Updated · Saudi Arabia Taxi Services
The Red Sea road trip at a glance
This Red Sea road trip follows Route 5, the coastal highway, north from Jeddah through Rabigh and Yanbu to Umluj and Al Wajh. Each leg is short enough to leave time for the sea, the old towns and a boat day. Fares are per car, fixed before the ride, and include fuel, the driver and rest stops.
| Leg | Distance | Typical drive | Economy sedan | SUV |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jeddah to Rabigh | 150 km | 1 h 30 min | SAR 260 | SAR 530 |
| Rabigh to Yanbu | 186 km | 2 h 10 min | SAR 320 | SAR 660 |
| Jeddah to Yanbu, direct | 320 km | 3 h 30 min | SAR 550 | SAR 1,120 |
| Yanbu to Umluj | 150 km | 1 h 30 min | SAR 260 | SAR 530 |
| Umluj to Al Wajh | 160 km | 1 h 40 min | SAR 280 | SAR 560 |
| Al Wajh to Duba | 152 km | 1 h 50 min | SAR 260 | SAR 540 |
Day 1: Jeddah to Yanbu, with a stop at Rabigh
Leave from Jeddah's north side, where the airport is, and follow the coast. King Abdullah Economic City (KAEC) and KAUST are on this road; drop-offs inside them need gate registration, so tell us in advance if you want to stop there. Rabigh is the usual rest stop, roughly halfway to Yanbu.
Pilgrims travelling the other way, south toward Makkah for Umrah, pass the Al-Juhfah area near Rabigh, the Miqat for people coming from the north. Our Miqat guide explains the stop.
Yanbu: the historic port and the corniche
Yanbu is a Red Sea industrial and diving city. Its historic district has old coral-stone houses and a waterfront in the former port quarter; go in the evening, when it is cooler, and combine it with the Yanbu Corniche. Yanbu Industrial City is separate from the old town, and its plant gates require worker ID.
Yanbu Airport (YNB) is 10 km from the city centre, which makes Yanbu a practical start if you would rather skip the first leg. From Madinah, the drive is 230 km on Route 60, about 2 h 30 min.
Umluj: boats to the islands
Umluj is the boat-tour base for the Umluj Islands, islands and lagoons often called the Maldives of Saudi Arabia. They are reached by boat, and the boat-tour operators are at Umluj marina, where we drop you. Allow a full day, and book the boat in advance if you go at a weekend.
October to May is the best season for the islands. Keep an hourly driver in Umluj, from SAR 80 per hour, if you want to be collected at the marina at the end of the day rather than book separate rides.
Al Wajh and the Red Sea Project area
Al Wajh is the gateway town for the Red Sea Project resorts, with an old town to explore. Red Sea International Airport (RSI) lies on the coast between Umluj and Al Wajh, about 25 km from Al Wajh, while Al Wajh Domestic Airport (EJH) is close to the town, so check the airport code on your ticket.
Resorts may arrange their own transfers, and island resorts are reached by the resort's boat or seaplane, so check with your resort what is included. Our post on Red Sea resort transfers covers the airport and resort side.
How do you end the trip?
You can also fly out of Red Sea International or Al Wajh Domestic Airport; schedules change, so check them before you fix your last day.
| Option | Distance | Typical drive | Fare from (economy) | Good for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Al Wajh back to Jeddah | 648 km | 7 h 55 min | SAR 1,110 | A loop; split with a night in Yanbu |
| Al Wajh to AlUla | 245 km | 4 h 10 min | SAR 420 | Adding Hegra and the heritage sites |
| Al Wajh to Tabuk | 330 km | 3 h 30 min | SAR 570 | Flights from Tabuk, or NEOM |
| Umluj to Madinah | 386 km | 4 h 55 min | SAR 660 | Pilgrims going on to Madinah |
Sample plans: 4 days or 6 days
- 4 days: Day 1 Jeddah to Yanbu; Day 2 Yanbu to Umluj, with an afternoon at the marina; Day 3 island boat trip; Day 4 Umluj to Al Wajh, then fly out.
- 6 days: Day 1 Jeddah to Yanbu; Day 2 Yanbu's old town and corniche; Day 3 to Umluj; Day 4 island boat trip; Day 5 to Al Wajh; Day 6 inland to AlUla or back by road.
- Book each leg as a fixed fare, or ask for a multi-day quote with one car and driver for the whole coast.
Season, road and packing tips
- October to May is more comfortable; the coast is hot and humid in summer.
- Route 5 is the main coastal highway; services are in and around the towns, so the driver refuels before the longer gaps.
- Carry your passport or Iqama for checkpoints, within reach rather than in the boot.
- Tell us about dive bags or other bulky kit, so we send a vehicle with room for it.
- Bring sun protection and water for marina and boat days.