Discovering Saudi Arabia Transportation Guide

Saudi Arabia supports all types of transportation options for travelers. By land, sea, or air, you can arrive in KSA and travel regionally without difficulty.

Pilgrims of Family Umrah Packages UK usually opt for the medium of flights as it offers greater convenience. Let it be in terms of their travel to Makkah or Madinah. However, the other local transportation mediums include buses, trains, private cars and taxis as well.

If you are visiting the holy land for the first time, here’s a brief Saudi Arabia transportation guide for you.

Saudi Arabia Transportation Guide For Travelers

If you look back at Saudi Arabia, it used to be a secluded country, and tourism had nothing to do with this country. Tourism was not permitted. Within a few years, the situation has drastically changed, and now they welcome tourists and have prepared themselves with all kinds of traveling facilities to make things easy for the tourists.

They have organized everything from entering the country to traveling around for their tourists. Let’s take a brief look at all the transport facilities they have.

Airports

Saudi Arabia has a vast network of domestic, regional and international airports to facilitate travelers of all types. Whether you are a foreign traveler or a GCC national, there are various options for you to utilize in terms of air travel.

Riyadh, Jeddah, Dammam, and Madinah have international airports in KSA. On the other hand, Tabuk, Hail, Al Jawf, Gizan, Yanbu, Taif, Al Ula, Abha, and NEOM have regional (GCC) airports. Al Baha Gurayat, Rafha, Turaif, Dhahran, Bisha, Wadi Al Dawasir, and Sharurah are popular options if you want to book domestic flights.

Flying by air is the fastest mode of transportation that you can utilise in KSA. However, its approach remains limited to popular cities.

Buses

SAPTCO (Saudi Public Transport Company) is the national bus transport company of KSA. SAPTCO offers convenience, affordability, and reliability – all in one. You can purchase a smart card for 10 SAR through the company’s app or physically from the vending machine while each trip costs around 3 SAR.

The accessibility of SAPTCO makes it a popular bus transportation option in the region. It covers all the major destinations in KSA with minimal costs. You can even have a VIP travel experience with your Saudi Visa for UK Citizens at an additional cost and tailor it to your individual needs and preferences.

Car Rental

You can get a car on rent with a driver or even drive it yourself (with an international driving license). Therefore, having a private and exclusive travel experience. Plus, it offers greater convenience and flexibility of time.

Car rental rates in KSA start from 100 SAR per day and go up depending on the type of car you are booking and for how long.

Railways

While the various metro projects are under construction in KSA under the Saudi Vision 2030 plan, KSA currently offers the Haramain High-Speed Railway. This state-of-the-art, high-speed railway network connects Makkah and Madinah holy cities via its stations in Jeddah and King Abdullah Economic City (KAEC).

You can purchase a ticket for 90 SAR and reach from Makkah to Madinah in just two and a half hours! This railway service is particularly popular among the pilgrims of Hajj and Umrah in the region.

Metro Systems

When discussing Saudi Arabia transportation guide, it is impossible to miss out on the metro. Right now, Saudi has only one metro system, and that is in Mecca. Next, the Riyadh metro will start operating, and there have been proposals for metro systems in Medina, Dammam, and Jeddah. The first metro started back in 2010.

The locals refer to this single-line metro as Al Madhaaer Al Mugaddassah Line. This is also known as Line S and is a nine-station line. however, it only operates during the Hajj pilgrimage. So, if you are planning your travels during Hajj, then this is something you can avail. The local authorities are planning for a more conventional network to build.

Like Uber and Careem have transformed how people travel, various ride-sharing operators are present in KSA. You can simply download their applications and book a ride for your local commute or intercity travel.

Unlike car hires, the best thing about these ride-sharing apps is that they are affordable, safe, and require no paperwork to book. Most of the pilgrims of Cheap Ramadan Umrah packages use these ride-sharing apps during their stay in KSA.

Transportation Tips For Travelers in KSA

If you plan to cycle in the region, know the rules and regulations for cyclers. There are specific tracks available for the purpose. It’s a popular activity, especially at the corniche.

For travelers planning to use public transportation, planning ahead of time is important. This is because crowds will be a common thing for you. So be patient and prepared.

Practice speaking some basic Arabic phrases for better communication with the locals. This will not only keep you from frauds and scams but also you can bargain better, especially with taxi drivers.

For a traditional travel experience, you can also be a part of camel safaris in the desert. Learn how Bedouin people traveled in the region’s desert and traditional markets.

Wear weather-appropriate, loose-fit, and modest clothes. Dress simply, according to the norms of Saudi Arabia. Have your travel documents along with you and keep them secure. Authorities there might ask you to show proof of your identity and Saudi Visa for UK Citizens anywhere.

Always carry cash, i.e., Saudi Riyals, and your digital payment mediums to avoid inconveniences.

To keep yourself updated with the Saudi Arabia transportation guide, download your mobile phone’s Google Maps and the Saudi Tourism Authority App. So that you can minimize the risk of getting lost in the kingdom while using public transportation, be aware of the gender segregation in buses and railways. That’s how you can get around in KSA with various transportation options.

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