Riyadh Travel Guide - Airport

Of the four terminals, only three are in operation, meaning the airport has plenty of room for future expansion. Terminal 2 is used exclusively by national flag carrier Saudi Arabian Airlines, which flies to more than 50 destinations worldwide from Abu Dhabi to Vienna. New routes scheduled for the end of 2007 include those to Munich in Germany.

Terminal 1 is used by all other international carriers such as Air India, Cathay Pacific and Gulf Air. Destinations from here include Jakarta, Hong Kong and Frankfurt.

Riyadh’s terminals connect to each other to form a modern air hub with a typically Arabian design. There are numerous duty-free shops (with no liquor), ATMs, a post office, medical facilities and abundant prayer rooms that all point to Mecca. Facilities for the disabled are very good and there are automated walkways linking many areas of the three terminals.

Airport information: +966 01 221 1000

Transportation: shuttle buses and private transport are typically laid on by the top hotels, taking travellers the 35kms into the city. Otherwise, the main way to travel to and from the airport is in a metered taxi.

It is also possible to hire a private car, if you are a man, from the many rental companies that operate kiosks in all of the terminals. These include familiar names like Avis and Hertz.

Parking: two multi-storey car parks are located close to the main mosque outside the passenger terminals. Travellers can get into the airport itself from both by following the walkways.