Saudi Arabia flights - cheap international flight tickets and hacker fares to Dammam, Jeddah, Medina and Riyadh
Flights to Jeddah and Mecca in Saudi Arabia. Book plane tickets to King Abdulaziz International Airport (JED) in Jeddah / Mecca.

Saudi Arabia is open to international tourism

Saudi Arabia allows foreign travelers to enter the country, as long as they are fully vaccinated (with a booster). Arrivals to Saudi Arabia are not required to quarantine, or present evidence of a negative Covid test result. Some places may still require proof of vaccination.

Transit through Saudi airports is permitted, although you may need a transit visa if the connecting time between your flights is more than 12 hours.

Arriving in Jeddah

  • If you are flying to Jeddah from abroad, you will most likely land at one of its biggest international airportsits main international airportJeddah International Airport JED also known as King Abdulaziz International Airport, situated on the Red Sea coast, approximately 19 kilometers (12 miles) to the north of Jeddah city center.

    Jeddah International Airport is also the main airport for the majority of pilgrims traveling for Umrah and Hajj. It's the closest major airport to Mecca, located approximately 70 kilometers (43 miles) from the holy city. The airport is equipped to handle large numbers of travelers, and there are regular shuttle buses and taxis available to take passengers from the airport to Mecca
    .

    These are also the best (and the cheapest) airports to fly into Jeddah. As they are used by many airlines serving the same routes, the competition for passengers is fierce – with decreased airfare as a result.
  • Once in Jeddah, take advantage of frequent intercity flights operated by domestic airlines such as Saudia, Flyadeal, Flynas, SaudiGulf, Nesma Airlines. Those in-country carriers typically offer lower fares, operate from smaller airports located closer to city centers (you save on ground transportation), and provide flexible schedules – with a wide range of departure times.
  • Planning to explore the region? Popular destinations near Jeddah can be easily reached with regional low-cost carriers (LCCs) by the likes of Air Arabia, Air India Express, AirAsia, Indigo, Jazeera Airways, Pegasus Airlines, Salamair, Scoot, and SpiceJet. If you have a layover in Jeddah and plan to fly only a short distance to one of its neighboring countries, these budget airlines are an excellent way to save money. However, the “no-frills” carrier may not provide free checked baggage allowance, complimentary food, in-flight entertainment systems, and fast customer support. You may not even get to choose your seats, unless you pay extra.

Airports of Jeddah

Best airports to fly into Jeddah: King Abdulaziz International Airport (JED)
Jeddah has one international airport – Jeddah Airport, also known as King Abdulaziz International Airport JED, situated on the Red Sea coast, approximately 19 km (12 miles) north of the city center, and 70 km (43 miles) west of Mecca. Travelers to Mecca can also use Ta'if International Airport TIF in the nearby city of Taif (around 105 km / 65 miles from Mecca) or Prince Mohammad Bin Abdulaziz Airport MED in Medina (around 450 km / 280 miles long road trip to Mecca).
Things to know before flying to Jeddah/Mecca
Airlines flying to Jeddah/MeccaAegan Airlines, Air Algerie, Air Arabia, Air Cairo, Air Europa, Air France, Air India, Air India Express, Air Mauritius, AirAsia, AirBlue, ANA, AnadoluJet, Ariana Afghan Airlines, Badr Airlines, Biman Bangladesh Airlines, British Airways, China Eastern Airlines, China Southern Airlines, Corendon Air, Daallo Airlines, EgyptAir, Emirates, Etihad Airways, Ethiopian Airlines, Flyadeal, FlyDubai, Flynas, FlyEgypt, Garuda Indonesia, Gulf Air, Iberia, Indigo, Iran Air, Irqui Airways, ITA Airways, Jazeera Airways, Jubba Airways, Kam Air, Kenya Airways, KLM, Kuwait Airways, LATAM, Lion Air, Malaysia Airlines, Middle East Airlines, Nesma Airlines, Nile Air, Oman Air, Pakistan International Airlines, Pegasus Airlines, Qanot Sharq, Qatar Airways, Royal Air Maroc, Royal Brunei Airlines, Royal Jordanian, Salamair, Saudia, Scat Airlines, Scoot, Serene Air, Singapore Airlines, Somon Air, SpiceJet, SriLankan Airlines, Tarco Aviation, Thai Airways, TunisAir, Turkish Airlines, Uzbekistan Airways, Virgin Australia, Vistara, Yemenia
Airlines of Saudi ArabiaSaudia, Flyadeal, Flynas, SaudiGulf, Nesma Airlines
Airports in Jeddah/Mecca regionKing Abdulaziz International Airport (JED) — Jeddah
Prince Mohammed Bin Abdulaziz International Airport (MED) — Medina
Taif International Airport (TIF) — Taif
Regular price (roundtrip)✈ €350 – €550 (from Europe)
✈ $1000 – $1400 (from USA)
Flight hacks 40% — 80% off regular fare
Airline discountsDiscounted airline tickets to Jeddah (student/family/seniors/military)

