Riyadh Airport Transfers: Getting from the Airport to the City

Airports serving Riyadh

• King Khalid International (Riyadh) (RUH) — 35 km from the centre

  Metered Karwa taxi to Olaya in ~35 min (SAR 80–120); Careem is often cheaper; hotel limos SAR 200+.

Entry and arrival formalities

e-Gates open to most e-visa holders. Fingerprint enrolment on first arrival is standard.

Over 60 nationalities (EU, UK, US, Canada, Australia, Japan, GCC and more) qualify for a one-year multi-entry e-visa with 90-day stays — apply in minutes at visa.visitsaudi.com.

Getting into the city

The Riyadh Metro (6 lines) opened in 2024 and links KAFD, Olaya, Downtown and Diriyah; taxi and Careem/Uber rideshares are inexpensive and cover the whole city. A car is useful for Edge of the World and heritage day trips.

• Riyadh Metro

  Six-line driverless network (opened 2024) covers KAFD, Olaya, Downtown, Diriyah, RUH airport.

• Careem / Uber

  Cheap, plentiful and preferred by most visitors — cash and card.

• Taxi

  White-and-yellow metered cabs; agree fare or insist on meter for short trips.

• Rental car

  Recommended for Edge of the World, Al-Ha'ir farms and desert-camp day trips.