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 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 airportRiyadh RUH, Jeddah JED, and Dammam DMM.

    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 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 Saudi Arabia can be easily reached with regional low-cost carriers (LCCs) by the likes of Air Arabia, AirAsia, Air India Express, Indigo, Jazeera Airways, Pegasus Airlines, Salamair, Scoot, and SpiceJet. If you have a layover in Saudi Arabia 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 Saudi Arabia

Best airports to fly into Saudi Arabia: Riyadh (RUH), Jeddah (JED),  and Dammam (DMM)
Saudi Arabia has about 35 airports, inclusive of international, domestic, and military airports. Among the largest, international airports are – King Khalid Airport 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.
Things to know before flying to Saudi Arabia
Airlines flying to Saudi ArabiaAegan 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, Buta Airways, China Eastern Airlines, China Southern Airlines, Corendon Air, Daallo Airlines, EgyptAir, Emirates, Etihad Airways, Ethiopian Airlines, Flyadeal, FlyArystan, FlyDubai, Flynas, FlyEgypt, Garuda Indonesia, Go First, Gulf Air, 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, Philippine 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, Vistara, Yemenia
Airlines of Saudi ArabiaSaudia, 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 ArabiaKing 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 discountsDiscounted airline tickets to Saudi Arabia (student/family/seniors/military)

Low-cost flights from Saudi Arabia

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

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.

Next tips

Flights to Saudi Arabia from United 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, 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 Saudi Arabia 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.

Saudi Arabia from US & Canada.
Ticket prices in March 2024.

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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.

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).

Next tips

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 Aegean Airlines, British Airways, Lufthansa, Pegasus Airlines, Saudia, Turkish Airlines, and Wizz Air
  • Airlines that frequently fly from the UK, Germany, France, and other European countries to Saudi Arabia 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 Saudi Arabia 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 Saudi Arabia: 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.

Saudi Arabia from Europe.Flight schedule and ticket prices.

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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.

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

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.

Based on years of research, the airlines know what people are willing to pay for specific flights and dates. To make the most money, they will sell their cheapest fares first and then increase the prices right before the flight to take advantage of these travelers who are willing to pay the premium price for late booking.

Occasionally, airlines can offer last-minute deals to fill the remaining seats, but these are for unusual times and unpopular places. Popular destinations and dates 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 2-8 months before the takeoff.

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 offer robust flight networks to key APAC locations, Saudi Arabia included. While domestic carriers like Qantas, Jetstar Airways, Virgin Australia, and Air New Zealand provide solid options, several major international airlines also serve these routes. These include ANA, Cathay Pacific, EmiratesGaruda Indonesia, Japan Airlines, Korean Air, Malaysia Airlines, Philippine Airlines, Qatar Airways, Singapore Airlines, and Thai Airways — expanding your choices for travel between Australasia and Asia.

    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.
  • Airlines have different pricing strategies for different routes. A flight to Saudi Arabia could be significantly cheaper from Sydney than from Melbourne, depending on airline partnerships, demand, and even time of year. Compare fares from different international airports in Australia: Sydney SYD, Brisbane BNE, Melbourne MEL, Perth PER, Adelaide ADL, Cairns CNS, Gold Coast OOL, Canberra CBR, Darwin DRW, Hobart HBA, Alice Springs ASP, and in New Zealand: Auckland AKL, Wellington WLG, Christchurch CHC, Queenstown ZQN, Dunedin DUD, and Hamilton HLZ.
  • If you’re looking to save, consider flying from Australia or New Zealand to a primary Asian hub, then catch a connecting flight to Saudi Arabia with a regional budget airline such as Air Arabia, AirAsia, Air India Express, Indigo, Jazeera Airways, Pegasus Airlines, Salamair, Scoot, and SpiceJet.

    For the initial leg of your trip, full-service airlines such as Qantas or Virgin Atlantic offer premium comfort and exceptional service, albeit at a premium price. However, many Asian airlines, including budget carriers, operate out of Australia and frequently feature sales and promotions. For instance, AirAsia runs deals to Jakarta, Kuala Lumpur, and Singapore; Cebu Pacific to Manila; Scoot to Singapore; VietJet Air to Ho Chi Minh City; Jetstar to Seoul, Singapore, and Tokyo; Bamboo Airways to Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, Beijing; Batik Air to Jakarta and Singapore.

Australia & New Zealand to Saudi Arabia.Flight ticket prices today.

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Booking group flights to Saudi Arabia

Flights are cheaper when purchased in bulk rather than as individual tickets. Booking group flights to Saudi Arabia 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.

Most airlines have a group booking form or phone number (see examples at Emirates and Qantas). Fill out the form, and the airline will come back to you with the proposed group rate. If your group is large and a scheduled flight cannot accommodate everyone, the airline may offer you a charter flight.

Additionally, there are various perks that your group may be eligible for:

  • free seats (complimentary tickets for every 10 or 20 passengers that book together)
  • free checked baggage allowance
  • dedicated group check-in counter at the airport
  • cabin crew who speak your group’s language
  • flexible booking terms (that allow changes without fees)

Booking group flights to Saudi Arabia is similar to booking individual flights. The main difference is that you’ll need to provide personal information for all passengers, and the airline may request additional details, such as meal preferences or accommodations for disabled travelers. A deposit – typically 10-50% of the total cost – may be required to secure the booking. However, some airlines offer deferred payment options where you can secure a reservation with a booking fee and pay the balance later.

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 Saudi Arabia and can help with logistics and scheduling.

“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.

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.
Next tips

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 AirAsiaCebu Pacific, Citilink, FlyDubai, Indigo, Jetstar Airways, Scoot, SpiceJet. 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 Saudi Arabia — 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.

Saudi Arabia from major Asian airports.Flight prices in March 2024.

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Lost luggage prevention: Essential tips

Every year, airlines handle millions of bags and a small percentage never make it to their final destinations. Avoid lost luggage nightmares on your trip to Saudi Arabia by removing old tags from previous flights on your suitcases – they can confuse baggage handlers and conveyor belt scanners. It’s also a good idea to label your luggage with your name, address, and phone number (both inside and outside the case) and attach a GPS-tracker device like Apple AirTag or Samsung SmartTag.

For peace of mind, consider purchasing travel insurance to cover the full value of your luggage, as airline liability usually doesn’t reflect the actual value of the baggage content.

“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, Fly Now Pay Later, 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.

Fly now pay later - delayed payments for flight reservations
Fly Now Pay Later works with numerous popular travel brands to provide delayed payment options

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.

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)