For most pilgrims, Umrah starts in the arrivals hall at King Abdulaziz International Airport (JED). You have usually travelled for many hours, the hall is busy, and you may not read Arabic signs. This guide walks through a Jeddah Airport Umrah arrival in the order it happens, so you know what to expect before the plane touches down.
It also explains how our drivers meet you, and what to do if the meeting does not go to plan.
Which terminal will you land at?
Jeddah’s airport is large and has more than one passenger building. It lies roughly 19 km north of the city and is run by Jeddah Airports Company. Its passenger buildings are Terminal 1, the North Terminal, the Hajj and Umrah Terminal (often called the Hajj Terminal), a separate complex built for pilgrim traffic, and Terminal 4. Terminal 4, the redeveloped former South Terminal, began phased operations on 27 September 2026. Jeddah Airports Company is moving the foreign airlines that used the North Terminal, and some from Terminal 1 and the Hajj and Umrah Terminal, to Terminal 4 in stages, so check the terminal with your airline shortly before you fly.
Your airline decides where you land, not you and not us. The ticket or boarding pass shows the terminal, or you can ask the airline a few days before you fly.
- Terminal 1 is the modern main terminal, used by Saudia, flynas, flyadeal and some foreign airlines.
- Terminal 4 is taking over the foreign airlines of the North Terminal from late September 2026.
- The Hajj Terminal is used in the busy pilgrim seasons. If your ticket says Hajj Terminal, tell your driver, because the meeting point there is different.
Our fare for the airport pick up is the same at either building. What changes is the place where the driver stands, so send us the terminal as soon as you know it.
What happens after you land
The order is almost always the same.
- Leave the aircraft. Follow the signs to arrivals. If you need a wheelchair or other help, arrange it with your airline when you book the flight.
- Baggage reclaim. Wait for your suitcases and any hand-carried items. Group travellers often wait longest here, so do not leave the belt until everyone has their bags.
- Customs. Bags may be screened. Keep your bags with you.
- The arrivals hall. This is where the driver meets you.
Waiting is already inside our fare. If immigration takes an hour or the belt is slow, nothing is added and the driver stays.
How the meeting works with Umrah Online Taxi
The day before you travel, we send you the driver’s name, his phone number and the vehicle registration. If we have your number, we also message you when the driver is in position.
- The driver waits inside the arrivals hall, past baggage reclaim, with a board showing your name.
- He takes the trolley and walks you to the vehicle.
- It is your party only. There are no other pick ups and no shared vans.
- A late landing costs nothing extra. We watch the arrivals board with your flight number, so the driver comes in when your flight lands, not when your ticket said.
- There is no night surcharge, so a landing after midnight costs the same as one at midday.
For the route and fares to your hotel, see Jeddah Airport to Makkah taxi. The Nusuk charge applies to airport pick up routes and is shown separately, never hidden in the fare.
Daytime and night arrivals
Daytime arrivals are busier. Immigration queues can be longer in the pilgrim seasons, and the road to Makkah may be slower. We add no charge for that, but leave room in your plans.
Night arrivals are quieter at the airport. The road to Makkah is usually faster too. Most of our night pick ups are tired families, so the driver keeps the conversation short and the vehicle cool. If you land in the early hours, check that your hotel can check you in at that time, because that is the most common problem on the Makkah end.
What to send us before you fly
Five details make the meeting work well.
- Flight number and date. This is the most useful detail. It turns a guess into a tracked arrival.
- Terminal, if you know it. If you do not, send it as soon as you know it.
- Number of people and number of large bags. Bags decide the vehicle more than people do. See choosing a vehicle for your group.
- Hotel name. Makkah has many hotels with similar names, so give the full name and area.
- Any special needs. Elderly parents, a child seat, or a folding wheelchair. Child seats are free on request. For more on this see Umrah transport with elderly parents.
Our message line for all of this is WhatsApp, answered in Arabic, English and Urdu.
If you cannot find your driver
It happens, especially at a crowded terminal.
- Check the name board again. Drivers stand at the edge of the hall, not always at the exit door.
- Call or message the driver. His number reached you the day before.
- If your phone has no signal, use airport wifi if it is available at your terminal, or ask airport staff to help with a call.
- Message us on WhatsApp. We will connect you with the driver.
Do not leave the building to follow an unknown person who offers a ride. Stay inside and wait for your named driver.
Going on to Madinah or by train
Not everyone goes straight to Makkah. If your first stop is Madinah, the road is much longer, around 4 to 5 hours, and the Jeddah Airport to Madinah taxi page has the fare and stops. If you plan to use the Haramain train from the airport station, we book the taxi leg at each end. See Makkah Haramain station taxi.
For all the ways to reach Makkah from the airport, see how to get from Jeddah Airport to Makkah.
Questions people ask
It depends on the airline and the season. Terminal 1 is the main terminal, the Hajj Terminal is used in busy pilgrim seasons, and Terminal 4 is taking over the North Terminal’s foreign airlines from late September 2026.
Inside the arrivals hall, past baggage reclaim, holding a board with your name. At the Hajj Terminal the meeting point is different, so tell us if your ticket says Hajj Terminal.
Send us the flight number. We watch the arrival board and the driver comes when you land. Nothing is added for a delay.
Our fare includes the wait, so you do not need to rush.
No. There is no surcharge at any hour on any route.
Yes. You pay at the end of the journey in Saudi Riyal cash or by bank transfer. No deposit is taken and there is no card payment.
Still have a question?
Ask on WhatsApp in Arabic, English or Urdu, at any hour.
Book your airport pick up
Send your flight number, hotel and number of bags, and we send the fare in writing. Message us on WhatsApp or use the booking page.
Sources
- Jeddah Airports Company, King Abdulaziz International Airport: kingabdulaziz-airport.com
- King Abdulaziz International Airport, general airport description (terminals and location): en.wikipedia.org/wiki/King_Abdulaziz_International_Airport
- Saudi Press Agency, Terminal 4 at King Abdulaziz International Airport Commences Phased Operations: https://www.spa.gov.sa/en/N2686824
- Arab News, 27 September 2026, Jeddah airport’s Terminal 4 begins phased operations (Jeddah Airports Company statement on moving airlines from the North Terminal): https://www.arabnews.com/tourism-transport/jeddah-airports-terminal-4-begins-phased-operations-adding-15m-passenger-capacity-3003380
- Umrah Online Taxi arrival process, fares and Nusuk charge: routes and prices
