King Abdulaziz International Airport (JED) is the primary airport serving Jeddah and western Saudi Arabia. It is thus commonly called Jeddah Airport or sometimes KAIA, which is the abbreviation of its official name.
The airport is about 19 kilometers north of Jeddah. It is the primary airborne gateway to the holy cities of Mecca and Medina.
KAIA is the busiest airport in the Saudi Kingdom and has experienced significant growth over the past decade. In 2024, it served over 49 million passengers, ranking it fourth busiest in the Middle East after Dubai (DXB), Istanbul (IST), and Doha Hamad (DOH).
Major Airlines - Saudia, Flyadeal, Flynas
Jeddah Airport serves as the largest hub for Saudia, the national flag carrier. Its network is extensive with direct flights to many destinations in Asia, Europe, Africa, and North America.
The airport also operates as a base for regional low-cost carriers Flynas and Flyadeal. These airlines provide numerous domestic and international connections, primarily to other Islam-majority countries.
The Hungarian low-cost airline Wizz Air operates flights from several European cities directly to Jeddah. The Emirati low-cost Air Arabia connects the city to various destinations in the UAE and Egypt.
Many international full-service airlines also fly to King Abdulaziz International Airport. Notable ones include British Airways, Emirates, Pakistan International Airlines, Turkish Airlines, and Uzbekistan Airways.
In total, KAIA is served by over 75 airlines every year.
See all airlines that serve King Abdulaziz International Airport.
Terminal Layout and Gates of KAIA
King Abdulaziz International Airport comprises three operational passenger terminals:
Terminal 1: This newest terminal is also one of the largest airport terminals in the world. It handles most of the flights at Jeddah Airport, including most international full-service airlines.
North Terminal: Handles international flights for non-Saudia airlines, including most foreign low-cost airlines. Every year more and more airlines move from Terminal N to Terminal 1.
South Terminal: Permanently closed since 2020 with all operations moving to T1.
Hajj & Umrah Terminal: Specifically designed to accommodate the influx of pilgrims during the annual Hajj season. It is located near the North Terminal and features a unique, award-winning, tent-like structure that can handle up to 80,000 passengers at any one time. During Hajj, most flights coming into Jeddah would use the special Hajj terminal.
There is a shuttle connecting the North Terminal with Terminal 1.
Connecting Flights and Transit at JED Airport
The rules for transit and connecting flights largely depend on which airline you fly with, if your two flights are booked together, and how long your layover is.
Note that the different terminals of KAIA are NOT connected airside and any change of terminals involves passing through Immigration and Customs and officially entering Saudi Arabia.
The maximum transit time at KAIA is 12 hours, irrespective of what airline you fly. Any longer than that and you need a transit visa (approx. 300 SAR). You are only eligible for a transit visa if you fly with Saudia or Flynas. Saudia may even take care of your transit visa, subject to arrangement.
If you fly with any airline with 2 tickets under the same PNR reservation and your transit time is under 12 hours, you don’t need a visa and you will remain in the same terminal inside its transit area until your next flight.
Wi-Fi at KAIA Airport
Free Wi-Fi is available at King Abdulaziz International Airport. The network name is “KAIA Free Wi-Fi”
After you connect to it, your browser should automatically open the welcome page. Review and accept the Terms and Conditions, then click “Connect Now” and you can begin browsing.
Dining Options at Jeddah Airport
All terminals at KAIA have enough dining establishments to ensure all tastes are catered to, though Terminal 1, being the most global one, offers the most options.
Some of the restaurants at the Hajj & Umrah Terminal are:
Al Musbah Restaurant for Middle Eastern cuisine.
Barns Café for your caffeine fix.
Al Tazaj Restaurant for fast-casual BBQ chicken.
Golden Guest Restaurant for Indonesian cuisine.
Kudu Restaurant for Saudi-style burgers.
Spices Restaurant for Indian food
At the North Terminal, you can choose from:
Albaik: A renowned Saudi fast-food chain specializing in fried chicken and seafood.
BON Cafe: A laid-back coffee shop.
Negroni, serving pizza, pasta, and panini.
