About Riyadh King Khaled International Airport (RUH)

Once the largest airport in the world, Riyadh King Khaled International Airport serves Saudi Arabia's capital city, Riyadh. Our guide to the airport provides essential information on local transportation, terminal facilities and nearby accommodation.

Airport news:

Plans are in place to increase the capacity of the airport over the next three decades – the hitherto unused Terminal 4 forms a central part of this project, which will also see a fifth added.

Information:

Each terminal has an operations office, which provides passenger information.

Website:

Driving directions:

Major roads to Riyadh King Khaled International Airport are King Fahd Road, Al-Takhassousi Road and the East Interstate Highway. The airport is a 30-minute drive from the city centre.

Transfer between terminals:

Only three of the four terminals are currently in-use (Terminals 1, 2 and 3). They are all housed within the same building and are linked by travelators. There is a fourth passenger terminal, Terminal 4, but this has not been used since construction.

Public Transport

Public transport road:

Taxi:Taxis are the only mode of public transport available to/from the airport and must be paid for in advance. Authorised taxis marked with the airport logo are available 24 hours a day to the city centre (journey time: 30 minutes). By law, taxis must have a meter and passengers should check this before setting off. Average prices start at SAR60.

Terminal facilities

Money:

Two 24-hour banks are located in Terminal 2, and there are ATMs in Terminals 2 and 3.

Food:

Restaurants, snack bars and cafés are present throughout the airport, available 24 hours in both the domestic and international terminals. There are no bars as alcohol is forbidden in the kingdom.

Shopping:

There is a selection of shops at Riyadh King Khaled International Airport, including an extensive duty-free facility selling a wide range of products other than alcohol.

Luggage:

Luggage trolleys are available for use by passengers.

Other:

There is a first aid centre open 24 hours a day, and a large mosque within the airport grounds.

Airport facilities

Conference and business:

Business services, including five banquet and meeting rooms for up to 250 people, are available at the on-site Makarim Riyadh Hotel (tel: +966 11 220 4505; www.makarem.sa).

Communication Facilities:

Paid-for internet kiosks are available in the main terminal complex. There is also a post office in Terminal 2.

Disabled facilities:

Facilities for those with disabilities include adapted toilets, lifts, escalators, travelators and telephones. Reserved car parking spaces are available in the car parks opposite the terminals. Passengers requiring wheelchairs and special assistance should request this from their airline prior to travelling.

Car parking:

Two large, multistorey car parks are located directly in front of the passenger terminals, one on either side of the mosque. These have a total capacity of over 11,000 vehicles and are connected to the terminals (and to the mosque) by pedestrian walkways.

Car rental:

Several local car hire companies, plus international firms Avis and Budget, operate at the airport. Counters can be found in the airport lobby.

Please note: Women are not permitted to drive on public roads in Saudi Arabia.