Flying out of Riyadh? Five other airports are a drive away
Riyadh flights are disrupted, and some airlines have paused their Riyadh services. If your flight is cancelled, or you'd rather not wait it out at King Khalid, five other airports are within a day's drive: Dammam (about 4 hours), Bahrain (about 5), Doha (about 7), Abu Dhabi (about 10) and Dubai (about 11).
We pick you up from your door in Riyadh, time the departure to your new flight, take you through the border, and drop you at departures. The price is fixed on WhatsApp before we set off, with no surcharge for the disruption.
The five airports, side by side
Dammam King Fahd Intl, DMM
- Road distance from Riyadh
- 400 km
- Driving time
- ~4 h
- Border
- None: domestic
- What you need at the border
- Saudi ID / Iqama / passport
- Price
- Quote in 15 min
Bahrain Bahrain Intl, BAH
- Road distance from Riyadh
- 476 km
- Driving time
- ~5 h + causeway
- Border
- King Fahd Causeway
- What you need at the border
- Passport or GCC ID + Bahrain entry; residents need an exit/re-entry visa
- Price
- Quote in 15 min
Doha Hamad Intl, DOH
- Road distance from Riyadh
- 593 km
- Driving time
- ~7 h + border
- Border
- Salwa → Abu Samra
- What you need at the border
- Passport + Qatar entry; residents need an exit/re-entry visa
- Price
- Quote in 15 min
Abu Dhabi Zayed Intl, AUH
- Road distance from Riyadh
- 947 km
- Driving time
- ~9.5–10 h + border
- Border
- Batha → Ghuwaifat
- What you need at the border
- Passport or GCC ID + UAE entry; residents need an exit/re-entry visa
- Price
- Quote in 15 min
Dubai Dubai Intl, DXB
- Road distance from Riyadh
- 1,070 km
- Driving time
- ~11 h + border
- Border
- Batha → Ghuwaifat
- What you need at the border
- Passport or GCC ID + UAE entry; residents need an exit/re-entry visa
- Price
- Quote in 15 min
| Airport | Road distance from Riyadh | Driving time | Border | What you need at the border | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DammamKing Fahd Intl, DMM | 400 km | ~4 h | None: domestic | Saudi ID / Iqama / passport | Quote in 15 min |
| BahrainBahrain Intl, BAH | 476 km | ~5 h + causeway | King Fahd Causeway | Passport or GCC ID + Bahrain entry; residents need an exit/re-entry visa | Quote in 15 min |
| DohaHamad Intl, DOH | 593 km | ~7 h + border | Salwa → Abu Samra | Passport + Qatar entry; residents need an exit/re-entry visa | Quote in 15 min |
| Abu DhabiZayed Intl, AUH | 947 km | ~9.5–10 h + border | Batha → Ghuwaifat | Passport or GCC ID + UAE entry; residents need an exit/re-entry visa | Quote in 15 min |
| DubaiDubai Intl, DXB | 1,070 km | ~11 h + border | Batha → Ghuwaifat | Passport or GCC ID + UAE entry; residents need an exit/re-entry visa | Quote in 15 min |
Distances and driving times: central Riyadh to the terminal, OpenStreetMap routing, measured 9 Oct 2026. Border time is on top and changes by the hour. Every quote is a fixed price, door-to-door, including tolls and waiting at the border.
Vehicles: Economy SUV (Toyota Prado / Sequoia or similar, up to 4 passengers and 4 large bags) · Executive SUV (GMC Yukon / Chevrolet Tahoe or similar, up to 6 passengers and 5 large bags) · Executive SUV XL (GMC Yukon XL / Chevrolet Suburban or similar, up to 7 passengers and 7 large bags)
Which airport should you pick?
- Dammam (DMM) is the shortest drive and has no border. It's the right call if your airline flies from there, or rebooks you through it. Some carriers have suspended Dammam as well as Riyadh, so check yours first.
- Bahrain (BAH) is our home crossing: we drive the King Fahd Causeway every day. It's about an hour more driving than Dammam, plus the causeway crossing itself. Thursday evenings and Saturday nights are the slow ones.
- Doha (DOH) is a major long-haul hub about 7 hours away, and the first real border run. Salwa on the Saudi side, then a short stretch to Abu Samra on the Qatari side.
