’ll be issued two purifiers and you can request more, but since the houses aren’t well sealed it’s hard to do much about the air. - Feb 2018
Not good. The amount of sand and dust in the air is phenomenal. I have read that some 4,000 tons of sand descends on Riyadh every month. - Oct 2017
Dust is the biggest issue as well as the heat. On clear winter days when the dust is low it is literally a breath of fresh air. - Jan 2017
It is pretty good outside of the sandstorm season. - May 2016
Fair to poor. Worse in summer with dust storms. The fuel is not as refined here so that exhaust is a lot worse. Pinkish-brown skies from the dust and pollution cutting visibility in half. It's clearer in the winter when it rains. - Nov 2015
Very unhealthy when sand storms hit, otherwise good. - Oct 2015
Absolutely terrible part of the year - Sandstorm season is awful. But, the winters are lovely - the weather is a bit cooler and more bearable. It rains heavily for a few days maybe once or twice a year and the roads flood and people get into accidents because they are not used to driving in the rain. Stay indoors! - Oct 2015
Moderate to unhealthy especially during sand storms. - Jan 2015
Dry, sand in the air. Not many sand storms but constant dust in the air. - Sep 2014
Not good. The amount of sand and dust in the air is phenomenal. I have read that some 4,000 tons of sand descends on Riyadh every month. - Mar 2014
Moderate to unhealthy. Many people develop upper respiratory irritations and if you are asthmatic, this may be a difficult place to be living. - Dec 2013
Moderate in winter, unhealthy in the summer as there are many dust storms coming out of the desert. - Oct 2013
Regular dust storms can be unbearable, especially if you have asthma or allergies. The lack of humidity makes your skin so dry it cracks, and many people have dry eye and throat problems. - Mar 2013
Moderate. The air is very, very dry, and dust storms occur often - Apr 2011
Air quality is variable, alternating between good and moderate. In my experience, this is not because of pollution but more because of occassional dust storms, which are quite incredible to watch, but which can cause reduced visibility. - Jul 2010
Air quality can be very unhealthy because of pollution and dust in the air. - Mar 2010
