
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.
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Arriving in Saudi Arabia
- If you are flying to Saudi Arabia from abroad, you will most likely land at one of its biggest international airportsits main international airport — Riyadh
RUH
, JeddahJED
, and DammamDMM
.
These are also the best (and the cheapest) airports to fly into Saudi Arabia. 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 Saudi Arabia, take advantage of frequent flights between the major cities via domestic airlines such as Saudia, Flyadeal, Flynas, SaudiGulf, Nesma Airlines. To check flight schedules/prices and to book the tickets, visit their official websites — OTAs and flight search engines often don’t have access to the flight repository of smaller local airlines. They also often fail to update prices in the event of short-lived sales and promotions that airlines run from time to time. To not miss out on these great offers, visit Promo Radar which aggregates current promotions run by popular airlines.
- Planning to explore the region? Popular destinations near Saudi Arabia can be easily reached with low-cost regional airlines (LCCs) by the likes of Air Algerie, AirBlue, Air Cairo, Air Arabia, Air Europa, Air India Express, EgyptAir, Indigo, Jazeera Airways, Lion Air, Pegasus Airlines, Salamair, Scat Airlines, Scoot, SpiceJet, and WizzAir.
These budget carriers offer flights from Riyadh Airport at lower prices than full-service airlines, and they often fly to smaller airports that big players do not cover. However, the “no-frills” airlines 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). With that in mind, they are a great option to save money if you have a stopover in Saudi Arabia and then fly only a short distance to one of its neighboring countries.

RUH
near Riyadh, King Abdulaziz Airport JED
in Jeddah, King Fahd Airport DMM
in Dammam, Prince Mohammad bin Abdulaziz Airport MED
in Medina, and Al-Ahsa Airport HOF
that serves the Hofuf region.
Airlines flying to Saudi Arabia | Aegan Airlines, Air Algerie, Air Arabia, Air Cairo, Air Europa, Air France, Air India, Air India Express, Air Mauritius, AirBlue, ANA, American Airlines, Ariana Afghan Airlines, Asiana Airlines, Azal Azerbaijan 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, GulfAir, Iberia, Indigo, Iran Air, Irqui Airways, ITA Airways, Jazeera Airways, Jubba Airways, Kam Air, Kenya Airways, KLM, Korean Air, 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, Tarco Aviation, Thai Airways, TunisAir, Turkish Airlines, Uzbekistan Airways, Virgin Australia, Vistara, Yemenia |
---|---|
Airlines of Saudi Arabia | Saudia, Flyadeal, Flynas, SaudiGulf, Nesma Airlines |
Regular price (roundtrip) | ✈ €350 – €550 (from Europe) ✈ $1000 – $1400 (from USA) |
Flight hacks | 40% — 80% off regular fare |
Main airports in Saudi Arabia | King Abdulaziz International Airport (JED) — Jeddah King Khaled International Airport (RUH) — Riyadh King Fahd International Airport (DMM) — Dammam Prince Mohammad Bin Abdulaziz Airport (MED) — Medina Taif International Airport (TIF) — Makkah (Mecca) Al-Ahsa International Airport (HOF) — Hofuf |
Airline promotions | See ticket sales & promos available for flights departing from February to April |
Winter is the best time to visit Saudi Arabia
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 can be as high as +45-50°C.
So, if you have a choice, plan your trip 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, the country sees a sharp spike in tourist footfall – make sure to reserve your flights, hotels, and rental car well in advance.
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. We also recommend taking advantage of the discounted deals to Jeddah and Medina published in Air Traveler Club newsletter (it’s free to sign up).
The cheapest time to fly to Saudi Arabia
The best time to find cheap flights to Saudi Arabia 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 Saudi Arabia 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.
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.
Saudi Arabia is 8 hours ahead of New York, and 8 hours behind Sydney. Arabia Standard Time is also used by Bahrain, Kuwait, and Qatar.
