King Khalid International Airport

King Khalid International Airport (RUH) is the primary airport serving Riyadh, the capital of Saudi Arabia. Located 35 km north of the city center, it is one of the busiest airports in the Middle East, handling over 37 million passengers annually. RUH serves as a major hub for Saudia (Saudi Arabian Airlines), Riyadh Air (launched October 2025), Flynas, and Flyadeal.

The airport has five terminals:

• Terminal 1: International flights - Flynas international, Virgin Atlantic, Chinese carriers, Middle Eastern airlines. Reopened December 2024 after renovations.
• Terminal 2: Currently closed for renovations (as of 2025).
• Terminal 3: International flights - most international carriers except Saudia/Flyadeal.
• Terminal 4: Saudia and Flyadeal international flights exclusively.
• Terminal 5: All domestic flights - Saudia, Flynas, Flyadeal, Saudi Gulf, Nessma.

Terminals 1, 2, 3, and 4 are connected in one long building with walkways. Terminal 5 is located 1.5 km south and requires a shuttle bus.

Major development note: As part of Vision 2030, RUH is undergoing significant expansion. King Salman International Airport is being built around the existing facility, with the new terminal construction starting in 2026. By 2030, capacity will increase to 120 million passengers annually.

RUH is located 35 km north of central Riyadh. Travel times vary by destination and traffic:

• Olaya District (business center): 25-35 minutes
• Al Faisaliah/Kingdom Tower: 30-40 minutes
• Diriyah: 35-45 minutes
• Downtown Riyadh: 30-45 minutes

The Riyadh Metro Yellow Line (Line 4) opened in December 2024, providing direct access to the city. Taxis and rideshare are available 24/7.

Uber, Careem, Bolt, and Jeeny are all available at RUH. Follow signs to designated rideshare pickup areas outside arrivals.

Typical rideshare fares:

• Downtown Riyadh: SAR 50-80 (~$13-21 USD)
• Olaya District: SAR 60-90 (~$16-24 USD)
• Kingdom Tower area: SAR 70-100 (~$19-27 USD)
• Diriyah: SAR 80-120 (~$21-32 USD)

Taxis queue outside all terminals. Fares are metered:

• Base fare: SAR 13
• Per kilometer: Metered rate
• Typical fare to city center: SAR 70-100 (~$19-27 USD)

No airport surcharge applies. All taxis accept card payments. Journey time to the city center is 30-45 minutes depending on traffic.

The Riyadh Metro connects directly to King Khalid International Airport via Line 4 (Yellow) and Line 2 (Red).

Metro Stations at RUH

• Airport T1-2 Station: Serves Terminals 1 and 2
• Airport T3-4 Station: Serves Terminals 3 and 4
• Airport T5 Station: Serves Terminal 5 (domestic)

Metro Fares and Travel Times

Destination	Fare (Standard)	Time
King Abdullah Financial District (KAFD)	SAR 4 (~$1.10 USD)	23-28 min
Olaya	SAR 4	30-35 min
Central Riyadh	SAR 4	35-40 min

Purchase tickets via the Darb app or at ticket machines at stations. Options include:

• 2-hour ticket: SAR 4 (Standard) / SAR 10 (First Class)
• 3-day pass: SAR 20
• Weekly pass: SAR 40
• Monthly pass: SAR 140

Children under 6 travel free.

Metro Hours

• Sunday to Thursday: 6:00 AM - 12:00 AM (midnight)
• Friday: 8:00 AM - 12:00 AM (late start due to prayers)
• Saturday: 6:00 AM - 12:00 AM

Train frequency: Every 3 minutes during peak hours (7-9 AM, 4-7 PM), every 5-7 minutes off-peak.

Terminal Shuttle Bus

A free shuttle bus connects Terminal 5 with Terminals 1-4, running every 10-15 minutes. This is essential for transfers between domestic and international flights.

RUH offers extensive parking across all terminals:

International Terminals (T1-4) - ParkINTERNATIONAL

• Hourly rate: SAR 10/hour (~$2.70 USD)
• First 2 days: SAR 130/day (~$35 USD)
• After 2 days: SAR 40/day (~$11 USD)
• Location: 2-5 minute walk to terminals

Terminal 5 (Domestic) - ParkSHORT

• First 5 minutes: Free
• Hourly rate: SAR 3/hour (~$0.80 USD)
• Daily maximum: SAR 36/day (~$10 USD)

Long-Term Parking - ParkLONG

• Daily rate: SAR 29/day (~$8 USD)
• Free shuttle to terminals
• Available at Terminal 5 only

Valet Parking

• Fee: SAR 57.50 (~$15 USD) each way (drop-off and pick-up)
• Plus parking time charges
• Available at Terminals 1, 2, and 5

Note: Drop-off/pick-up zones offer 5 minutes free, after which a SAR 575 violation fee applies.

