Sachin Walls
Although there are no airports in the city of Mecca, there are several airports throughout Saudi Arabia that Muslims can fly into when making the pilgrimage to Mecca, one of the 5 pillars of Islam. The closest airport to Mecca is in Jeddah, approximately 75km from the city, with a flight time of 5 hours and 30 minutes from Paris. This airport is the second-largest in Saudi Arabia and is heavily used during the Hajj season. Two other airports, King Abdulaziz International Airport and Taif Airport, are approximately 115km from Mecca.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Airports near Makkah | King Abdulaziz International Airport in Jeddah, Taif Airport |
| Distance from Makkah | 115 km from Makkah |
| Annual capacity | 30 million passengers (King Abdulaziz), 2 million passengers (Taif) |
| Travel time from airport to Makkah | 1 hour 45 minutes by car, 1 hour 2 minutes by taxi or Uber, 2 hours by bus |
| Cost from airport to Makkah | €32-143 by taxi or Uber, €6 by bus |
| Other nearby airports | Medina, Abha (347 km and 462.3 km from Mecca, respectively) |
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What You'll Learn
Closest airport to Makkah
Although there is no airport in Makkah, there are several airports nearby that you can consider flying to. The closest airport to Makkah is King Abdulaziz International Airport in Jeddah, which is 74.8 km, 97 km or 115 km from the city of Makkah. It is the second-largest airport in Saudi Arabia in terms of capacity, serving approximately 30 million passengers annually. The airport has international and domestic flights, and during the Hajj season, it is the busiest airport in the country.
Another major airport option is Ta'if Regional Airport, which is 109 km from Makkah. This airport also has international and domestic flights.
Medina Airport is another option, although it is further away from Makkah, at a distance of 347 km. This airport is relatively new and small, and it might be a good choice if you are transiting with an airline and want to book directly to Medina.
Abha Airport is even further away, at a distance of 462.3 km from Makkah. Yanbu Airport is also in the region, 378 km from Makkah.
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King Abdulaziz International Airport
Although there is no airport in the city of Mecca, there are two airports in the province: King Abdulaziz International Airport and Taif Airport. King Abdulaziz International Airport is the focus of this response.
The airport is a common choice for those travelling to Mecca, as it offers a relatively shorter overland journey of about 1 hour and 2 minutes by car, or 2 hours by bus. The rates for travelling by taxi or Uber from the airport to Mecca range from 32 to 143 euros, while travelling by bus is a much cheaper option, although it takes longer.
For those travelling from Paris, there are flight options available that take around 5 hours and 30 minutes to reach Jeddah. From there, the remaining journey to Mecca can be completed by car or bus. Overall, the total journey time from Paris to Mecca via King Abdulaziz International Airport is approximately 14 hours and 19 minutes.
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Taif Airport
Although there is no airport in the city of Makkah itself, the province of Makkah does have two airports: King Abdulaziz International Airport in Jeddah and Taif Airport. Taif Airport is located in the Taif Governorate in the Makkah Province and was established in 1976, five years before the King Abdulaziz International Airport. It is situated approximately 27 km northeast of the city centre of Taif and 115 km away from the administrative capital of the province, Makkah al-Mukarramah City. The airport serves as a gateway to Taif, a popular summer destination in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. It also facilitates the movement of pilgrims heading to the holy sites during the Hajj and Umrah seasons.
Taif International Airport is among the top five busiest international airports in the Kingdom. In 2019, there were a total of 10,867 international and domestic flights arriving and departing from the airport. The airport has a maximum capacity of two million passengers annually. It is managed by Cluster2 Company, one of the airport's holding companies, which is affiliated with the General Authority of Civil Aviation.
The airport can be accessed directly from within the province via the new Taif Airport Road. Services at the airport include banks, markets, hotels, car rental, communication, and transportation. Food and beverage choices, however, are limited or non-existent, so it is recommended to bring your own. Security at the airport is excellent, and the staff are described as friendly and helpful.
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Jeddah City Airport
Jeddah, a major city in Saudi Arabia, is served by King Abdulaziz International Airport (IATA: JED). The airport is situated in the largest city in Saudi Arabia and is approximately 19 kilometres (12 miles) north of the city centre. Jeddah City Airport is a gateway to the holy cities of Mecca and Medina. It is one of the two airports in the province located about 115 km away from Makkah al-Mukarramah City and the Grand Mosque.
The airport features two parallel runways, each measuring approximately 4,000 metres (about 13,123 feet) in length, capable of accommodating large aircraft. Terminal 1 is connected to the Haramain High-Speed Railway mainline via a 3.75-kilometre branch line. The station at the airport terminal building is named Airport–Jeddah station to distinguish it from the Al-Sulimaniyah–Jeddah station, situated closer to downtown Jeddah. Transportation to and from the airport is readily available, including taxis, limousines, airport shuttles, and ride-sharing services.
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Airports with e-Visa options
Although there are no airports in Makkah, the closest airports are King Abdulaziz International Airport in Jeddah and Taif Airport, which are approximately 115 km away from the city. Jeddah's airport is the second-largest in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and is used heavily during the Hajj season.
When it comes to airports with e-Visa options, India offers an e-Tourist Visa that is applicable at 16 designated airports in the country, including Mumbai, Chennai, Cochin, Goa, and Mangalore. The e-Visa must be presented at the specified e-Visa counters at the airport, along with the traveller's passport, which must be valid for at least six months and have two blank pages for stamps. The e-Visa and passport details must match exactly for entry to be permitted. For those seeking an e-Conference Visa, an invitation from the organiser and political clearance from the relevant government ministries are required. An e-Medical Visa and e-Medical Attendant Visa are also available, with triple entry allowed within the validity period. It is important to note that the e-Visa processing fee is non-refundable, and visitors from certain countries may only be eligible for a Visa on Arrival.
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Frequently asked questions
No, there isn't an airport in Makkah.
It is forbidden to fly over the Kaaba, which is located in Makkah.
There are several airports near Makkah, including King Abdulaziz International Airport in Jeddah, Taif Airport, and Medina and Abha airports. Jeddah is the closest airport to Makkah, located 74.8km from the city, followed by Taif Airport, which is 75.5km from Makkah.
The journey from Jeddah Airport to Makkah can be covered by car within 1 hour and 2 minutes, and by bus in 2 hours. From Taif Airport, it takes 25 minutes by taxi or 1 hour and 45 minutes by bus.
King Abdulaziz International Airport in Jeddah has a maximum capacity of 30 million passengers annually, while Taif Airport can accommodate up to 2 million passengers per year.