Flights to Saudi Arabia fromUnited States and Canada
- There are no direct flights from the US or Canada to Saudi Arabia. However, most major hubs in Asia have non-stop flights to Saudi Arabia, as do some larger airports in the Middle East – your journey will have at least one stop. There are no direct flights to Saudi Arabia from Canada. Most direct flights from the US to Saudi Arabia are operated by Saudia (formerly Saudi Arabian Airlines). Non-stop flight from New York, Los Angeles and Washington to Jeddah are around 12-15 hours long with ticket prices ranging $700-$900 for a one-way flight.
- Saudi Arabia is well-served via one-stop flights from North America. Flights to Saudi Arabia with one layover depart from most major North American airports, including Atlanta
ATL
, DallasDFW
, DenverDEN
, ChicagoORD
, Los AngelesLAX
, Las VegasDFW
, MiamiMIA
, SeattleSEA
, HoustonIAH
, New YorkJFK
, and San FranciscoSFO
in the United States and TorontoYYZ
, VancouverYVR
, CalgaryLAS
, and MontrealYUL
in Canada. - The best airlines to fly to Saudi Arabia from the US and Canada are: Air Canada, American Airlines, Emirates, ANA, Etihad Airways, Qatar Airways, Saudia, Singapore Airlines, and Turkish 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.
- For long-haul flights, the type of aircraft you choose can make a huge difference to your overall comfort on board – especially if you’re flying economy. The best aircraft have comfier seats with more legroom, WiFi, superior entertainment systems, and a better passenger experience in every cabin in general. When booking a flight to Saudi Arabia, look for the airlines that use wide-body planes designed for long-haul flights, such as Airbus A350 (best choice), A380, A320neo, or Boeing 767, 777, and 787 Dreamliner.
Saudi Arabia from US & Canada
plane ticket prices in 2023/24
Real-time economy class airfares to Saudi Arabia from the US and Canada. Shown are the top three deals for flights departing in the coming months (February to October).
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Hacker faresto Saudi Arabia
Superdeals airlines don't want you to see:
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.
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 traveling around Saudi Arabia, 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).
Flights to Saudi Arabia with stopover
Direct flights to Saudi Arabia are, of course, much less hassle than flights that require one or more connections. However, they tend to be more expensive. In a trade-off between convenience and cost, the best option is often to opt for a flight with one layover.
So if you’re looking at a long-haul trip with at least one connection, rather than simply transiting an airport, why not take this opportunity to plan a longer stopover? A stopover is a prolonged layover — more than 24 hours — and it won’t only break up your long journey but will also become a legitimate part of your vacation. If you’re prone to severe jet lag, a one or two-day stopover would help minimize its adverse effects.
When booking flights, many airlines allow you to include a free stopover en route to your final destination in Saudi Arabia. Those flights are usually cheaper than non-stop (direct) flights, and you can often choose your stopover at no additional cost — just by looking for multi-city flights with longer layovers.
Some airlines openly advertise stopovers and offer significant discounts and travel perks for passengers to break up their trips: free luxury hotel stays, complimentary domestic flights, or exclusive rates for activities. Start checking for stopover deals to Saudi Arabia with government-owned airlines (as they are looking to attract tourists to give the country economic benefits) — such as Emirates, Etihad, Qatar Airways, Singapore Airlines, and Malaysia Airlines. Almost every airline’s website has multi-city search functionality, often hidden inside the one-way/return/multi-city switch.
A well-chosen stopover will not only turn one vacation into many but also save you several hundred dollars in airfare. The available stopovers to Saudi Arabia will depend on your initial destination (Europe, North America, Asia, etc) and the airline you are flying with. For most airlines, the best free stopover offer will be at their main hub.
Flights to Saudi Arabia from UK, Germany, France, Netherlands and other countries in Europe
- There are no direct flights from Europe to Saudi Arabia — you’ll need to get a connecting flight from elsewhere in the Middle East or in Asia. Direct flights from Europe to Saudi Arabia (Jeddah, Riyadh, Dammam) are operated by British Ariways, Lufthansa, Pegasus Airlines, Saudia, Turkish Airlines, and WizzAir.
- Airlines that frequently fly from the UK, Germany, France, and other European countries to Saudi Arabia include AirEuropa, Air France, British Airways, Emirates, Etihad Airways, Iberia, Lufthansa, KLM, Pegasus Airlines, Qatar Airways, Saudia, Turkish Airlines, and WizzAir.
