Desert Turns White After Rare Hailstorm in Saudi Arabia A rare and unusual weather event unfolded across parts of the Arabian Peninsula on December 18–19, 2025, when a strong cold front triggered heavy hail, rain, fog, and unseasonably cold temperatures. One of the most striking scenes emerged from Al-Batha corniche, located along the Salwa–Al Batha Road near the Saudi Arabia–UAE border, southeast of Al-Ahsa. Thick layers of hail accumulated across roads, beaches, and open desert areas, temporar