Updated · Saudi Arabia Taxi Services
Can you get an English speaking driver in Saudi Arabia?
Yes. Arabic is the main language in Saudi Arabia, and English is widely used at airports, in hotels and in business. If you want an English speaking driver in Saudi Arabia, the simplest step is to ask for one when you book. All our drivers speak Arabic; most also speak English or Urdu, and many speak Hindi and Bengali too.
Language matters most at three moments: finding each other at pickup, explaining where you want to go, and asking for a stop on the way. This post covers how we match drivers, what to send in writing, and a few Arabic words that help on the road.
How do we match a driver to your language?
If you speak another language, such as Bahasa Indonesia, Turkish or French, plan to use writing and a translation app. The tips below work in any language.
- Tell us your preferred language in your first WhatsApp message, together with the trip details.
- We match a driver who speaks it. Our drivers cover Arabic, English, Urdu, Hindi and Bengali.
- For business trips, the Standard sedan class includes an English-speaking driver on request.
- On a Ziyarat tour, we send English, Urdu or Arabic speaking drivers who explain each site.
- For a family or group, tell us which language most of you are comfortable with and who the main contact is.
Send it in writing: the address that always works
Spoken directions are easy to mishear. Hotel names can sound alike, and Arabic street names are spelt in several ways in English. A written address and a map pin solve most of that before the driver sets off.
- The hotel or building name in English and, if you have it, in Arabic. Some hotel confirmations include both.
- A map pin of the exact entrance. Our post on sharing your location with your driver shows how to send one on WhatsApp.
- The gate or entrance name for large complexes, compounds and campuses.
- Your phone number with WhatsApp, including the country code.
Useful Arabic words for a taxi ride
You do not need Arabic to take a taxi, but a few words are friendly and useful. Spellings below show how the words sound in English.
| English | Arabic (say it like) | When to use it |
|---|---|---|
| Peace be upon you (hello) | As-salamu alaykum | Greeting the driver; the reply is wa alaykum as-salam |
| Thank you | Shukran | Any time |
| Please (to a man) | Law samaht | Before a request |
| Yes / No | Na'am / La | Answering questions |
| Right / Left | Yameen / Yasar | At junctions |
| Straight on | Ala tool | When the driver slows at a turn |
| Here | Hina | Stopping at your door: hina, law samaht |
| Slowly | Shwayya shwayya | On a bumpy or busy road |
| One minute | Daqiqa | When you need a moment |
| Airport / Hotel | Al-matar / Al-funduq | Saying where you are going |
| The Haram | Al-Haram | Makkah and Madinah |
| Mosque | Masjid | Asking for a prayer stop |
Translation apps and staying connected
A translation app covers longer conversations. Many apps let you download Arabic for offline use, so do this before you fly in case you have no data when you land. Type short, simple sentences; they translate better than long ones. In a noisy place, show the screen rather than playing the audio.
You need data or Wi-Fi for WhatsApp and maps. Our guide to Saudi SIM cards and eSIMs explains your options, and our meet-and-greet service includes help with a SIM card at the airport.
What if you and the driver cannot understand each other?
Message us on WhatsApp or call +966 57 951 9804, and we help pass the message on. Keep the request simple: where you want to stop, how long you need, or which entrance to use.
Show rather than tell where you can. Point to the pin on your map, hold up fingers for the number of bags, or show a photo of the building. If you want to change the destination mid-trip, tell us too, so the fare and the route are clear for both of you.
Before the ride: names, plates and pickup points
- We send the driver's name and plate number the day before your ride, so you can recognise the car without a conversation.
- At airports, the driver holds a name board at arrivals and waits free for 60 minutes after landing.
- Check the plate before you load your bags.
- Agree the pickup point in writing for the return trip, for example a hotel's main entrance.