- Abu Dhabi (AUH) and Dubai (DXB) are full-day drives through Batha–Ghuwaifat. There are long empty stretches after Hofuf, so take water and snacks, and leave your phone charged. On legs over 600 km we plan a second driver or a proper rest stop, and we agree which one with you at booking.
How it works: send your flight number, we time the pickup
- 1
Send your new flight number and departure time on WhatsApp, with your Riyadh pickup address and how many people and bags are travelling.
- 2
We work backwards from take-off: driving time, plus border time on the day, plus the airline's check-in window (most ask for 3 hours before an international departure; check yours). Then we give you a pickup time.
- 3
You get a fixed price in writing before anything is booked, usually within 15 minutes.
- 4
Your driver arrives at your door, helps load the bags, and handles the vehicle paperwork at the border. You keep your passport ready for the window.
- 5
Drop-off at departures. If your flight moves while you're on the road, tell the driver and we re-plan the timing.
Frequently asked questions
What documents do I need to leave Saudi Arabia by road?
Saudi citizens and GCC citizens: no visa is needed for Bahrain, Qatar or the UAE. Bahrain and the UAE accept a GCC national ID card at the border as well as a passport.
Sources: Bahrain eGovernment: national ID and visas · Visit Qatar: visas · UAE Government: check if you need a visa
Residents of Saudi Arabia (Iqama holders): you need a valid exit/re-entry visa before you reach the border, issued on Absher. You also need entry to the country you're driving to (below).
Sources: my.gov.sa: exit/re-entry visa
Visitors to Saudi Arabia: if you plan to come back on the same Saudi visa, check that it allows multiple entries. The standard tourist eVisa is valid for one year, multiple entry.
Sources: Saudi eVisa portal
Do I need a visa for Bahrain?
GCC citizens don't. GCC residents can apply online for a Bahrain eVisa (a 3-month multiple-entry visit visa needs a GCC residence permit valid for at least another 3 months). Everyone else: check your nationality on the official eVisa site, which lists the visa-on-arrival and eVisa countries.
Sources: Bahrain eGovernment: 3-month eVisa for GCC residents · Bahrain eVisa
Do I need a visa for Qatar?
GCC citizens don't. GCC residents apply for the GCC-resident (A2) visa on the Hayya platform; since 30 Nov 2025 it allows up to two months' stay with multiple entries. Over 100 nationalities can enter visa-free; check yours on Visit Qatar.
Sources: Visit Qatar: visas · Qatar Tourism: Hayya GCC-resident visa update · Hayya
Do I need a visa for the UAE (Abu Dhabi or Dubai)?
GCC citizens don't. GCC residents must apply online for a UAE eVisa before arriving, and the passport must be valid for at least 6 months. For other nationalities, check visa-on-arrival eligibility on the UAE government portal.
Sources: UAE Government: tourist visa (GCC residents) · UAE Government: check if you need a visa
Who handles the car at the border?
We do: the vehicle's border paperwork and insurance are ours. You hand your passports or IDs through the window when asked. Have them ready in one place, not in a suitcase in the boot.
How much luggage fits?
Economy SUV: up to 4 passengers and 4 large bags. Executive SUV: up to 6 and 5. Executive SUV XL: up to 7 and 7. Moving a family with a month's luggage? Tell us the bag count and we'll put you in the right car, or in two.
Travelling with children?
Tell us how many children are travelling and their ages when you ask for a quote. If you need a child seat, say so. We'll confirm on the quote whether we can supply one or you should bring your own.
How do I pay?
Cash or bank transfer. The price is fixed in writing on WhatsApp before we leave, and it doesn't change at the border. Companies can ask for an invoice.
What happens if a border closes?
If a crossing closes, or an official advisory covers the route before we set off, you get a full refund. If it closes while we're on the road, we don't leave you at the border: we take you to the nearest open airport and charge only the extra distance, at cost.
Is there a crisis surcharge?
No. You get one fixed price for your trip before we set off, with no surcharge for the disruption.
Can you pick me up at King Khalid airport (RUH)?
Yes, if you've landed in Riyadh and need to get to one of these airports, or the other way round. We do intercity and cross-border trips; we don't offer rides within Riyadh.