King Khalid International Airport (RUH)
Riyadh, SA 🇸🇦 Large International Airport Scheduled Service
ICAO
OERK
IATA
RUH
Elevation
2049 ft
Region
SA-01
Local Time
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GPS Code: OERK
Local Code: Not available
Location: 24.9576° N, 46.698799° E
Continent: Asia
Type: Large International Airport
Keywords: Riyad
What Travelers Say
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Online Reviews Summary
King Khaled International Airport (RUH) in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, presents a mixed experience for recent travelers. While official ratings and some reviews highlight significant improvements and modern facilities, many individual traveler accounts, particularly from 2023-2025, reflect considerable dissatisfaction, often citing issues with staff and amenities, especially for those in transit. Overall sentiment appears polarized, with some praising its efficiency and cleanliness, while others describe it as a challenging and unpleasant airport experience.
What Travelers Love
- Modern Facilities and Cleanliness: Many passengers appreciate the airport's modern design, spacious waiting areas, and general cleanliness across terminals.
- Efficient Wi-Fi: Travelers benefit from free and fast Wi-Fi access throughout the airport, which no longer requires SMS verification.
- Prayer Facilities and Halal Food: The airport provides ample, clean prayer rooms for both men and women, along with a wide selection of Halal food options at various restaurants and cafes.
- Ground Transportation: Readily available taxis, ride-hailing services like Uber and Careem, and car rental options offer convenient transportation to and from the city. The Riyadh Metro also connects the airport to the city center.
- Domestic Terminal 5: This terminal is frequently mentioned as having state-of-the-art amenities and more diverse food options.
Common Complaints
- Rude and Unhelpful Staff: A very consistent and frequent complaint across recent reviews is the perceived rudeness, unfriendliness, and lack of helpfulness from airport and immigration staff.
- No Free Sleeping Areas/Uncomfortable Seating: Travelers report that sleeping outside of paid lounges is often prohibited by security, and seating can be limited or uncomfortable with armrests, making layovers challenging.
- Security and Immigration Delays: While some report quick processing, many experience significant delays and congestion at check-in, security, and immigration, particularly during peak hours, with wait times potentially reaching 40-50 minutes for security and passport control.
- Limited Amenities for Transit: International terminals (excluding Terminal 5) often have limited food options after security, and duty-free shopping is described as small and lacking variety (e.g., no alcohol/cigarettes).
- Lack of Free Drinking Water: Multiple travelers have noted the absence of free drinking water fountains.
- Poor Terminal Maintenance (Specific Areas): Some recent reviews highlight issues like dirty and smelly bathrooms, or non-functional air conditioning and refrigerators in certain lounges within Terminal 2.
In summary, King Khaled International Airport is undergoing development and offers some strong modern facilities, but consistently struggles with aspects of customer service and passenger comfort, particularly for transit travelers. While some find it efficient and well-maintained, the frequent negative experiences regarding staff attitude, lack of free rest areas, and inconsistent service quality present a significant challenge to overall traveler satisfaction.
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Airport Routes
King Khalid International Airport (RUH) offers 241 flight routes operated by 10 airlines. Major carriers include Saudia, Flynas, flyadeal and others. Popular destinations from Riyadh include Cairo Int'l, Islamabad International Airport, King Fahd Int'l, Allama Iqbal Int'l and Istanbul Sabiha Gokcen Int'l.
Route Network Map
Top Routes (by observations)
- Cairo Int'l (CAI) 8
- Islamabad International Airport (ISB) 8
- King Fahd Int'l (DMM) 6
- Allama Iqbal Int'l (LHE) 6
- Istanbul Sabiha Gokcen Int'l (SAW) 5
- Dubai Int'l (DXB) 5
- Chatrapati Shivaji Int'l (BOM) 5
- Prince Mohammad Bin Abdulaziz (MED) 4
- King Abdulaziz Int'l (JED) 4
- Queen Alia Int'l (AMM) 4
- Abha Regional (AHB) 4
- Istanbul Airport (IST) 4
Newly Discovered
- Dubai Int'l (DXB) new
- Najran Domestic (EAM) new
- Queen Alia Int'l (AMM) new
- King Abdulaziz Int'l (JED) new
- Abu Dhabi Int'l (AUH) new
- Sphinx (SPX) new
- King Fahd Int'l (DMM) new
- Tabuk Regional (TUU) new
- Hong Kong Int'l (HKG) new
- Indira Gandhi Int'l (DEL) new
- Gizan Regional (GIZ) new
- Cairo Int'l (CAI) new
Popular Flight Routes
| Destination | IATA | City | Aircraft Type | Airline | Details | Route Map |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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Top Airlines
Operating at King Khalid International AirportAirlines by Flight Activity
Based on observed flight operations and route network| Airline | Routes | Flights | Destinations | Last Activity |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Saudia
SVA
/ SV
|
66 | 1668 | 66 | Feb 5, 2026 |
Flynas
KNE
/ XY
|
49 | 892 | 49 | Feb 5, 2026 |
|
flyadeal
FAD
/ F3
|
22 | 539 | 22 | Feb 5, 2026 |
|
Jazeera Airways
JZR
/ J9
|
1 | 55 | 1 | Feb 3, 2026 |
Air Arabia
ABY
/ G9
|
1 | 44 | 1 | Jan 24, 2026 |
Turkish Airlines
THY
/ TK
|
4 | 43 | 4 | Feb 2, 2026 |
Ethiopian Airlines
ETH
/ ET
|
1 | 40 | 1 | Feb 2, 2026 |
|
Gulf Air
GFA
/ GF
|
1 | 39 | 1 | Jan 31, 2026 |
|
Air Arabia Egypt
RBG
/ E5
|
3 | 37 | 3 | Jan 2, 2026 |
Etihad Airways
ETD
/ EY
|
1 | 36 | 1 | Feb 4, 2026 |
For Pilots
| Designation | Length | Width | Surface | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
15L/33R |
13796 ft | 197 ft | ASP | Active Lighted |
15R/33L |
13796 ft | 197 ft | ASP | Active Lighted |
| Type | Description | Frequency |
|---|---|---|
| APP | RIYADH APP | 120.0 MHz |
| ATIS | ATIS | 127.15 MHz |
| Ctrl | - | 126.0 MHz |
| GND | GND | 121.6 MHz |
| TWR | TWR | 118.6 MHz |
Ground Transportation
Taxis
Official airport taxis are available 24/7 at the arrivals level of all terminals. Fares are calculated by the meter. Ride-hailing services, such as Uber and Careem, also operate from the airport with designated pick-up areas.
Rental Cars
Numerous car rental companies have counters in the arrivals halls, including major international brands like Hertz, Avis, and Sixt, as well as local providers. It is advisable to book in advance. A valid driver's license, passport, and credit card are required.
Public Transportation
The airport is connected to the city's public transport network. The Riyadh Metro's Line 4 (Yellow Line) serves the airport via a station at Terminal 5. Additionally, Riyadh Bus services operate routes connecting the airport to various parts of the city. A free shuttle bus runs between all terminals.