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Saudi Railways
There are three rail routes in Saudi Arabia, originally run by two different state-owned organisations, Saudi Railways Organisation (SRO) and Saudi Arabia Railways (SA). These merged in February 2022 under the name Saudi Arabia Railways, www.sar.com.sa.
See detailed railway route map
Travel insurance, Curve Card, VPN
Useful country information
Riyadh to Dammam
Originally run by Saudi Railways Organisation (SRO), but now all part of Saudi Arabia Railways, www.sar.com.sa (click En top left for English). Riyadh to Dammam is 449 km, the line opened in 1981. Dammam is close to Bahrain.
Riyadh SRO station is close to the city centre, station code RYD. Check the latest times at www.sar.com.sa.
How much does it cost?
Fares vary by date & demand.
How to buy tickets
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Option 1, buy tickets at www.bookaway.com.
This is the easiest option for overseas visitors, Bookaway are a reliable agency.
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Option 2, buy tickets at www.sar.com.sa (click English top left).
This is the train operator's own website, if it won't accept your phone number, enter any Saudi phone number, for example that of your hotel.
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Booking opens 30 days before departure. Trains often leave full, so I recommend booking a few days ahead. Feedback would be appreciated.
What is the train like?
The Riyadh-Dammam trains are 5-car air-conditioned sets with a power car at one end and driving cab at the other. Built by Spanish manufacturer CAF, these trains date from 2011-12. The trains have Premium (1st) class and Standard (2nd) class, a cafe counter and even a prayer area.
Riyadh East station
Riyadh to Qassim, Hail, Jauf
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See www.sar.com.sa for schedules, prices and online booking. Click En top left for English.
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Prices are cheaper if you book ahead online compared to buying at the station on the day.
Tip: If it won't accept your phone number, enter any Saudi phone number, for example that of your hotel.
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There are one or two daytime trains in each direction every day running at up to 200 km/h, plus an overnight sleeper with 4-berth private compartments which are sold by the compartment for single, double, triple or quadruple occupancy.
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Trains leave from Riyadh North Station, also known as Riyadh KKIA station, station code RIY. This is about 35 km out of town, next to the airport. There is airport-style security before you board, and you are able to check in your larger bags if you want. Don't forget a fleece or jumper, the air-con is fierce!
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Business class gets you access to a business class lounge at the station before you board and a simple meal is served on the train.
Traveller Philip Hilton reports: "At Riyadh North station, the feeling is very much like an airport arrivals and departure area. From the taxi drop off you are straight into a spacious arrivals and departure atrium style area, there are coffee and restaurant facilities available and comfortable waiting areas. Something new to us as rail travellers was to check in our big cases, airport style in the departures area then head through security to the Business class lounge. Two adult Business Class returns cost us SAR 598.00 or 117.56 GBP, not bad for around ten hours of comfortable, return rail travel. Inside the lounge there are complementary sandwiches, tea and coffee (American and Arabic), water and comfortable seating with free wifi. The welcoming staff let you know when it's time to board and open a glass door directly next to the train so it's a short walk with your carry-on luggage. Complimentary sandwiches, water and orange juice were served at your seat along with Arabic coffee and dates. Trains are modern with leather seating which reclines back and supports your legs. There is a mix of seats with tables and airline seat styles. All the stations are identical pretty much in design with usually two platforms which makes finding your way around quite easy. |All in all a great and very enjoyable experience."
Medina - Jeddah - Mecca
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The new Haramain high-speed railway linking Medina, Jeddah & Mecca opened in October 2018.
It's operated by 300km/h trains built by Spanish firm Talgo. Originally run by Saudi Railways Organisation (SRO), from early 2022 it's part of Saudi Arabia Railways.
Service has gradually ramped up, there are now a dozen or more trains a day, 7 days a week.
Jeddha to Mecca is 78 km, Mecca to Medina is 450 km. So far, trains on this route have proved both busy (80%+ load factors) and punctual (93% on time).
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How to buy tickets
You can buy tickets at www.hhr.sa - for English click the globe top left then select English.
Tip: The site originally only accepted Saudi Arabian credit cards and required a Saudi number, but this now seems to be fixed. You can also download the HHR Train app for iPhone or HHR Train app for Android. Feedback appreciated.
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Note that non-Muslims aren't allowed in Mecca at all, or in the Prophet's mosque in Medina (but the rest of Medina can now be visited). You should expect tight airline-style security before boarding these trains, including banning sharp objects such as scissors in your luggage.