Yasalam: A classy Arabian restaurant.
Last but not least, at Terminal 1, you can dine at:
Starbucks: The popular international coffeehouse offers a range of beverages and pastries
Cinnabon: A bakery known for its cinnamon rolls and coffee.
Brioche Doree: A French bakery-cafe that offers puffy, soft pastries.
Century Burger for fast food burgers.
Crepeaffaire for pancakes.
Del Monte for vegetarian food.
Falafel & Friends for Middle Eastern cuisine.
Patamar for Indo-Asian food.
Lounges at KAIA Airport
King Abdulaziz International Airport is poising to become a world-class airport and providing several lounge facilities is one of its ways to ensure passenger comfort and satisfaction, especially for premium fliers.
New airport lounges are bound to open between writing these lines and you reading them. These are the lounges presently open at KAIA.
Saudia Alfursan Lounge: Accessible to Saudia's premium passengers and eligible SkyTeam members and located in Terminal 1. This lounge offers complimentary food, beverages, Wi-Fi, and relaxation areas.
Emirates Lounge: Located in Terminal 1 and opened in 2024, the Emirates doesn’t fail to impress with its exceptional Arabian-style hospitality, a variety of food and beverages (though excluding alcohol), prayer rooms, marble-tiled showers, and strong Wi-Fi.
VIP lounge Amal Al Shatee: Located in the Hajj & Umrah Terminal and open to all paying passengers for a fee.
Plaza Premium Lounge - VIP LOUNGE: Located in Terminal 1 and open to all paying passengers for a fee.
FLY NAS - NaSmiles Lounge: Located in Terminal 1 and open to all paying passengers for a fee.
First Class Lounge - TasHeel: Located in the North Terminal and open to first-class fliers.
Fast Track Lounge - AlShatei Business Lounge: Located in the North Terminal and open to business class fliers.
Transportation to and from King Abdulaziz International Airport
Several transportation options are available for travelers:
- Haramain High-Speed Railway: A station at the airport in front of Terminal 1 offers high-speed connections to cities across Saudi Arabia, such as:
Jeddah Al Sulaymaniyah
King Abdullah Economic City
Makkah (Mecca)
Madinah (Medina)
Departures are every hour and single tickets start from 65 SAR.
- Buses and Shuttles: Several public buses and shuttle services connect KAIA to regional destinations. These are:
SAPTCO Buses: Connect Terminal 1, the North Terminal, and downtown Jeddah from 6 AM until 12 AM. Tickets cost 20 SAR.
AlShatei Buses serve the airport at all terminals. Tickets start at 23 SAR.
Nwbus Shuttles: Provides a direct service from Terminal 1 to Mecca. Tickets start at 35 SAR.
AlBalad Shuttle Buses: Connect the airport to AlBalad with single tickets costing 25 SAR.
Taxi and Rideshare: Licensed taxi services and rideshare options like Uber and Bolt are readily available outside the terminals. A taxi ride to Jeddah city center costs around 150 SAR.
Car Rentals: Multiple car rental agencies operate within the airport. Find their offices in the Arrivals area.
You can also check for private transfers from KAIA here.
Parking at KAIA
King Abdulaziz International Airport provides enough parking options for all passengers and both short and long-term options.
There is one short-term parking lot near all terminals of the airport. They are ideal for brief stays and relatively inexpensive.
The Long-Term Parking is located in front of Terminal 1. It is suitable for extended trips. There are shuttle services connecting this parking to the terminals.
Also near Terminal 1 are the First-Class and Business-Class Parking facilities which are exclusive to premium fliers, premium and modern.
Hotels near KAIA
If you want to sleep inside the terminal, you can do so in Terminal 1 and in the Hajj & Umrah Terminal, each housing one hotel inside the transit area.
In Terminal 1, is the Aerotel Jeddah - a 2-star hotel with well-appointed rooms and a quiet atmosphere.
In the Hajj & Umrah Terminal, is the Airport Transit Hotel which offers spacious rooms with comfortable beds and a classy feel.
Several other hotels are located close to the airport. Check the best hotels near JED Airport here.
Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
