Updated · Saudi Arabia Taxi Services
What is Makkah Bus?
Makkah Bus is the city's public bus network, with routes linking Makkah's districts to the area around Al-Masjid al-Haram. It is public transport, open to anyone in the city, and separate from the shuttles that hotels run for their own guests.
This guide does not list route numbers, fares or hours, because the operator sets them and they change. Check the official Makkah Bus information, at stops and through the operator's official channels, before you rely on a route. During the Hajj season the rules are different, as explained below.
Makkah Bus, hotel shuttle or taxi?
| What matters | Makkah Bus | Hotel shuttle | Taxi |
|---|---|---|---|
| Who runs it | The public transport operator | Your hotel | A taxi company or app |
| Where it goes | Set routes between districts and the Haram area | Hotel to a drop-off point near the Haram | Where you ask, to the nearest open drop point |
| Price | Per person; check the operator | Free or paid, set by the hotel | Per car, from SAR 60 |
| Timing | Set by the operator | Hotel schedule, which changes around prayers | When you choose |
| Luggage | Best with light bags | Best with light bags | Room for suitcases |
| Best for | Budget trips, light travellers | Guests of hotels in Kudai and Aziziyah | Families, elderly pilgrims, luggage, night trips |
How to use Makkah Bus, step by step
- Ask your hotel reception which Makkah Bus stop is nearest and which route serves the Haram area.
- Check the route, hours and fare in the official Makkah Bus information before you set off.
- Find out how to pay before you board, and have that payment method ready.
- Note the stop where you get off near the Haram, and the walk from there to the gate you use.
- Plan your return before you go in: crowds leaving after a prayer make the stops busy.
- Keep your hotel's name and location pin on your phone in case you need a taxi instead.
Who is Makkah Bus good for?
The bus suits pilgrims on a budget who travel light and have some flexibility, especially those staying in districts away from the Haram that a route serves. It also helps on longer stays, when daily taxi fares add up.
It is less suitable for elderly pilgrims who find standing and walking hard, families with young children and pushchairs, and anyone with suitcases. For hotel check-in and check-out, airport trips and Ziyarat, a car is simpler. Our getting around Makkah guide compares all the options.
Prayer times, Fridays and Ramadan
Buses near the Haram are busiest just before and after each prayer, and much busier on Fridays and in Ramadan. Road closures around the Haram at those times can also change where vehicles stop. Leave early, follow the instructions of officials and bus staff, and expect queues for the return after a prayer.
For Jumu'ah, our Friday prayer guide covers timing in both Holy Mosques.
During the Hajj season
The Hajj season works differently. Entry to Makkah is restricted, only permitted vehicles may enter the city and the holy sites, and public transport can run under special arrangements. Check the current official information before relying on any route in that period.
On the Hajj days, pilgrims move between Mina, Muzdalifah and Arafat on the official Hajj transport in their package, by bus or, for some, the Mashaer train. Makkah Bus is a separate city service, and your Hajj operator tells you how and when your group moves.
When is a taxi the better choice?
- Elderly or less mobile pilgrims: a car drops at the nearest open point, and a wheelchair-accessible van is available on request.
- Families and groups: one fixed fare per car covers everyone in it.
- Luggage: hotel moves and airport runs; Jeddah Airport to Makkah costs from SAR 180 per car.
- Night trips for Tahajjud and Fajr: taxis run 24/7, with a 20% surcharge between 00:00 and 05:00.
- Ziyarat: an hourly driver from SAR 80 per hour waits at each site.
- Masjid Aisha for another Umrah: about 7 km, from SAR 60 per car, and the driver waits while you change.