The airport has a total of 3 passenger terminals. The buildings are not connected to each other and even each of them is located at completely different ends of the airport.
The terminals vary greatly in size and overall feel.
Terminal 1
The newest and largest terminal has been in operation since 2019 and meets the highest international standards. The building is huge, spacious, clean and very uncluttered.
The transit area is divided into a more distant international section (about a 20 minute walk from security) and a closer domestic section (within 5 minutes of security).
Both security and passport control are well organised, but you can be delayed up to 45 minutes at peak times (morning and late evening). We recommend arriving at the terminal 2.5 to 3 hours before departure.
Terminal 1 is used by the following airlines:
- Saudia, Flynas, flyadeal, Aegean Airlines, Emirates, Etihad Airways, Flydubai, Kuwait Airways, Malaysia Airlines, MEA, Oman Air, Qatar Airways, Royal Air Maroc, Royal Brunei Airlines, Royal Jordanian, Scoot, THAI, Turkish Airlines
Terminal North
The Old North Terminal, sometimes referred to as Terminal 2, serves most international airlines. However, all international flights of local airlines Saudia, Flynas and flyadeal are operated from the new Terminal 1.
The North Terminal is old and cramped. Expect large crowds in a small space and not enough seats. Restaurant and shop facilities are adequate, but there are fewer toilets than needed, for example.
Terminal North serves these airlines:
- Air Algerie, Air Arabia, Air Asia, Air Cairo, Air India, Air Sial, Ariana Afghan, Azerbaijan Airlines, Badr Airlines, Biman Bangladesh, Egyptair, Ethiopian Airlines, Fly Egypt, Gulf Air, IndiGo, Jazeera Airways, Libyan Airlines, Lion Air, Pegasus Airlines, Salam Air, Somon Air, Spicejet, SriLankan Airlines, Tarco Air, Tunisair, Uzbekistan Airways, Vistara, Wizz Air
Terminal Hajj
Near the North Terminal is the famous architecturally award-winning Special Terminal Building set aside exclusively for charter flights carrying Muslim pilgrims to the holy cities of Mecca and Medina.
Flights operated at the Hajj Terminal are charter only and therefore organised by special tour operators.
Terminal South
The South Terminal was previously used for domestic flights only, but remains closed as of 2020 and is occasionally used for cargo flights only.
Transfer between flights
If you have a transfer at Jeddah Airport guaranteed by Saudia (flights are purchased on one booking), you do not leave the transit area and remain in Terminal 1.
You will be transferred between terminals if you are transferring from a foreign airline flight. Shuttle buses run around the tarmac approximately once every 15 minutes. Follow the "Transfer" signs to the information desks, where you will be given exact directions to the buses.
The transfer is very well organised and well signposted. In addition to the signs, ubiquitous staff will direct you to the correct corridors.
Do I need a visa to change buses?
There is no need for an expensive visa for Saudi Arabia as long as the transfer time does not exceed 12 hours. This is because you do not leave the transit area during the transfer and therefore do not go through passport control at all.
You will only need to obtain a visa if you combine the transfer in Jeddah on your own from two separately purchased tickets.
What checks do I go through when I change planes?
You will always go through a security check during your transfer, which is exclusively for transfer passengers and is located within the transit zone.
The security checkpoint is always separated into rows for men and women.
If you are transferring from an international flight to a domestic flight or vice versa, you will of course also go through passport control.
What is the minimum transfer time?
The official minimum transfer time within Terminal 1, where all transfers take place, is 60 minutes.
During this time, you can easily get through security.
For transfers between terminals, the minimum time is set at 90 minutes.
Find the best accommodation near Jeddah Airport or in the city centre.
Overnight in the terminal
For long overnight transfers, you can always expect to spend the night in the airport lobby, unless you want to deal with an expensive transit visa just for one night.
Unfortunately, there is no transit hotel inside the terminal.
Overnight stays at Jeddah airport are not very comfortable as there are no relaxation areas and all seats have armrests. Pack warmer clothes with you as the air conditioning always runs at maximum capacity.
Terminal 1 is very spacious and you can always find a quiet seat, while Terminal North is often very crowded and overnight stays are extremely uncomfortable.
Hotels near the airport
You won't find any hotels within walking distance of the terminals. Hotels are mostly located along the highway encircling the airport area.
Some hotels offer a private transfer to the airport for a fee of around 100 sar, which is quite expensive by local standards. However, there are also hotels with free transfers to the terminals.
- Clarion Hotel Jeddah Airport *** - An international hotel with prices around 100 eur, the distance to the terminal is 6 minutes and the hotel is conveniently located from the airport in the direction of the centre.
- Donatello Jeddah Airport **** - A hotel with prices from 100 eur is convenient when travelling by rental car outside Jeddah. Taxi to the airport costs around 50 sar.
Hotels in the centre
Jeddah is a huge dynamic city and one of the economic centres of the country and hence there is a more than adequate supply of hotels. What hotels in the centre would we recommend?
- Prime Almina **** - A well rated hotel 10 minutes walk from the historic centre of Old Jeddah
- Crowne Plaza Jeddah ***** - an international hotel located on the Al-Hamra Corniche
- Sheraton Jeddah Hotel ***** - international hotel on the new seafront promenade north of the centre and about 25 minutes from the airport
