Updated · Saudi Arabia Taxi Services
What is the Mashaer train?
The Mashaer train, officially the Al Mashaer Al Mugaddassah Metro, is a railway that links the holy sites of Mina, Muzdalifah and Arafat. It runs only during Hajj, as part of the official transport that moves pilgrims between the sites on the Hajj days. Outside Hajj, it does not carry passengers.
It is not the same as the Haramain High-Speed Railway, which links Makkah, Jeddah, KAEC and Madinah all year, and it has nothing to do with the Riyadh Metro. It also does not replace the hotel, airport and city transport you need before and after the Hajj days.
Who can use the Mashaer train?
Only pilgrims whose Hajj package includes the train can use it. The ticket or card is issued through the package, by your Hajj operator or mission, and you cannot simply turn up at a station and buy one. Nobody else can ride: not visitors, not residents without a Hajj permit, and not pilgrims whose package uses buses.
Most pilgrims move between the sites by bus, and the package decides which you have. Check your package documents or ask your operator, and confirm the current arrangements with the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah or on Nusuk, since the rules are set each year.
Where does it go, and where does it not?
| Place | Mashaer train | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Mina | Yes, during Hajj | The valley of tents, where pilgrims stone the Jamarat |
| Muzdalifah | Yes, during Hajj | Where pilgrims spend the night after Arafat |
| Arafat | Yes, during Hajj | The Day of Arafah, 9 Dhu al-Hijjah |
| Al-Masjid al-Haram | No | Not on the line |
| Makkah and Aziziyah hotels | No | Your package transport, or a permitted vehicle |
| Jeddah and Madinah airports | No | Package transport or a licensed transfer |
| Makkah Haramain Station (Rusayfah) | No | Package transport or a permitted vehicle |
How does the train fit into the Hajj days?
The Hajj days run from 8 to 13 Dhu al-Hijjah. In broad terms, pilgrims go to Mina on the 8th, to Arafat on the 9th, to Muzdalifah that night, and back to Mina from the 10th for the stoning of the Jamarat. If your package includes the train, it carries your group on some or all of the legs between the sites.
Your group leader tells you which station to use, when your group is due to travel and where to meet. Groups move on a schedule, so keep to your group's time and stay together. Expect crowds, walking and waiting at stations, and follow the instructions of the officials on duty.
Checklist if your package includes the train
- Your Hajj permit and ID, kept on you at all times.
- The train ticket or card issued with your package, somewhere safe and easy to reach.
- Your group leader's phone number, and your camp details in Mina and Arafat.
- Your group's travel times for each leg, written down as well as on your phone.
- Water, comfortable sandals and a small bag; leave suitcases where your operator advises.
- A meeting point agreed with your group in case you are separated.
Can a taxi take you between the holy sites?
No. On the Hajj days, access to Mina, Muzdalifah and Arafat is limited to permitted transport, and the official system of buses and the train is how very large crowds move safely. Private taxis, including ours, do not run that circuit.
In the Hajj season, only vehicles with Hajj permits may enter Makkah and the holy sites at all, and checkpoints on the roads into Makkah check permits. Plan everything between the 8th and the 13th with your Hajj operator.
Before and after Hajj: transfers a taxi can do
Our role is licensed transfers for permitted pilgrims before and after the Hajj days, in Hajj-permitted vehicles. Ask your operator first what your package includes, then book the legs it does not cover. Our Hajj transport guide explains the season in more detail.
| Transfer | Distance | Economy sedan | Family van |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jeddah Airport to Makkah | 102 km | SAR 180 | SAR 330 |
| Makkah to Madinah | 450 km | SAR 770 | SAR 1,440 |
| Madinah Airport to a Madinah hotel | 18 km | SAR 60 | SAR 120 |
| Jeddah Airport to Madinah | 402 km | SAR 690 | SAR 1,290 |
Visiting Mina and Arafat outside Hajj
Outside the Hajj season the train does not run, but you can see the holy sites by car on a Makkah Ziyarat tour. Mina is about 7 km from the Haram, Muzdalifah about 12 km and Mount Arafat about 20 km, and the three are usually combined in one trip. Access is restricted in the days around Hajj, so plan a visit for another time of year.