Low-cost flights from Jeddah

Stay ahead of the game. Fly to popular destinations at a fraction of the regular fare.

Winter is the best time to visit Jeddah

Middle East countries, like Saudi Arabia, are extremely hot from April to September. Much of Saudi Arabia’s territory is occupied by the Arabian Desert – during the summer months, daytime temperatures in some regions around Jeddah can be as high as +45-50°C.

So, if you have a choice, plan your trip to Jeddah for the period from October to April for cooler weather with daytime temperates of around 25° C, and cool evenings and nights (+5°C to +12°C). However, as these are the best months for tourists, Jeddah sees a sharp spike in tourist footfall – make sure to reserve your flights, hotels, and rental car well in advance.

Why is there no airport in Mecca?

Mecca is a populous city with approximately 1.5 million inhabitants. Additionally, each year nearly 10 million Muslims visit the city to perform Umrah and Hajj pilgrimage. Despite this large number of visitors, Mecca lacks an airport. Instead, the Saudi Arabian government has opted to develop airports in the nearby cities of Jeddah, Taif, and Medina.

The absence of an airport in Mecca is due to religious customs and regulations. According to Islamic tradition, Mecca is a holy city, and its airspace is considered sacred. The city is home to several historical and religious sites, such as the Kaaba shrine, the holiest place in Islam. To respect the sanctity of the city and its religious significance and not disturb the pilgrims, airlines are prohibited from flying over Mecca or landing in the city.

Additionally, only Muslims are allowed to enter the city of Mecca. The prohibition includes the airspace above the city – it’s forbidden for non-Muslims to fly over Mecca. This is another reason why all flights over Mecca are banned with almost no exceptions (sometimes helicopters are allowed to pass over the city).

There is a project in progress to build a new smart city to the west of Mecca, close to the Al-Faisaliah area. It will include a brand-new Al-Faisaliah Airport, which will be connected to nearby areas by a four-lane highway, and will cater to pilgrims traveling to Mecca. However, there is no known timeline for when the new airport will be open to the public.

The cheapest time to fly to Jeddah

The best time to find cheap flights to Jeddah tends to be during the low season – June to September. It’s the country’s hot season and also an off-peak tourism season with high temperatures and significantly fewer visitors. Everything – including airline tickets – is cheaper.

Flying to Jeddah in the peak season – October to April – will prove the most costly. These are Saudi winter months when the weather is pleasant and cool and the country sees an influx of tourists. Book your flights well in advance to avoid inflated last-minute fares.

Next tips

Flights to Jeddah from United States and Canada

  • There are no direct flights from the US or Canada to Jeddah. However, most major hubs in Asia have non-stop flights to Jeddah, as do some larger airports in the Middle East – your journey will have at least one stop. Most direct flights from the US to Jeddah are operated by Saudia (formerly Saudi Arabian Airlines). Non-stop flights from New York, Los Angeles and Washington to King Abdulaziz International Airport in Jeddah are around 12-15 hours long, with ticket prices ranging from $700 to $900 for a one-way flight.

    There are no direct flights to Jeddah from Canada.
  • Jeddah is well-served via one-stop flights from North America. Flights to Jeddah with one layover depart from most major North American airports, including Atlanta ATL, Dallas DFW, Denver DEN, Chicago ORD, Los Angeles LAX, Las Vegas DFW, Miami MIA, Seattle SEA, Houston IAH, New York JFK, and San Francisco SFO in the United States and Toronto YYZ, Vancouver YVR, Calgary LAS, and Montreal YUL in Canada.
  • The best airlines to fly to Jeddah from the US and Canada are: Emirates, ANA, Etihad Airways, Qatar Airways, Saudia, and Singapore Airlines. They are top full-service carriers, offering exceptional customer service, in-flight comfort, a generous checked baggage allowance, and reliable customer support channels – all included in the ticket price.

US and Canada to Jeddah.Ticket prices in November 2023.