- 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 Saudi Arabia from Amsterdam, Frankfurt, London, Madrid, Paris, and Rome. Use European low-cost airlines such as RyanAir, EasyJet, and Eurowings to fly to the hub, then save hundreds of euros by taking a cheaper long-haul flight to your final destination.
We recommend checking prices for flights to Saudi Arabia from these European airport hubs: LondonLHR
and ManchesterMAN
in the United Kingdom, FrankfurtFRA
and MunichMUC
in Germany, ParisCDG
and NiceNCE
in France, AmsterdamAMS
in the Netherlands, MadridMAD
and BarcelonaBCN
in Spain, RomeFCO
and MilanoMXP
in Italy, BrusselsBRU
in Belgium, CopenhagenOSL
in Denmark, OsloOSL
in Norway, StockholmARN
in Sweden, ZurichZRH
in Switzerland, LisbonLIS
in Portugal, ViennaVIE
in Austria, WarsawWAW
in Poland, PraguePRG
in Czech Republic, and DublinDUB
in Ireland.
European airports with the cheapest flights to Saudi Arabia
Find the lowest prices for flights to Riyadh Airport in Saudi Arabia from the major airports in Europe — London, Dublin, Berlin, Dusseldorf, Lyon, Barcelona, Athens, Istanbul, Stockholm, Geneva, Helsinki, Zurich, and others.
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Get 40% – 80% off airfares from Europe to Saudi Arabia:
Check different departure airports
Consider neighboring cities when choosing the departure airport – especially look for larger cities with airports that serve as hubs for multiple airlines.
For example, if you live in West Europe, check prices for flights departing from Paris, London, Amsterdam, Frankfurt, Rome, or Vienna. In 9 out of 10 cases, the cheapest flight to Saudi Arabia will depart from one of these hubs, and it may be €500 less or more than your first choice. Yes, you may have to fly a few hundred kilometers to this hub, but low-cost airlines like EasyJet, RyanAir, or WizzAir will happily take you there for €50 – €100.
Use a similar tactic if you depart from the US or another region. It’s one of the best ways to save hundreds on trips.

Last-minute flights to Saudi Arabia. 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 Saudi Arabia 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.
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 Saudi Arabia is around 60-90 days before the departure date.
“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 Saudi Arabia, 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.

Lost baggage prevention
Avoid lost luggage nightmares by removing old tags on your suitcases. Tags are printed with a barcode for identification and tracking, so the old tags can confuse baggage handlers and the conveyor belt scanners. They are one of the reasons so many bags miss their flight or get misrouted.
Airlines of Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia, although known mostly for its natural oil resources, has also a vibrant air travel market, and ambitious plans for its aviation industry. The national flag carrier of Saudi Arabia is Saudia (formerly Saudi Arabian Airlines) which operates from its base at King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh. It is a key carrier in the Middle East region, directly competing with local rivals Emirates, Etihad Airways, and Qatar Airways. Hajj and Umrah flights are a fast-growing market for Saudia (including flights from Indonesia and other Muslim regions in Asia) and the government plans to attract even more pilgrim traffic by liberalizing visa policies and investing in infrastructure.
Four other airlines are serving the domestic market in Saudi Arabia – Flyadeal (Saudia’s subsidiary), Flynas, SaudiGulf, and Nesma Airlines. These smaller carriers are mostly focusing on short-haul routes, offering flights at lower prices in comparison to full-service Saudia. However, because they manage affordable tickets by cutting down on their operation costs, they may not provide free baggage allowance, inflight refreshments, meals, or onboard entertainment. In most cases, their tickets are fixed and non-refundable in case of no show-up or cancellation.
Flights to Saudi Arabia from Australia and New Zealand
- Australia and New Zealand are well-connected with popular Asian destinations, including Saudi Arabia. In addition to domestic airlines – Qantas, Jetstar Airways, Virgin Australia, and Air New Zealand – routes from Australia/New Zealand to Asia are operated by large regional carriers such as ANA, Emirates, Etihad, Fiji Airways, Japan Airlines, Qatar Airways, and Singapore Airlines.
