Saudi Arabia

Trains in Saudi Arabia: tickets, passes and routes

The train is a good way to travel Saudi Arabia only on three corridors: Haramain high-speed between Jeddah, KAEC, Madinah and Makkah; SAR East from Riyadh to Dammam via Hofuf; SAR North from Riyadh to Qassim, Hail, Al Jouf and Qurayyat. Everywhere else, fly or drive. No national rail pass exists — buy single tickets on the operator's own site or app.

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Updated Sep 20263 min read

GuideSaudi Arabia

Key facts

Best rail line: Haramain High-Speed: Jeddah – Madinah about 2 h at 300 km/h
Riyadh – Dammam: SAR East line, about 4 h via Hofuf (Al-Ahsa)
Riyadh – Hail: SAR North line, about 4 h 30; one or two trains a day on far sections
Typical farecheck: SAR 70–350 one way depending on line and class (2026 estimate)
Rail pass: None. No national or multi-day pass is sold
Book aheadcheck: 1–3 days normally; weeks ahead around Umrah peaks, Ramadan, Eid and Hajj
Non-Muslim rule: May ride to Jeddah, KAEC and Madinah; must not travel to Makkah station
Booking channel: Operator website or app; counters at major stations

Details

Saudi Arabia has no single national rail network you can hop on and off. Passenger trains run on three separate systems, each with its own operator, timetable and ticket site. Decide by corridor, not by country.

Haramain High-Speed Rail is the one most visitors use. It links Jeddah's airport station, Jeddah city, King Abdullah Economic City (KAEC), Madinah and Makkah on a 300 km/h line. Jeddah to Madinah takes about 2 hours; Makkah to Madinah about 2 h 30. Fares run roughly SAR 100–350 depending on class and how early you book (2026 estimate). Non-Muslim travellers may ride to Jeddah, KAEC and Madinah but must not travel to Makkah station — this is a legal rule, not a suggestion.

SAR East line connects Riyadh with Dammam in about 4 hours, calling at Hofuf for Al-Ahsa. It is the comfortable option for the Gulf coast and the date farms, but departures are few: plan the day around the train, not the other way round. Book on the SAR app.

SAR North line runs from Riyadh to Qassim (about 2 h 30), on to Hail (about 4 h 30) and further to Al Jouf and Qurayyat. It is useful for Hail's rock art and Qassim's date markets. On the far sections there may be only one or two trains a day, so check timetables before you commit.

Everything else — Riyadh to Jeddah, Riyadh to AlUla, Jeddah to Abha, the Red Sea coast — is not served by passenger rail. Fly (SAR 250–700 one way, about 1 h 45 in the air) or drive. Riyadh Metro is a separate city system: six lines since January 2025, SAR 4 for two hours with a Darb card or app, including the Yellow Line to the airport.

Details
Line	Route	Time	Fare (2026 estimate)
Haramain High-Speed	Jeddah – KAEC – Madinah; Makkah branch	Jeddah – Madinah ~2 h; Makkah – Madinah ~2 h 30	SAR 100–350
SAR East	Riyadh – Hofuf – Dammam	~4 h	SAR 70–200
SAR North	Riyadh – Qassim – Hail – Al Jouf – Qurayyat	Qassim ~2 h 30; Hail ~4 h 30	SAR 70–300
Riyadh Metro	City of Riyadh, six lines	City trips	SAR 4 for 2 hours

Fares vary by class, demand and how early you book. Treat all figures as 2026 estimates and confirm on the operator's site.

Tips

Book on the operator's own website or app. Third-party resellers add fees and are slower to fix problems when a train is cancelled or a name is mistyped.

Carry the passport you booked with. Tickets are tied to a document number, and station staff check it before boarding.

Arrive 30–45 minutes early at Haramain stations. Security screening and platform walks take longer than the train ride feels.

Around Umrah peaks, Ramadan, Eid and Hajj, Haramain trains sell out days or weeks ahead. If your dates are fixed, book as soon as the window opens.

There is no rail pass to buy, so budget per journey. For two or more long hops, compare the train fare with a domestic flight before deciding.

Friday and prayer times can shift station services. Allow slack if you are connecting to a flight.

Book direct with the operator, not a reseller
Bring the passport used at booking
Arrive 30–45 min before departure
Book weeks ahead for Umrah, Ramadan, Eid and Hajj
No rail pass exists — price each leg
Compare train vs flight for long routes

Questions people ask

Is the train a good way to get around Saudi Arabia?

Only on three corridors: Haramain high-speed (Jeddah, KAEC, Madinah, Makkah), SAR East (Riyadh–Dammam via Hofuf) and SAR North (Riyadh–Qassim–Hail–Al Jouf–Qurayyat). For Riyadh–Jeddah, AlUla or the south, fly or drive instead.

Do I need a rail pass for Saudi Arabia?

No. Saudi Arabia does not sell a national or multi-day rail pass. Buy single tickets on the operator's website or app for each leg, and compare the fare with a domestic flight before committing to a long route.

How far in advance should I book trains in Saudi Arabia?

One to three days is usually enough on SAR East and North lines. For Haramain around Umrah peaks, Ramadan, Eid and Hajj, book weeks ahead — those trains sell out. Book direct with the operator and carry the passport you used.

Deep dive

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