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Long waiting times when calling the helpline?

Social media is usually a faster way to reach the airline when a problem arises. Use Twitter or Facebook Messenger to contact the airline customer service and get a response and solution within minutes (see detailed guides for Emirates, Qatar Airways, Etihad, and others).

When it comes to Twitter, there’s one more trick to get in touch with the airline faster: mention the airline in a tweet about your issue (add “@airline_handle”, for example: “@Saudi_Airlines” for Saudi, the national carrier of Saudi Arabia). The customer care team will often notice it immediately, ask you for a direct message, and respond privately.

Booking cheap Hajj and Umrah flights to Mecca

94% of international pilgrims travel to Mecca by plane to perform the annual Hajj. As there is no option to fly to Mecca, most choose to arrive at the King Abdulaziz International Airport JED in Jeddah, around 80km to the west of Mecca. It has a dedicated Hajj terminal, and during the pilgrimage season many airlines operate additional services to Jeddah.

The other option is to fly to Medina first (Prince Mohammad Bin Abdulaziz Airport MED), visit al-Masjid an-Nabawi (the Prophet’s Mosque), then proceed to Mecca by taking a 450 km long road trip.

It’s not surprising that cheap flights to Saudi Arabia from any airport in the world are hard to come by during Dhu al-Hijjah. Flights and hotels are booked up months in advance. The best way to guarantee fairly priced Hajj flights is to book them as early as possible.

Download a VPN app

When it comes to media censorship, The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is one of the world leaders – there is no freedom of speech, and online content is censored. Moreover, the Saudi government reserves the right to control and monitor anyone accessing the internet, which means that you could be spied on at any time. In the last years, thousands of websites and online services have been banned temporarily or permanently, including Wikipedia, WhatsApp, Skype, FaceTime, Telegram, Facebook Messenger, and Google Translator.

Solution? If you want to keep access to your favorite websites and avoid being spied on while visiting Jeddah or Mecca, you should download a VPN app for your smartphone and laptop. By hiding your location, it will allow you to bypass government censorship and freely access all blocked content. Make sure to install it before you arrive – VPN websites are also blocked (however, using a VPN is not illegal).

Know your time zone

When checking flights and airport transfer times, ensure you know the local time zones. The departure/arrival times on your plane ticket and boarding pass are based on the time zone of the departure/arrival airport – this also applies to the connecting (layover) airports.

Saudi Arabia has only one time zone – it observes  Arabia Standard Time  (AST) all year, which is GMT/UTC+3 time zone. There are no daylight saving time clock changes.

Jeddah is 8 hours ahead of New York, and 8 hours behind Sydney. Arabia Standard Time is also used by Bahrain, Kuwait, and Qatar.

Next tips

Flights to Jeddah from UK, Germany, France, Netherlands and other countries in Europe

  • There are no direct flights from Europe to Jeddah — you’ll need to get a connecting flight from elsewhere in the Middle East or in Asia. Direct flights from Europe to Jeddah (King Abdulaziz International Airport) are operated by Aegean Airlines, British Airways, Lufthansa, Saudia, Pegasus Airlines, Turkish Airlines, and Wizz Air.
  • Airlines that frequently fly from the UK, Germany, France, and other European countries to Jeddah include Aegean Airlines, Air France, British Airways, Emirates, Etihad Airways, Iberia, KLM, Qatar Airways, Saudia, and Turkish Airlines.
  • Consider departure airports in neighboring countries to increase your chance of spotting the best deal. Especially look for large airports that serve as hubs for multiple airlines. For example, if you live in Western Europe, check air tickets to Jeddah from Amsterdam, Frankfurt, London, Madrid, Paris, and Rome. Leverage frequent promotions from European budget carriers like RyanAir, EasyJet, and Eurowings to reach a major hub; from there, take a cheaper long-haul flight to your final destination, potentially saving hundreds of euros.
  • These major European airports are excellent departure points for trips to Jeddah: London LHR and Manchester MAN in the United Kingdom, Frankfurt FRA and Munich MUC in Germany, Paris CDG and Nice NCE in France, Amsterdam AMS in the Netherlands, Madrid MAD and Barcelona BCN in Spain, Rome FCO and Milano MXP in Italy, Brussels BRU in Belgium, Copenhagen OSL in Denmark, Oslo OSL in Norway, Stockholm ARN in Sweden, Zurich ZRH in Switzerland, Lisbon LIS in Portugal, Vienna VIE in Austria, Warsaw WAW in Poland, Prague PRG in the Czech Republic, and Dublin DUB in Ireland.

