Updated · Saudi Arabia Taxi Services
What is the cheapest way from Jeddah to Makkah for a group?
A cheap Jeddah to Makkah trip for a family depends on group size more than anything else. Buses and the Haramain train charge per person, so the cost grows with every traveller. Our taxis charge per car, so the price stays the same however many seats you fill. The bigger the group, the more the per-car fare works in your favour.
The trip is 95 km from Jeddah city, about 1 h 15 min, and 102 km from Jeddah Airport. Makkah is open to Muslims only.
Taxi cost by group size from Jeddah city
The cheapest vehicle choice for each group, one way, by day. Each group travels in one vehicle type, using as many vehicles as it needs.
| Group | Cheapest option | Total | Per person |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 people | Comfort MPV | SAR 240 | SAR 60 |
| 5 people | Comfort MPV | SAR 240 | SAR 48 |
| 6 people | Comfort MPV | SAR 240 | SAR 40 |
| 7 people | Family Van | SAR 310 | SAR 45 |
| 8 people | Family Van | SAR 310 | SAR 39 |
| 9 people | Family Van | SAR 310 | SAR 35 |
| 10 people | Family Van | SAR 310 | SAR 31 |
| 11 people | Family Van | SAR 310 | SAR 29 |
| 12 people | 2 × Comfort MPV | SAR 480 | SAR 40 |
| 15 people | 2 × Family Van | SAR 620 | SAR 42 |
| 22 people | 2 × Family Van | SAR 620 | SAR 29 |
Check the luggage before you pick the cheapest
For 12 people the cheapest option is 2 × Comfort MPV. A Comfort MPV takes 5 suitcases and a family van 10, so a group with a lot of luggage may need the bigger vehicles even when they cost a little more.
Above 22 people, a group bus with up to 50 seats is usually the cheapest per person. The Jeddah to Makkah fare guide lists the cost per person for groups of up to 45.
From Jeddah Airport: what groups pay
From the airport the trip is a little longer, so fares are slightly higher. The driver meets you in the Terminal 1 arrivals hall with a name board and waits 60 minutes free after landing.
| Group | Cheapest option | Total | Per person |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3 people | Economy Sedan | SAR 180 | SAR 60 |
| 4 people | Comfort MPV | SAR 260 | SAR 65 |
| 6 people | Comfort MPV | SAR 260 | SAR 44 |
| 8 people | Family Van | SAR 330 | SAR 42 |
| 11 people | Family Van | SAR 330 | SAR 30 |
| 15 people | 2 × Family Van | SAR 660 | SAR 44 |
| 22 people | 2 × Family Van | SAR 660 | SAR 30 |
Train plus taxi: how to work out the real total
The Haramain High-Speed Railway runs from Jeddah's stations, including one at the airport's Terminal 1, to Makkah's station in Rusayfah, about 6 km from the Haram. Tickets are per person, with luggage limits per ticket. Fares and timetables change, so check the operator's website.
To compare fairly, add the taxi at the Makkah end. From Rusayfah station to a hotel near the Haram is a city ride of up to 10 km: SAR 60 in an economy sedan for up to 3 people, SAR 90 in a Comfort MPV and SAR 120 in a family van. If you start from a Jeddah hotel, add a taxi to the station too. Then multiply the ticket price by the number of travellers and compare the total with one taxi fare. You can pre-book a taxi from Makkah Haramain station.
What about the bus?
Intercity buses are the cheapest option per person and suit people travelling alone with light bags. They run to a timetable and stop at bus stations, not hotels, so you may need a taxi at the Makkah end as well, and luggage space is limited. Check the operator for current routes, times and fares. Our intercity bus guide has more on travelling by bus.
Ways to cut the cost
- Fit everyone in one vehicle. A Comfort MPV for 4 to 6, or a family van for 7 to 11, costs less than two sedans.
- Choose the MPV over the van when your bags fit: SAR 240 against SAR 310, with room for 5 suitcases.
- Avoid pickups between 00:00 and 05:00 if you can. At night a family van costs SAR 370 instead of SAR 310.
- Book the way back at the same time. A return costs about 5% less than two one-way fares: SAR 590 in a family van.
- Book all your Umrah legs together in an Umrah transport package, so you know the total before you travel.
- Do not book a driver by the hour for a one-way trip. A fixed point-to-point fare is cheaper.
What the taxi fare already includes
Apart from child seats and extra-large items, there is nothing to add on the road. The fare includes fuel, any tolls and the driver, a stop for prayer or rest on the way, and drop-off at your hotel or the nearest open drop point near the Haram. Our fares do not rise in Ramadan or the Hajj season, but vehicles sell out, so book early.