Jeddah airport to Makkah: train, taxi, bus or private transfer

Most pilgrims and visitors bound for Makkah land at King Abdulaziz International Airport (JED) in Jeddah. Makkah is about 95 kilometres away by road, and there are four practical ways to cover the distance: the Haramain high-speed train, an airport taxi or ride-hailing car, an intercity bus, or a private transfer booked in advance. This guide compares them and lists what to sort out before you land.

Before you land: ihram, permit and entry

• Ihram. If you are coming for Umrah, enter ihram before the plane crosses the miqat. On flights from South Asia and further east this happens in the air, well before Jeddah, so change before boarding or on board and make your intention when the crew announces the miqat. Our miqat finder shows when your flight crosses it, and our guide to miqat and ihram on a flight explains the rules.
• Nusuk permit. Every pilgrim needs an Umrah permit in the Nusuk app, whatever visa they hold. Book it before you set off for the Haram.
• Entry to Makkah. Makkah is open only to Muslims. Roads into the city have checkpoints, and other traffic is directed around it.

Which terminal will you arrive at?

Most international flights use Terminal 1, the airport's main terminal, which has the Haramain railway station attached. Some airlines and charter flights use the older North Terminal, and in the Hajj season and other peak periods pilgrim flights may use the Hajj Terminal. Check your ticket or ask your airline, because the terminal decides how easy the train is: from Terminal 1 you walk to the station, while from the other terminals you need a shuttle bus or a car first.

Option 1: the Haramain train

• Where: the King Abdulaziz International Airport station, linked to Terminal 1. Follow the train signs after baggage claim.
• How long: about 35 to 55 minutes to Makkah, depending on how many stops the train makes.
• Tickets: on the official Haramain railway website or app, or at the station. Seats are reserved, and trains sell out in Ramadan, at weekends and in the school holidays.
• The last stretch: Makkah station is in Al-Rusayfah, three to four kilometres from Masjid al-Haram. From there you need a taxi, a bus or your hotel's shuttle.

Trains run from early morning until around midnight, and the timetable changes with the season, so check it if you land late. Our rider's guide to the Haramain train covers classes and luggage, and we can book the Haramain train for you.

Option 2: taxi or ride-hailing

Official airport taxis wait outside arrivals, and the main ride-hailing apps work in Jeddah. The drive takes about an hour and a quarter, longer at peak times and in Ramadan, and the car takes you to your hotel's door. If the taxi has no meter, agree the fare before you set off, and make sure the car can take all your bags.

Option 3: the intercity bus

SAPTCO, the national bus company, runs buses from the airport to Makkah, with tickets sold at its counter in the arrivals area. It is usually the cheapest way, but in busy periods you may wait for the next departure, and the bus stops at a terminal rather than at your hotel. Many Umrah packages include a group coach that meets the flight instead.

Option 4: a private transfer

A car or van booked in advance meets you in arrivals and drives you to your hotel, with room for luggage, a folded wheelchair and a child seat if you ask. For one or two people it costs more than a taxi, but for a family or a small group it is often cheaper per head, and the price is fixed before you travel. We arrange private transfers between Jeddah, Makkah and Madinah at a fixed price per vehicle.

Which should you choose?

• Two people with light bags, landing at Terminal 1: the train, then a taxi from Makkah station.
• A family with elderly parents or small children: a private transfer, door to door. Our guide to Umrah with parents and children has more advice.
• A late-night arrival: a taxi or a transfer booked in advance, because the last trains leave around midnight.
• On a package: check what is included before you pay for anything at the airport.

Common questions

How long does it take from Jeddah airport to Makkah?

About 35 to 55 minutes on the Haramain train, plus the ride from Makkah station to your hotel, or about an hour and a quarter by road, longer in heavy traffic.

Is there a train from Jeddah airport to Makkah?

Yes. The Haramain high-speed railway has a station at King Abdulaziz International Airport, linked to Terminal 1, with trains to Makkah and to Madinah.

How far is Jeddah airport from Masjid al-Haram?

About 95 kilometres by road.

Should I put on ihram at Jeddah airport?

Pilgrims flying in for Umrah from outside the miqat, for example from Bangladesh or elsewhere in South Asia, cross the miqat in the air before landing. The view most scholars follow is that ihram should be entered before that point rather than at the airport. If you are unsure, ask a scholar you trust before you travel.

Can I go straight to Madinah from Jeddah airport?

Yes. The same airport station has trains to Madinah, which take about two hours.