Updated · Saudi Arabia Taxi Services
How does a Madinah to Makkah taxi work?
Many pilgrims spend their first days in Madinah and then travel on to Makkah for Umrah. A Madinah to Makkah taxi makes that journey in one go: the driver collects you at your hotel, stops at the Miqat so you can enter Ihram, takes a rest stop about halfway and drops you at your hotel in Makkah.
You agree one fixed fare on WhatsApp before the day. It covers fuel, tolls and the driver, and we send the driver's name and plate number the day before. Central Madinah has controlled vehicle access around the mosque, so the driver collects you from your hotel's assigned entrance and loads the luggage.
Where is the Miqat on the road from Madinah?
The Miqat for anyone travelling from Madinah to Makkah for Umrah or Hajj is Dhul Hulayfah, also called Abyar Ali. It is about 12 km from Al-Masjid an-Nabawi, so the stop comes early in the trip, before the long stretch on the highway.
There are washrooms and changing areas on site. Many men put on their Ihram garments at the hotel, then pray and make the intention at the Miqat mosque, which keeps the stop short. Allow 30 to 45 minutes. If you have a question about your own Ihram, ask a scholar you trust before the day rather than at the roadside.
How does the journey run, stage by stage?
The road is 450 km on Route 15 (Al Hijrah Highway), about 4 h 30 min on the road in total. Prayer stops are added whenever a prayer time falls during the drive.
| Stage | What to expect |
|---|---|
| Leaving Madinah | Pickup at your hotel's assigned entrance; a time between prayers avoids the crowds leaving the mosque |
| Dhul Hulayfah Miqat | About 12 km from Al-Masjid an-Nabawi; allow 30 to 45 minutes for Ihram |
| Route 15 south | The long highway stretch towards Makkah |
| Rest stop | One stop at Al Faqih or Badr, about halfway, for washrooms, food and prayer |
| Arriving in Makkah | Drop at your hotel, or at the nearest open point when roads near the Haram close for prayers |
Madinah to Makkah taxi fares by vehicle
Fares are per car, not per person, and the Miqat and rest stops are included. A 20% night surcharge applies between 00:00 and 05:00 and is shown in your quote.
| Vehicle | Passengers | Suitcases | Madinah to Makkah |
|---|---|---|---|
| Economy sedan | 1 to 3 | 2 | SAR 770 |
| Standard sedan | 1 to 3 | 3 | SAR 900 |
| Comfort MPV | 4 to 6 | 5 | SAR 1,130 |
| SUV | 4 to 7 | 6 | SAR 1,580 |
| Family van | 7 to 11 | 10 | SAR 1,440 |
| Wheelchair-accessible van | 1 to 4 plus a wheelchair | 4 | SAR 1,580 |
When should you leave Madinah?
Start with your Umrah permit. Umrah is booked through the Nusuk app, so choose a time that leaves room for the drive, the Miqat stop, hotel check-in and some rest. Confirm the current rules in Nusuk itself before you book.
Leaving after Fajr or after breakfast brings you into Makkah in daylight, with time to rest before Umrah. If you leave later, remember that the roads closest to the Haram close at peak prayer times, so arriving just before a prayer can mean a walk from the nearest open drop point. Our post on drop-off points near the Haram explains how this works in each hotel area.
Getting ready before the car leaves
- Do ghusl at the hotel if you can; it shortens the stop at the Miqat.
- Keep your Ihram garments, unscented soap and toiletries in a hand bag in the car, not under the suitcases in the boot.
- Have your passport or Iqama to hand for checkpoints on the way.
- Keep your Nusuk permit on your phone, and charge the phone before you leave.
- Pack water and a light snack for the road.
- Send us the name of your Makkah hotel so the driver plans the right drop point.
Taxi, train or bus from Madinah?
The Haramain High-Speed Railway is quicker on the rails, but it makes no Miqat stop, so plan with your group leader or a scholar how you will be in Ihram before the train passes Dhul Hulayfah. Madinah station is about 10 km from the hotels near Al-Masjid an-Nabawi, and Makkah station is in Al Rusayfah, about 6 km from the Haram, so you need a taxi at each end.
Intercity buses are usually the cheapest option per person, but they run to a timetable between bus stations. Train and bus fares and timetables change, so check the operator before you compare. For families, elderly travellers and anyone with heavy luggage, a taxi that stops at the Miqat is usually the simpler choice.