Updated · Saudi Arabia Taxi Services
How do domestic flights in Saudi Arabia work?
Domestic flights in Saudi Arabia link the big cities with regional airports across a very large country. Road distances are long: Riyadh to Jeddah is 950 km, about 9 h with breaks, and Riyadh to Tabuk is 1351 km. On legs like these, a flight saves most of a day.
Three airlines fly domestic routes: Saudia, flynas and flyadeal. Routes, timetables, fares and baggage rules change, so check them with the airline before you plan around a flight. This guide covers the airports, the fly-or-drive question and the transfers at each end. It does not list airfares.
Which airlines fly domestic routes?
Which airline flies a route, and how often, changes from season to season. Search the airlines' own websites for your dates, and read the baggage section of your fare before you pack, especially if you are carrying Zamzam water. Domestic airlines set their own Zamzam rules, so ask before you fly.
| Airline | What to check with the airline | Good to know |
|---|---|---|
| Saudia | Routes, schedule, fare type and checked baggage | The national airline; book on its website or app, or through a travel agent |
| flynas | Routes, schedule, what your fare includes, baggage | A low-cost airline; check which extras, such as checked bags, your fare includes |
| flyadeal | Routes, schedule, what your fare includes, baggage | A low-cost airline; check which extras, such as checked bags, your fare includes |
Main Saudi airports with domestic flights
These airports all have domestic flights. Drive times are to the centre of the city each airport serves, and fares are per car for an economy sedan.
| Airport | Code | Serves | Drive to the centre | Taxi from |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jeddah Airport | JED | Jeddah | 25 min | SAR 60 |
| Riyadh Airport | RUH | Riyadh | 40 min | SAR 60 |
| Dammam Airport | DMM | Dammam | 40 min | SAR 70 |
| Madinah Airport | MED | Madinah | 25 min | SAR 60 |
| Taif Airport | TIF | Taif | 30 min | SAR 60 |
| Yanbu Airport | YNB | Yanbu | 15 min | SAR 60 |
| Tabuk Airport | TUU | Tabuk | 15 min | SAR 60 |
| Abha Airport | AHB | Abha | 30 min | SAR 60 |
| Jazan Airport | GIZ | Jazan | 10 min | SAR 60 |
| AlUla Airport | ULH | AlUla | 35 min | SAR 60 |
| Al Ahsa Airport | HOF | Hofuf (Al Ahsa) | 20 min | SAR 60 |
| Qassim Airport | ELQ | Buraydah | 30 min | SAR 60 |
| Ha'il Airport | HAS | Ha'il | 15 min | SAR 60 |
Other airports you may fly into
Red Sea International Airport serves the Red Sea Project resorts on the coast between Al Wajh and Umluj, and NEOM Bay Airport handles NEOM staff and contractor flights. Other cities and towns, including Najran, Bisha, Al Bahah, Arar, Sakaka and Sharurah, have domestic airports too.
We cover all 27 Saudi airports, so ask for a fixed fare from any of them. Send the airport, your flight number and your destination on WhatsApp and we reply within 5 minutes.
Fly or drive? Common domestic trips compared
A flight is quicker in the air, but you also need time to reach the airport, check in, collect bags and get to your hotel. On shorter trips the road can match the flight door to door, especially for a family that would otherwise buy several tickets. Our Jeddah to Madinah flight and taxi comparison works through one example.
| Trip | By road | Road time | Taxi from (economy, per car) | Our suggestion |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Riyadh to Tabuk | 1351 km | 14 h 50 min | SAR 2,300 | Fly |
| Riyadh to Jeddah | 950 km | 9 h | SAR 1,620 | Fly, unless you are moving with lots of luggage or pets |
| Jeddah to Abha | 687 km | 8 h 20 min | SAR 1,170 | Fly; by road it is a full day |
| Riyadh to Dammam | 400 km | 4 h | SAR 680 | Road or train; compare door to door |
| Riyadh to Buraydah | 330 km | 3 h 30 min | SAR 570 | Road or train for families |
| Jeddah to Madinah | 420 km | 4 h | SAR 720 | Road suits families with Umrah luggage |
| Madinah to AlUla | 350 km | 3 h 30 min | SAR 600 | Usually road; flights are limited |
What do you need for a domestic flight?
- ID: visitors normally use their passport, and residents their Iqama or national ID. Check which documents your airline accepts.
- Your booking reference and the airline's app, so you see any change to the time or gate.
- Check-in: each airline sets its own cut-off time. Check yours and arrive with time to spare.
- Bags: check what your fare includes before you pack, and add extra bags in advance if the airline allows it.
- Terminal: large airports such as Riyadh have several terminals. Your ticket shows yours, and our guide to Riyadh airport terminals explains the layout.
Flying to Jeddah or Taif for Umrah from another Saudi city
If you fly from Riyadh, Dammam or another city to Jeddah for Umrah, the flight crosses a Miqat before landing, just as international flights do. Most scholars advise entering Ihram before that point, so many pilgrims change before boarding. Ask a scholar you trust about your own case; our Miqat guide covers both the road and the air.
Taif lies outside the Miqat boundary. If you fly to Taif, you can enter Ihram at Qarn al-Manazil on the road down to Makkah, and your driver stops there at no extra charge.
Transfers at both ends of your flight
Send us both flight numbers and we book the ride to your departure airport and the pickup when you land, each at a fixed per-car fare. The driver tracks the arriving flight and waits free for 60 minutes after landing, so a late departure costs nothing extra.
Meeting points differ by airport. At Madinah the driver waits opposite the SIM card kiosks, at Dammam next to the car rental desks and at Abha opposite the taxi rank. Rides at night (00:00–05:00) carry a 20% surcharge, shown in your quote.