Direct flights and flights with one layover to Saudi Arabia are available from all major airports in Australia – SydneySYD
, BrisbaneBNE
, MelbourneMEL
, PerthPER
, AdelaideADL
, CairnsCNS
, Gold CoastOOL
, CanberraCBR
, and in New Zealand – AucklandAKL
, WellingtonWLG
, ChristchurchCHC
, QueenstownZQN
, DunedinDUD
. - In terms of cost-savings, we recommend flying from Australia and New Zealand to a major Asian hub and then booking a flight to your final destination in Saudi Arabia with a regional budget airline. Among the low-cost airlines that fly into Saudi Arabia are Air Algerie, AirBlue, Air Cairo, Air Arabia, Air Europa, Air India Express, EgyptAir, Indigo, Jazeera Airways, Lion Air, Pegasus Airlines, Salamair, Scat Airlines, Scoot, SpiceJet, and WizzAir.
Currently, there are no direct flights from Australia or New Zealand to Saudi Arabia. You’ll need a layover in one of the major hubs in Asia.
Prices of flights to Saudi Arabia from Australia and New Zealand
Real-time economy class fares to Saudi Arabia from major airports in Australasia — from Brisbane, Sydney, Melbourne, Perth, Adelaide in Australia, and from Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch in New Zealand.
Prices in Australian Dollar.
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Curated dealsfrom flight experts
Fly half-price (or less!) from Australia and New Zealand to Saudi Arabia:
“Book Flights Now, Pay Later” — is it worth it?
Booking a flight and paying for it later has recently become a popular trend in the travel industry, with many airlines offering delayed payment plans. They will allow you to make flight reservation to Saudi Arabia now and then pay the bill in installments. But should you take advantage?
Book Now Pay Later (BNPL) plans are essentially short-term personal loans. By partnering with financial companies such as Affirm, Afterpay, PayPal Credit, Postpay, and Uplift, airlines can offer their loan services on the checkout page. When you book the flight with the BNPL option, the company pays the airline, and you repay the loan in installments over a set period (usually up to 24 months), with a set interest rate.
BNPL providers have varying terms and fees. Some may offer interest-free loans 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). There may also be transaction fees, down payment requirements, and many companies even run a credit check on the traveler.
Among the airlines that offer a “fly now, pay later” option are American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, Emirates, Qatar Airways, Qantas, Turkish Airlines, United Airlines, Alaska Airlines, British Airways, KLM, Lufthansa, Southwest, and Virgin Atlantic.
Is BNPL financing worth it? If paid off on time, interest-free delayed payment on your flight ticket to Saudi Arabia can be a great way to free up your cash flow. However, there may be safer alternatives available – such as taking advantage of an introductory 0% interest offer on a credit card or using flight price “freezing” services like Hopper.
Hidden-city ticketing hack
Hidden-city ticketing is a less-known money-saving tactic where you buy a plane ticket with a layover, with the intention to get off at the layover rather than the final destination. For example, a flight from New York to Tokyo might be $600, but a similar flight from New York to Singapore with a layover in Tokyo might be only $350. Choosing the latter and ending the trip in Tokyo would save you $250.
It seems counterintuitive that a fare from A to C via B could possibly be cheaper than a simple fare on a shorter route from A to B. However, airlines use dynamic, computer-driven price models calculated with little human intervention, and such deals happen quite often.

Booking a hidden city ticket isn’t as easy as booking a standard itinerary. There are some things to be aware of: (1) don’t check baggage — bring only hand luggage that can fit under the seat or an overhead compartment; a large checked bag will end up in the final destination C; (2) don’t use it for return flights — airlines often void any subsequent tickets if any segment of the first ticket is missed; (3) Do not overuse this tactic with the same airline — hidden-city ticketing is legal but airlines don’t like it and may try to punish you; (4) Don’t associate your frequent flyer account — the airline might invalidate any miles you’ve accrued with them.
How to find hidden-city tickets? The easiest way is to use Skiplagged website, which was designed for unearthing hidden-city deals — give them a try for your flight to Saudi Arabia.
