Jeddah Transport

The city is served by King Abdulaziz International Airport, which facilitates up to two million pilgrims each Hajj season and is one of three international airports in the country.

The airport operates flights with national airline Saudi Arabian Airlines as well as Gulf Air, Alitalia, Air France, Lufthansa, Pakistan International Airlines, Air India, KLM, Qatar Airways and Philippine Airlines. In addition, many charter flights operate during Hajj to cater for those arriving for the trip to Mecca. Destinations served include Paris, Rome, Amsterdam, Lahore, Islamabad, Manila and Kuwait.

The main terminal is the primary receptacle for arrivals and departures, while the Hajj Terminal is a special tent-like terminal just for Hajj pilgrims, which is made of fiberglass. It ranks as the second largest air terminal in the world, dealing only with visitors who are on their way to or from Mecca. Further terminals are planned, but building work has not yet begun.

Facilities at the airport include toilets, car rental agencies, money changers and dining and refreshment outlets. There are parking facilities for both long and short-term stays, while transport links into the city include buses and taxis. If you are staying at one of the more upmarket hotels in Jeddah, it is likely hey will offer you a courtesy pick up.

It is not possible to travel to Jeddah or within the city by rail; however, the city does have excellent road links, making travelling here by car a convenient means of reaching Jeddah and getting around the city itself. Travelling by rental car is only an option if you are male, as Saudi law forbids women to drive. The borders with Jordan (northwest), Kuwait, Qatar, Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates (east), Oman (southeast) and Yemen (south) all have road crossings, with Iraq (north) being the only border that is not currently open.

If you are on a budget, travelling to Jeddah by train makes a good alternative, with services being operated by Saudi Arabian Public Transport Company (SAPTCO). Routes include intercity links as well as international buses between Saudi Arabia and Bahrain and the UAE. Local buses in Jeddah can be harder to get to grips with as a tourist and those wanting to use these services will find them to far from tourist-friendly, making travelling by taxi preferable.

As a major sea port, ferries and ships arrive constantly in Jeddah, with passenger services running between Saudi Arabia and Egypt.