Getting around Saudi Arabia: transport and apps

The scale

• Saudi Arabia is the size of Western Europe. Riyadh to Jeddah is a two-hour flight. AlUla is a flight from Riyadh, not a day trip.
• Domestic flights are the backbone - Saudia and flynas run them frequently and cheaply.

Rail

• The Haramain High Speed Railway links Jeddah, King Abdulaziz airport, Mecca and Medina. Fast, modern and cheap. Non-Muslims cannot use the Mecca station.
• The Riyadh Metro opened in 2024 with six lines and is transforming a city that had no public transport at all. Pay by card at the gate.
• The Saudi Railway Company runs Riyadh to Dammam and Riyadh to Qassim and Hail.

Road

• Ride-hailing (Uber and Careem) works everywhere and is the default in every city.
• Driving is easy on the highways and aggressive in the cities. Rental is straightforward; women may drive.
• Distances are genuine desert distances. Fuel up, carry water, and do not set off across the Empty Quarter casually.

Things not to do

• Do not photograph government buildings, military sites or palaces. This is enforced and is not a warning about etiquette.
• The FCDO assesses that terrorists are likely to try to carry out attacks, targeting compounds, public places and tourist sites. The practical response is ordinary awareness, not avoidance.

Worth having

• Uber and Careem - both work in every city and are the normal way to move.
• Nusuk - the official platform for Umrah and Hajj permits, and also for booking the Rawdah at the Prophet's Mosque in Medina. If you are performing Umrah, this is the app.
• Absher / Tawakkalna - the government service apps. Visitors mostly do not need them, but some venues ask for a Tawakkalna pass.
• Haramain Train - books the high-speed rail directly.

Booking sights

• The major sites are ticketed online and often sell out - AlUla's Hegra in particular has timed tours booked through the Experience AlUla platform and is not something you turn up for.
• Diriyah and the Riyadh season events are the same.

Practical

• Prayer times close shops. It is less absolute than it was, but many small businesses still shut for 20 to 30 minutes five times a day. A prayer-time app saves standing outside a locked door.
• Delivery apps - HungerStation, Jahez and Careem - are how the country eats, and most take foreign cards.