Get cheaper business class by bidding on airline upgrades
A growing number of airlines are auctioning upgrades to their business class seats. Once you book your economy ticket to Saudi Arabia, you can offer to pay a bit more in an attempt to get a premium seat. 2-3 days before your flight, an airline will send you an email with a link to their website where you can place a “blind” bid. There’s usually a minimum bid amount. If you win the auction, you’ll be informed, and your seat will be upgraded.
How to choose the right bid amount? Just check the airline website for the regular cost of a business class seat to Saudi Arabia, then subtract what you paid for the economy fare. Place your bid for around 10% to 30% of that price. The alternative strategy is to bid slightly above the competition. If, for example, the minimum bid is $500, try to bid $550-$600, as most people will offer the baseline amount required.
The more available business class seats the airline has on your flight, the lower bid can be successfully used. Check the airline’s daily schedule for flights to Saudi Arabia – if there is more than one flight on your chosen route (more available seats), you can safely bid close to the minimum required amount.
Among the airlines that allow bidding for seat upgrades are: Air Canada (AC Bid), Air New Zealand (OneUp™), Cathay Pacific, Etihad Airways, Fiji Airways (Bula Bid), Garuda Indonesia (BidUpgrade), Qantas, Singapore Airlines, SriLankan Airlines, and Virgin Australia (UpgradeMe).

Fly early in the morning
Early morning flights (6 am or earlier) are usually cheaper than other day schedules. It’s because of lower demand – most people are not willing to go to the airport so early. Use it to your advantage.
Moreover, airports are also less crowded, and there tend to be fewer delays if you fly early in the morning. Due to increasing air traffic, delays get worse throughout the day – starting around 8-10 am and reaching a peak at 4-6 pm. If you are flying to Saudi Arabia with a connecting flight, arriving on time at your layover airport may be critical to catching your next flight!
Flights to Saudi Arabia from Bali, Bangkok, Delhi, Dubai, Hong Kong, Jakarta, Kuala Lumpur, Manila, Singapore, Seoul, Tokyo, and other major hubs in Asia
- 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 Saudi Arabia 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 Saudi Arabia 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 AirAsia, Cebu 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.
Asian airports with the cheapest flights to Saudi Arabia in 2023/24
Find the lowest prices for flights to Saudi Arabia from the largest airports in Asia — 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.
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Get curated deals to Saudi Arabia from our flight experts:
Take advantage of loyalty programs
Choose an airline that suits you the best, then stick to it. By becoming a ‘regular’, you will be able to use its loyalty program and earn “miles” (or points) – not only for flying but also for everyday expenses (if your card is affiliated with an airline).
Points earned this way often add up over time and are extremely helpful in flying at reduced fares. Airlines offer not only ticket discounts for their frequent flyers, but also special travel perks such as cabin class upgrades, increased checked baggage allowance, or access to their airport lounges so you can relax during long layovers.
If you often fly with Emirates, opt for Skywards, with Qantas – for Qantas Frequent Flyer, with Singapore Airlines – for KrisFlyer, etc.
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.

How to book a superdeal to Saudi Arabia?
Every superdeal you receive from Air Traveler Club includes a link you can use to book a flight. It always directs you to the website that offers the lowest price. Sometimes it’s an airline website; in other cases, Google Flights or a similar flight booking platform.
This video explains how to use Google Flights to book a plane ticket.

Dealing with the jet lag
Jet lag affects people differently depending on age, physical fitness, and genetics. The most accepted rule suggests that you should allow one full day to recover from jet lag for every time zone (hour gained) you traveled east and a number of days equal to half the time zones crossed when you traveled west.
The most effective natural jet lag remedy is to force your body into its new routine. You can begin before getting off the plane: set your watch to the time in Saudi Arabia, then do your best to sleep and eat based on the new time zone. Close the window shade when it’s time to simulate darkness. During your first day on the ground in Saudi Arabia, get outdoors, stay physically active during the day, and absorb sunlight.
FAQ: Flying to Saudi Arabia
Q: What is the cheapest time of year to fly to Saudi Arabia?