RUH offers varied dining options across all terminals, with most restaurants open 24/7.

Terminals 1-4 (International)

• AlBaik: Saudi's beloved fried chicken chain - a must-try
• McDonald's, Burger King, KFC: Fast food standards
• Starbucks, Costa Coffee, Tim Hortons: Coffee chains throughout
• Subway, Domino's Pizza, Pizza Sbarro: Quick meals
• Shawarmer: Local shawarma specialist
• Mazza w Mashawi: Middle Eastern grills and mezze
• Maqloba: Traditional Arabic cuisine
• St Mia: Italian pizza and pasta
• Pret A Manger: Fresh sandwiches and coffee

Terminal 5 (Domestic)

• Half Million Cafe: Coffee and specialty drinks
• Cakes and Cheese: Breakfast items, manakish
• Dunkin' Donuts, Cinnabon: Snacks and sweets

Best for local flavor: AlBaik for crispy fried chicken (it's a Saudi institution) and Shawarmer for authentic shawarma.

Free WiFi is available throughout RUH, though access requires registration:

• Network name: "_KKIA Free Wi-Fi"
• Access method: Locate WiFi kiosks in the transit area, scan your passport, and receive a password
• Coverage: Airside transit area primarily
• Alternative: Free WiFi with any purchase at Starbucks

The WiFi requires passport scanning at kiosks, which can be inconvenient. For reliable connectivity, consider purchasing a local SIM or using mobile data.

SIM cards are available from three major carriers at RUH, all with 24/7 stores:

Store Locations

• STC: Domestic Terminal (Terminal 5)
• Mobily: Terminal 1 and Terminal 5
• Zain: Terminal 1

Prepaid Plans (2025 Prices)

Zain (Best value):

Plan	Data	Minutes	Price	Validity
Visitor 40	7 GB	60 min	SAR 40 (~$11 USD)	14 days
Visitor 60	20 GB	150 min	SAR 60 (~$16 USD)	14 days
Visitor 85	28 GB	250 min	SAR 85 (~$23 USD)	21 days

Mobily:

Plan	Data	Minutes	Price	Validity
Visitors 30	5 GB	60 min	SAR 34.50 (~$9 USD)	14 days
Visitors 50	20 GB	120 min	SAR 57.50 (~$15 USD)	14 days

STC (Best coverage):

Plan	Data	Minutes	Price
Basic	1 GB + 1 GB social	60 min	SAR 40.25 (~$11 USD)
Standard	4 GB + 4 GB social	120 min	SAR 74.75 (~$20 USD)

Passport required for registration. eSIM available from all three carriers via their apps.

ATMs are located throughout all terminals, both landside and airside:

Banks with ATMs

• Al Rajhi Bank: Multiple locations, 24-hour service
• Alinma Bank: Throughout terminals
• Al Bilad Bank: International terminals
• National Bank: Various locations

All ATMs support Visa, Mastercard, Cirrus, and Plus networks.

Currency: Saudi Riyal (SAR), pegged to USD at approximately 3.75 SAR = $1 USD.

Currency Exchange

• Al Rajhi Exchange: 24-hour service
• National Bank Exchange: Multiple counters
• Airport rates: 5-8% markup typical

Tip: Airport exchange rates include significant markup. Use ATMs for better rates (check your bank's foreign transaction fees) or exchange at banks in the city. Riyad Bank's foreign exchange ATMs dispense USD, GBP, EUR, and AED with no fees.

Saudi Arabia is increasingly card-friendly. Visa and Mastercard accepted at most establishments.

RUH features Riyadh Duty Free shops across Terminals 1, 3, and 4, open 24/7.

Main Categories

• Perfumes: Arabic oud and international fragrances
• Cosmetics: Premium beauty brands
• Electronics: Cameras, phones, accessories
• Chocolates and sweets: Patchi, premium chocolates
• Travel essentials: Bags, travel accessories

Notable Shops

• Al Waha: Saudi-owned duty-free brand with local specialties - dates, camel milk chocolates, handcrafted gifts
• Bath & Body Works: Beauty products
• DKNY: Fashion
• Foot Locker: Sportswear
• Virgin Megastore: Electronics and entertainment

Local Specialties

• Premium dates: Excellent gifts, widely available
• Arabic perfumes and oud: High quality, competitive prices
• Traditional crafts: Available at specialty shops

Note: Alcohol is not available at Saudi airports.

Arrivals duty-free: Available in Terminals 3 and 4 for immediate shopping after landing.

RUH offers several lounge options across terminals.

