Updated · Saudi Arabia Taxi Services
When is Hajj 2027?
Hajj transport works differently from any other trip in Saudi Arabia, so it pays to plan it early. Hajj 1448 is expected around mid-to-late May 2027, subject to moon sighting. The Hajj days run from 8 to 13 Dhu al-Hijjah, with the Day of Arafah on the 9th and Eid al-Adha on the 10th.
Islamic dates move about 11 days earlier each year, so confirm the dates with the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah nearer the time. This guide explains what your permit and package cover, why taxis cannot run the holy-sites circuit, and where licensed transfers fit in before and after the Hajj days.
Do you need a Hajj permit?
Yes. Every pilgrim must have an official Hajj permit. Depending on where you live, you get it through Nusuk Hajj or through your country's Hajj mission or an authorised Hajj operator. Residents of Saudi Arabia also need a permit, through the official domestic booking channels.
In Hajj season, only vehicles with Hajj permits may enter Makkah and the holy sites, and checkpoints on the roads into Makkah check entry permits, including the Al Shumaisi checkpoint on the Jeddah road. Rules are set each year, so confirm the current requirements with the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah or on Nusuk, and read our note on Makkah entry permit rules.
How do pilgrims move between Mina, Arafat and Muzdalifah?
On the Hajj days, pilgrims move between Mina, Arafat and Muzdalifah on the official Hajj transport arranged with their package. Most travel by bus. Some packages include the Mashaer train, which links the holy sites during Hajj. Your package documents or group leader tell you which you have and when it leaves.
Private taxis, including ours, cannot run the holy-sites circuit on the Hajj days. Access is limited to permitted transport, and the official system is how very large crowds move safely between the sites. Outside the Hajj season you can visit Mina and Arafat by car on a Ziyarat tour.
Where do taxis fit into Hajj transport?
Our role is licensed transfers for permitted pilgrims before and after the Hajj days. In Hajj season we use Hajj-permitted vehicles and drivers who hold Hajj transport permits. Typical legs are:
Many international package pilgrims travel between Jeddah, Makkah and Madinah on buses arranged through their Hajj operator. Ask your operator what is included before you book anything extra. A private transfer suits families, elderly pilgrims and groups who want their own schedule for the legs their package does not cover.
- Jeddah Airport to your Makkah or Aziziyah hotel.
- Moves between Makkah hotels before or after the Hajj days.
- Makkah to Madinah after Hajj, and Madinah hotels to Madinah Airport.
- Jeddah or Madinah Airport for your flight home.
Transfer fares for Hajj pilgrims
Fares are per vehicle, fixed before the ride, and include fuel, tolls, the driver and meet-and-greet. Group buses seat 22 to 50 pilgrims and have a luggage hold. Your quote confirms the fare for your date and vehicle.
| Transfer | Distance | Economy sedan | Family van | Group bus |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jeddah Airport to Makkah | 102 km | SAR 180 | SAR 330 | SAR 670 |
| Makkah to Madinah | 450 km | SAR 770 | SAR 1,440 | SAR 2,930 |
| Madinah Airport to Madinah hotel | 18 km | SAR 60 | SAR 120 | SAR 400 |
| Jeddah Airport to Madinah | 402 km | SAR 690 | SAR 1,290 | SAR 2,620 |
Arriving at Jeddah's Hajj Terminal
King Abdulaziz International Airport has Terminal 1 for most scheduled flights and a separate Hajj Terminal for pilgrim charters. Your ticket shows which one you land at. Ask your operator whether a group bus meets you at the terminal; if it does not, send us your flight number and terminal and we confirm the meeting point.
We track every flight, and the driver waits free for 60 minutes after landing. If you land at night, a 20% surcharge applies between 00:00 and 05:00 and is shown in your quote.
Before and after Hajj: Makkah and Madinah
Aziziyah, several kilometres east of the Haram toward Mina, is popular with Hajj groups, and most guests there use hotel shuttles or a taxi to reach the Haram. Eid al-Adha falls during Hajj and is a national holiday, so roads around Makkah and between cities are busy.
After Hajj, many pilgrims go on to Madinah. The drive is 450 km on Route 15, about 4 h 30 min, with a rest stop at Al Faqih or Badr. Madinah Airport is about 18 km from Al-Masjid an-Nabawi, and central-area hotels have controlled vehicle access, so the driver uses the hotel's assigned entrance. Permits and vehicles are limited in the season, so book these transfers months ahead.
Hajj transport checklist
- Hajj permit confirmed through Nusuk Hajj, your Hajj mission or an authorised operator.
- Know your package's transport between the holy sites, bus or Mashaer train, and your camp details.
- Save your group leader's phone number.
- Book airport, hotel and Madinah transfers months ahead.
- Send us your flight number and terminal.
- Keep your permit and ID with you in the car for checkpoints.
- Confirm all dates and rules with the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah or on Nusuk.