A: The best time to book cheap flights to Saudi Arabia (KSA) tends to be during the low season – December through March. Saudi off-peak season takes place at the same time as the hot season. Travel is not popular, and with significantly fewer visitors everything (including air tickets) is cheaper.
Q: Can you fly direct to KSA?
A: Direct flights to Saudi Arabia (KSA) are only available if you depart from nearby countries in the Middle East, Asia or from Europe. If you fly from North America or Australia your trip will have at least one layover.
Q: Which big airlines are flying to Saudi Arabia?
A: Among the legacy, full-service airlines that operate flights to Saudi Arabia are: American Airlines, ANA, British Airways, Emirates, Etihad Airways, Korean Air, Lufthansa, Malaysia Airlines, Singapore Airlines, Qatar Airways, and Turkish Airlines.
Q: Why are flights to Saudi Arabia so expensive?
A: The flight prices to Saudi Arabia depend primarily on which part of the world you are flying from, and the airline you're flying with. For example, the cheapest tickets to KSA from Central Europe are around €400-€600 one-way with full-service airlines such as Emirates, Qatar Airways, or KLM. However, you can fly for as low as €100 if you choose a budget airline WizzAir.
The flight prices to KSA depend also on the time of booking. High demand + low supply = higher fares. If you travel during the peak season (high demand) and book a last-minute flight (low supply - not many tickets left), your flight to Saudi Arabia will be costly (expect to pay 2 or 3 times more than the average price!).
The number of carriers that fly to Saudi Arabia from your region also plays a role. Neighboring countries in the Middle East and Asia tend to have plenty of flights, not only with large, full-service airlines but also with regional low-cost carriers. Competition is fierce, so prices are low.
Finally, there are oil prices and the fact that airfares are pegged to the US dollar. These factors are passed on to travelers, making your flight ticket even more expensive.
Q: Can I fly directly from Australia to Saudi Arabia?
A: No, there are no direct flights from Australian cities to Saudi Arabia. However, most major hubs in Asia have non-stop flights to Jeddah, Riyadh and Dammam – your journey will have at least one stop.
Q: Can I fly directly from London to Saudi Arabia?
A: Yes, Saudia operates daily non-stop flights from London Heathrow to Jeddah and Riyadh.
Q: What is the best airline to fly from the US to Saudi Arabia?
A: Air Canada, American Airlines, Emirates, ANA, Etihad Airways, Qatar Airways, Saudia, Singapore Airlines, and Turkish Airlines tend to be the best (most recommended by frequent flyers) among the airlines that operate routes between the US and KSA.
Q: When is the best time to book flights to Saudi Arabia?
A: Plane tickets usually don’t get cheaper closer to the departure date. Even these reasonably priced flights in the low season sell out quite far ahead of the date of travel. It pays to book your ticket well in advance, as it will give you a good range of flight times and seat selection choices.
The best time to book flights to KSA can vary among airlines, but the golden time usually falls between 2 months and 6 months before the departure. So, January is the best time to book flights if you want to visit Saudi Arabia during the summer.
User Review
4.3 (422 votes)Flights to Saudi Arabia
Whether on a vacation of a lifetime or a business trip, flying to Saudi Arabia is not as easy as booking local travel.
Most likely you are looking at a long-haul trip — and every layover will add a few more hours if you choose not to take a direct flight. Choose your airline wisely, by reading the online reviews left by passengers who have already taken a similar route. Always look for their in-flight experience: seats (are they comfy and spacious?), menu (was it delicious with plenty of choices for different tastes and diets?), and the entertainment options available onboard (the quality of screens and headphones, the range of movie/music/tv channels on offer, etc).
If you have specific travel dates, it's worth booking as soon as possible. Leave it too late and you might have to pay almost double the price, especially if you want to fly during school holidays and popular times like New Year's Eve. If you're not yet an Air Traveler Club subscriber, sign up now — we'll send you lots of discounted offers for free. Our members often save $500 or more on flights to Saudi Arabia!
Pros
- Plenty of airlines flying to Saudi Arabia
- Cheap tickets available
- Flight hacks available
Cons
- Long-haul flights can be expensive