Europe to Jeddah.Flight schedule and ticket prices.

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Last-minute flights to Jeddah. The real cost of convenience.

Last-minute flights are often touted as a great way to save money, but the reality is far from it. Booking last-minute flights to Jeddah almost always never works out. The convenience of being able to book a flight on the fly is a dangerous game of chance, and you will most likely end up paying significantly higher than booking in advance.

Last-minute flight cost spike
Late booking penalty: The flight prices rise as departure draws near. Last-minute flights are almost always more expensive than booking in advance.

The common perception may be that airlines decrease ticket prices to fill empty seats as the departure date approaches. However, the truth is that airfares depend on demand. Based on years of research and current customer data, the airlines know what people are willing to pay for specific flights and dates. They are also well aware that people are willing to pay a premium for flights they need to take immediately. To make the most money, the airline will sell its cheapest fares first and then increase the prices right before the flight to take advantage of business travelers and others who are willing to pay the premium price for late booking.

Occasionally, airlines can put some seats on sale to fill the remaining seats, but these are for unusual times and unpopular places. Popular destinations and dates around peak travel times tend to sell out quickly.

Planning ahead is key to securing a good deal on your flight. Last-minute flight deals are hard to come by, so as soon as you have a tentative travel timeline, book your flight. The earlier you book, the more likely you are to save money. If you are looking for a good deal, the best time to book your flight to Jeddah is 2-8 months before the takeoff.

Looking for the best deals for Jeddah? Check different departure airports.

Airlines often have varying prices for flights to Jeddah from different airports – even if they are in close proximity to one another. So don’t limit yourself to just your nearest airport. The neighboring cities may have lower-priced flights that include a layover at Jeddah, or may even have direct flights that are more budget-friendly.

For example, if you’re looking to fly from Paris to Jeddah, it may be worth checking prices for flights departing from London, Frankfurt, Amsterdam, or Rome. Yes, you may have to fly a few hundred kilometers to these hubs, but domestic low-cost airlines like EasyJet, RyanAir, or WizzAir will happily take you there for less than €100.

Book flights from many departure airports
By entering more than one departure city in the flight search engine (at the top of this page), you can quickly find the airport with the cheapest flights to your destination

The same goes for long-haul flights to Jeddah from anywhere in the world. By broadening your search to include neighboring airports, you may discover lower-priced options that can save you hundreds of euros!

Domestic flights from Jeddah

Most domestic routes in Saudi Arabia are operated by local carriers. When traveling to popular tourist destinations such as Mecca, Riyadh, Dammam, Medina from Jeddah Airport, you’ll likely fly with one of these domestic airlines: Saudia, Flyadeal, Flynas, SaudiGulf, Nesma Airlines.

This is often the best transportation method, providing speed, convenience, and cost-effectiveness. Local airlines often offer multiple daily flights to key destinations, providing flexibility in scheduling and competitive pricing. They also serve smaller regional airports, enabling access to a wider range of Saudi destinations.

Flights to Jeddah from Australia and New Zealand

Australia and New Zealand to Jeddah.Flight ticket prices today.

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“Hot seats” on long-haul flights

Those days seat selection is considered an optional, extra paid service – seats with extra legroom (front and exit rows) are usually priced higher. However, if you’re about to take a long-haul flight to Jeddah, those “hot seats” are worth considering – expect to pay $50-$100, which is much less than upgrading to Premium Economy.

If you want to choose your seats, do this early (ideally during the booking) for a more extensive selection of available options.

Booking hot seats (preffered seats with extra legroom) on plane
Choosing a hot seat during the flight booking process is usually worth it. For a reasonable price, you will get more room to stretch your legs, as well as a wider seat pitch.

Booking group flights to Jeddah

Flights are cheaper when purchased in bulk rather than as individual tickets. Booking group flights to Jeddah can be a cost-effective option for a school trip, family reunion, or corporate group traveling to a conference.

To qualify for the special group rate, the group must usually have at least 10 passengers. Discounts depend on the airline, group size, and travel dates, and typically range from 5% to 20% off the regular airfare.

Airlines and flight search websites typically limit automatic group bookings to 10 passengers. This limit reflects the complexity of managing larger groups, which require personalized service and more time to coordinate. To get the price quote for your group, you’ll need to contact the airline or a travel agent directly.

