Screening of drought tolerant genotypes for arid land cultivation is the best approach to avoid yield losses as
breeding and selection are time taking techniques. A current experiment was planned to evaluate late sown
wheat cultivars potential for drought tolerance and adaptability in Jeddah region, KSA. Four wheat cultivars
(YocoroRojo [YR], Faisalabad-2008, F-10 and L-7096) were tested against drought stress applied as (75% and
50%) of total crop water requirement. A 100% water requirement was also applied as a control. Data regarding
crop growth stages, growth, grain yield, and yield contributors were tested using MSTAT-C. Drought stress
significantly decreased all growth and yield traits except harvest index, and the effect of water stress was the
most severe where 50% of the total water requirement was applied. Both studied crop growth stages (days to
complete tillering and days to complete 50% heading) were also affected to applied water stress and effect was
a more pronounced for days to complete 50% heading. Studied cultivars responded variably for different growth
and yield traits. Cultivar YR took minimum days to complete tillering and heading while L-7096 presented the
highest plant height and dry biomass accumulation. Faisalabad-2008 reported maximum values for grain yield
and yield contributors except spike length that was maximum in YR. Based on the field evaluation, it is concluded
that Faisalabad-2008 produced significant results for growth and yield traits among studied cultivars and can be
successfully grown in arid land conditions under limited water supplies.