Updated · Saudi Arabia Taxi Services
What happens when you land late at Jeddah?
A late night arrival in Jeddah is easy to manage if the next step is planned before you board. The hard part is the hour after landing: you are tired, your phone may have no local data, and you need a car you can trust to take you to Jeddah or Makkah.
King Abdulaziz International Airport (JED) has Terminal 1 for most scheduled flights and the Hajj Terminal for pilgrim charters. Your ticket shows the terminal. At Terminal 1 our meeting point is the arrivals hall exit gate after customs, where your driver holds a name board.
Immigration and baggage take longer when several flights land close together, and nobody can promise an exact time. That is why we track your flight and the free waiting time of 60 minutes starts when you actually land, not at the time printed on your ticket.
Should you go straight to Makkah or sleep in Jeddah first?
Both are sensible. Going straight to Makkah takes about 1 h 25 min for the 102 km drive. If you are already in Ihram, the Ihram restrictions stay in place until you complete Umrah, so going straight on means you finish Umrah and leave Ihram sooner.
Staying the first night in Jeddah makes sense with young children, elderly parents or a very long flight behind you. The airport is about 20 km from the city, roughly 25 min, and you can travel on to Makkah the next morning after a proper rest.
Entry to Makkah is for Muslims only. If you are not Muslim and are visiting for work or tourism, your trip from the airport ends at your Jeddah hotel or address, and the same booking steps apply.
How much does a late-night airport taxi cost?
Our fares are fixed per car and include fuel, tolls, the driver and meet-and-greet. A night surcharge of 20% applies to rides at night (00:00–05:00). It is part of the quote you accept on WhatsApp, so the driver never adds anything in the car.
| Trip | Distance | Economy, day | Economy, night | Family van, day | Family van, night |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jeddah Airport to Jeddah city | 20 km | SAR 60 | SAR 70 | SAR 120 | SAR 140 |
| Jeddah Airport to Makkah | 102 km | SAR 180 | SAR 220 | SAR 330 | SAR 400 |
| Jeddah Airport to Madinah | 402 km | SAR 690 | SAR 830 | SAR 1,290 | SAR 1,550 |
| Madinah Airport to Madinah | 18 km | SAR 60 | SAR 70 | SAR 120 | SAR 140 |
| Riyadh Airport to Riyadh | 35 km | SAR 60 | SAR 70 | SAR 120 | SAR 140 |
| Dammam Airport to Dammam | 40 km | SAR 70 | SAR 80 | SAR 130 | SAR 160 |
Can you get a taxi at the airport at night without booking?
You can. Saudi airports have taxi ranks outside arrivals, and ride-hailing apps such as Uber and Careem operate in the main cities. At the rank you queue after landing and the price comes from the meter or is agreed there. In an app the price is shown before you confirm and changes with demand.
Both work for a solo traveller with light bags. They are harder with a family, a lot of luggage or a phone without local data, because you need a working connection to book and you only see the car when it arrives. A pre-booked driver removes those steps: you know the car, the plate and the price before you take off. Our pre-booked taxi vs airport taxi rank comparison sets out the differences.
Step by step: from the plane to your hotel
- Before you fly, send your flight number, the number of passengers and bags, and your hotel on WhatsApp. We reply with a fixed fare within 5 minutes.
- The day before, you receive the driver's name and plate number.
- Save our number, +966 57 951 9804, and download an offline map of the city in case you have no data on landing.
- After landing, switch on roaming or join Wi-Fi and send a WhatsApp message to say you have landed.
- Go through immigration and collect your bags. The driver is tracking your flight, so there is no need to rush.
- At Terminal 1, walk out through the exit gate after customs and look for your name board.
- Check the plate against our message before you load the bags.
- Tell the driver if you need a stop for prayer, water or food on the way.
Late arrivals at Madinah, Riyadh and Dammam
The same plan works at other airports. At Madinah Airport (MED) the driver waits at the arrivals hall exit, opposite the SIM card kiosks, and the drive to the Prophet's Mosque area takes about 25 min. The central area has restricted vehicle access, so the driver drops you at your hotel's assigned gate.
At King Khalid Airport (RUH) in Riyadh, the meeting point is the arrivals hall after baggage claim at your terminal, and the driver sends a live location pin on WhatsApp. Tell us your airline so we go to the right terminal. At King Fahd Airport (DMM) in Dammam, the driver waits at the international arrivals exit, next to the car rental desks, and our dispatch runs 24/7. If you are heading to the Eastern Province, read our guide to Dammam Airport to Al Khobar.
Tips for women, families and elderly travellers arriving at night
- Female-driver vehicles are available in Jeddah, Makkah, Madinah, Riyadh and Dammam. Book at least 12 hours ahead.
- Ask for child seats when you book and give the children's ages.
- A wheelchair-accessible van with a rear ramp can meet elderly or disabled travellers at arrivals.
- A family van carries up to 11 people and 10 suitcases, so a large family stays together in one vehicle at night.
- Our meet-and-greet service adds a representative who helps with trolleys and SIM cards and walks you to the car.