Saudia Alfursan Lounges

• Alfursan First Class Lounge (Terminal 4): Saudia First Class, Alfursan Gold members
• Alfursan Business Class Lounge (Terminal 4, near gate 407): Saudia Business Class, SkyTeam Elite Plus, Alfursan Silver (on Saudia flights)
• Facilities: Buffet, business center, sleep rooms, showers, kids room
• Hours: 24 hours
• Day pass: SAR 210 (~$56 USD) if space available

Priority Pass Lounges

• Wellcome Lounge (Terminal 1, Airside Mezzanine): Priority Pass accepted, showers available, 24 hours
• Al-Fursan Golden Lounge: Listed on Priority Pass network

Pay-In Lounges

• Plaza Premium Lounge (Terminal 2, opposite Gate 21): International departures, 24 hours, typical day pass SAR 200-250 (~$53-67 USD)

Access Summary

Lounge	Terminal	Access
Alfursan Business	T4	Saudia Business, SkyTeam Elite Plus, day pass
Wellcome Lounge	T1	Priority Pass, LoungeKey
Plaza Premium	T2	Pay-in, Priority Pass

Hotels near RUH are primarily located outside the airport perimeter, requiring a short drive.

Airport Hotels

• Riyadh Airport Marriott Hotel: 5-star, 1.6 miles from airport, outdoor pool, rooms from SAR 450/night (~$120 USD). No airport shuttle - taxi required.
• Radisson Hotel Riyadh Airport: 4-star, 1.9 miles from airport, garden, restaurant, children's club, rooms from SAR 350/night (~$93 USD).
• Holiday Inn Riyadh - The Business District: Mid-range, rooms from SAR 300/night (~$80 USD).

Budget Options

• Lamar Park Resort: Near airport, affordable rates
• Various hotels in the airport district accessible by taxi (10-15 minutes)

Sleeping at the Airport

For overnight stays without booking a hotel:

• Airport is open 24 hours
• Reclining chairs near boarding gates
• Comfortable sofas in Arrivals Halls
• Bring: Eye mask (bright lighting), blanket (strong air conditioning)
• Lounges offer the most comfortable option for rest

Riyadh is transforming rapidly under Vision 2030, with new attractions, entertainment districts, and restored heritage sites.

Top Attractions

Historical Sites:

• Masmak Fortress: 19th-century mudbrick fort with museum about Saudi unification. Free entry. 30-35 minutes from airport.
• Diriyah (At-Turaif): UNESCO World Heritage Site, birthplace of the Saudi state. 35-45 minutes from airport. Extensive restoration with restaurants and shops.
• National Museum of Saudi Arabia: Comprehensive exhibits on Saudi history and culture. SAR 10 entry. 30 minutes from airport.

Modern Landmarks:

• Kingdom Tower (Kingdom Centre): 302-meter skyscraper with Sky Bridge observation deck. SAR 69 entry. Views across Riyadh.
• Al Faisaliah Tower: Iconic golden ball design, observation deck and restaurants.
• King Abdullah Financial District (KAFD): Futuristic business district, directly accessible by metro.

Markets:

• Souq al-Zal: Traditional market since 1901. Carpets, daggers, swords, perfumes. Best for authentic atmosphere.

For Layovers

4-6 hours:

• Metro to KAFD or Olaya
• Visit Kingdom Tower Sky Bridge
• Quick meal at local restaurants

6-8 hours:

• Add Masmak Fortress and National Museum
• Explore Diriyah Gate if time permits

8+ hours:

• Desert safari with dune bashing (arrange through tour operators)
• Full Diriyah exploration
• Edge of the World excursion (requires advance booking)

Practical Tips

• Weather: Extremely hot May-September (40-50C/104-122F). October-March is pleasant (20-30C/68-86F).
• Dress code: Conservative dress expected. Shoulders and knees covered in public areas. Abayas no longer required for foreign women but modest dress appreciated.
• Alcohol: Not available anywhere in Saudi Arabia, including hotels and restaurants.
• Prayer times: Shops and some restaurants close during prayer times (5 times daily, 20-30 minutes each).
• Currency: SAR pegged to USD. Cards widely accepted in malls and hotels.
• Safety: Riyadh is considered very safe for tourists with low crime rates.
• Weekend: Friday-Saturday (not Saturday-Sunday).

Getting Around

The Riyadh Metro is the most efficient way to explore during a layover. From the airport:

• KAFD: 23-28 minutes
• Olaya shopping district: 30-35 minutes

Uber/Careem are reliable throughout the city. Traditional taxis are metered and affordable.

Vision 2030 developments: Saudi Arabia is rapidly opening to tourism. New attractions, entertainment venues, and restored heritage sites are opening regularly. Check current offerings before your visit.