A nationwide study was conducted in Saudi Arabia to determine if bovine ephemeral fever (BEF) was present in cattle between 1993 and 1995. The study had two components: the first was establishment of sentinel herds of cattle in some localities, the second was to conduct a nationwide serological survey. The results indicated that Saudi Arabia was free of BEF during the period of study and that the cattle population was susceptible to the disease, which may have contributed to the fulminating epidemic of 1996. The epidemiological situation of the disease in Saudi Arabia is discussed in relation to the likelihood of introduction of the disease into the country.