If you’re open to different airlines or want more personalized service, a travel agent may be a better choice. Travel agents may have access to discounted group rates to Jeddah and can help with logistics and scheduling.

Flights to Jeddah from Bali, Bangkok, Delhi, Dubai, Hong Kong, Jakarta, Kuala Lumpur, Manila, Singapore, Seoul, Tokyo, and other major hubs in Asia

  • Jeddah is well-connected with other large hubs in the Asia Pacific. There are direct flights to King Abdulaziz International Airport JED airport from Abu Dhabi, Bangkok BKK, Delhi DEL, Dhaka DAC, Guangzhou CAN, Jakarta CGK, Kuala Lumpur KUL, Male MLE, Mumbai BOM, Seoul ICN, and Singapore SIN.
  • Asia is probably the best continent for short-haul and mid-haul flying. The sheer scale of this most populous region on Earth is reflected in the type of aircraft operating many shorter routes: intra-Asia flyers benefit from comfortable, wide-bodied aircraft by the likes of Boeing 777, 787 or Airbus A350, A330, and A380. When booking your flight to Jeddah look for these bigger planes as they will almost always give you the best experience in every cabin, including better seat pitches, higher ceilings, and larger overhead bin space.
  • Asia is also home to most of the world’s best airlines. There are only ten airlines that received the prestigious 5-star mark of quality from Skytrax, and all of them are from Asia: ANA, Asiana Airlines, Cathay Pacific, EVA Air, Garuda Indonesia, Japan Airlines, Korean Air, Qatar Airways, Singapore Airlines. Choosing one of these airlines for your trip to Jeddah will guarantee a pleasant journey – delicious meals served during the flight, great in-flight entertainment, and above-average airline customer service.
  • Asia is extremely well served by low-cost regional airlines. If you are visiting Saudi Arabia and want to see several other countries on a tight budget, they often have great sales with rock-bottom prices, while still offering a relatively comfortable flight experience. Among the best Asian budget airlines you can book without hesitation are AirAsiaCebu Pacific, Citilink, FlyDubai, Indigo, Jetstar Airways, Scoot, SpiceJet, and VietJet Air. The cons? Being no-frills airlines they may not provide free baggage allowance, inflight meals, or onboard entertainment. The departure times may also be quite inconvenient as they try to save money by flying at off-peak hours.
  • Most major Asian airports have convenient and frequent flights to Jeddah — including Changi (Singapore), Dubai (UAE), Hong Kong (China), Incheon (Seoul, South Korea), Indira Gandhi (New Delhi, India), KLIA (Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia), Narita (Tokyo, Japan), Denpasar (Bali, Indonesia), Soekarno–Hatta (Jakarta, Indonesia), Ninoy Aquino (Manila, Philippines), Suvarnabhumi (Bangkok, Thailand), Taoyuan (Taipei, Taiwan), and others.

Jeddah from major Asian airports.Flight prices in November 2023.

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Proof of onward travel – a simple hack

Travelers who go on long trips often don’t have a set itinerary and fly on one-way tickets. The problem? For many APAC countries, proof of onward travel is a legal requirement. If you arrive at the airport without an onward ticket (from Saudi Arabia to another country), you’ll either be forced to buy one online or forbidden from boarding the plane altogether.

The cheapest solution? Renting an onward ticket! Use the websites such as OneWayFly or OnwardTicket to get a flight reservation for a limited amount of time (usually 2 to 14 days). They work by actually booking you on a real flight out of Saudi Arabia and giving you a confirmable flight reservation with a PNR (Passenger Name Record) under your name. After the time limit, your spot on the flight is automatically canceled. Such “temporary tickets” tend to cost anywhere from $10 to $20.

Confirmed flight ticket reservation
Proof of onward travel: confirmed flight ticket reservation (source: OnwardTicket)

Fly now, pay later

Book Now Pay Later (BNPL) plans for flights have become a popular trend in the travel industry, allowing travelers to book flights and pay in installments. Among the airlines that offer this option are American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, Emirates, Qatar Airways, Qantas, Turkish Airlines, and United Airlines. They partner with external financial companies to offer their loan services on the checkout page.

The BNPL plans come with varying terms and fees. Some may be interest-free but have fees for late-payments and require forced autoplay on your bank account, while others may have high annual percentage rates (up to 30-40% APR).

When considering BNPL financing for your flight to Jeddah, it’s crucial to carefully evaluate the pros and cons, and thoroughly review the terms and conditions.