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At Mecca station you can buy a ticket for a coach transfer from the station to the Grand Mosque, taking 15 minutes. Although it's only 15-20 minutes to walk, it can be hot.
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If anyone has any more information. photos or travel reports that would be useful for this page, please e-mail me!
Hotels in Saudi Arabia
Backpacker
hostels
www.hostelworld.com: If you're on a tight budget, don't forget about backpacker hostels. Hostelworld offers online booking of cheap private rooms or dorm beds in backpacker hostels in most cities at rock-bottom prices.
Flights to Saudi Arabia
1) Check flight prices at Opodo, www.opodo.com...
2) Use Skyscanner to compare flight prices & routes worldwide across 600 airlines
3) Lounge passes
Make the airport experience a little more bearable with a VIP lounge pass, it's not as expensive as you think! See www.loungepass.com
Travel insurance & VPN
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Always take out travel insurance
Never travel overseas without travel insurance from a reliable insurer, with at least £1m or preferably £5m medical cover. It should also cover cancellation and loss of cash and belongings, up to a sensible limit. An annual multi-trip policy is usually cheaper than several single-trip policies even for just 2 or 3 trips a year, I have an annual policy with Staysure.co.uk myself. Here are some suggested insurers. Seat61 gets a small commission if you buy through these links.
www.staysure.co.uk
offers enhanced Covid-19 protection & gets 4.7 out of 5 on
Trustpilot.
www.columbusdirect.com
is also a well-know brand.
If you live in the USA try
Travel Guard USA.
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Get an eSIM with mobile data package
Don't rely on WiFi, download an eSIM with a mobile data package for the country you're visiting and stay connected. Most newer mobile phones can download a virtual SIM card so you don't need to buy a physical SIM, including iPhone 11 & later, see device compatibility list. Maya.net is a reliable eSIM data retailer with a 4.5 out of 5 Trustpilot rating and a range of packages including unlimited data.
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Get a Curve card for foreign travel
Most banks give you a poor exchange rate, then add a foreign transaction fee on top. A Curve MasterCard means no foreign transaction fees and gives you the mid-market exchange rate, at least up to a certain limit, £500 per month at time of writing. The money you spend on your Curve card goes straight onto one of your existing debit or credit cards.
How it works: 1. Download the Curve app for iPhone or Android. 2. Enter your details & they'll send you a Curve MasterCard - they send to the UK and most European addresses. 3. Link your existing credit & debit cards to the app, you can link up to two cards with the free version of Curve, I link my normal debit card and my normal credit card. 4. Now use the Curve MasterCard to buy things online or in person or take cash from ATMs, exactly like a normal MasterCard. Curve does the currency conversion and puts the balance in your own currency onto whichever debit or credit card is currently selected in the Curve app. You can even change your mind about which card it goes onto, within 14 days of the transaction.
I have a Curve Blue card myself, it means I can buy a coffee on a foreign station on a card without being stung by fees and lousy exchange rates, just by tapping the Curve card on their card reader. The money goes through Curve to my normal debit card and is taken directly from my account (in fact I have the Curve card set up as payment card on Apple Pay on my iPhone, so can double-click my phone, let it do Face ID then tap the reader with the phone - even easier than digging a card out). I get a little commission if you sign up to Curve, but I recommend it here because I think it's great. See details, download the app and get a Curve card, they'll give you £5 cashback through that link.
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Get a VPN for safe browsing. Why you need a VPN
When you're travelling you often use free WiFi in public places which may not be secure. A VPN encrypts your connection so it's always secure, even on unsecured WiFi. It also means you can select the geographic location of the IP address you browse with, to get around geoblocking which a surprising number of websites apply. See VPNs & why you need one explained. ExpressVPN is a best buy with a 4.7 out of 5 Trustpilot ranking which I use myself - I've signed up as an ExpressVPN affiliate, and if you go with expressvpn.com using the links on this page, you should see a special deal, 3 months free with an annual subscription. I get a small commission to help support this site.
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Carry an Anker powerbank
Tickets, reservations, vaccination records and Interrail or Eurail passes are often held digitally on your mobile phone, so it's vital to keep it charged. I always carry an Anker powerbank which can recharge my phone several times over if I can't get to a power outlet. Buy from Amazon.co.uk or from buy from Amazon.com.