Saudi Arabia Trains
Everything You Need to Know About Train Travel in Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia trains offer some of the most modern and efficient rail travel experiences in the Middle East — and a genuinely outstanding destination for anyone exploring this remarkable country by rail. From the record-breaking speed of the Haramain high speed train connecting Mecca and Medina via Jeddah in just over two hours, to the expanding Saudi railway network linking Riyadh with the Gulf coast and the northern frontier, train travel in Saudi Arabia covers key cities and sacred destinations across this vast country. The official railway authority — Saudi Arabia Railways (SAR) — operates the national passenger rail network, making intercity train travel fast, comfortable, and convenient for millions of passengers every year, from Umrah pilgrims and Hajj travelers to business travelers and tourists visiting Saudi Arabia. Whether you're booking Haramain train tickets for the iconic Haramain high speed railway between Mecca and Medina, connecting through Jeddah airport trains via King Abdulaziz International Airport, or riding the SAR network east toward Riyadh and Dammam, Saudi Arabia trains offer journeys as diverse and impressive as the country itself. Saudi Arabia trains connect major cities and holy sites across the country — from Mecca and Medina in the west to Riyadh in the heart of the Arabian Peninsula — across desert landscapes, modern city skylines, and the shores of the Red Sea coast. For anyone planning a Saudi Arabia train trip, the range of routes, economy and business class options, and on-board experiences makes rail travel the most rewarding and sustainable way to explore this extraordinary country.
On Board Saudi Arabia Trains
Saudi Arabia's national passenger train service is operated by Saudi Arabia Railways (SAR) — the official railway authority and the backbone of intercity rail connectivity across the country.
SAR operates the Haramain High Speed Railway in western Saudi Arabia, connecting Mecca, Jeddah, King Abdulaziz International Airport, King Abdullah Economic City (KAEC), and Medina along a 450-kilometre high speed rail line — as well as the North Train and East Train networks connecting Riyadh to the Jordanian border and the Gulf coast at Dammam.
The Haramain train is operated under the SAR umbrella and managed in partnership with experienced international rail operators, ensuring world-class service, safety, and reliability on every departure day.
SAR continues to invest in modernisation and expansion, with plans to extend high speed rail connectivity south and eventually link Riyadh to the Red Sea coast in a future land bridge project expected to be delivered in phases before the mid-2030s. All trademarks belong to their respective owners; SAR and Haramain are registered trademarks of Saudi Arabia Railways.
Popular questions
Popular questions
Saudi Arabia trains are operated primarily by Saudi Arabia Railways (SAR) — the official railway authority providing national passenger rail service across the country.SAR operates two main networks: the Haramain high speed train on the western corridor between Mecca, Jeddah, and Medina, and the North and East Train lines connecting Riyadh to the Gulf coast and the Jordanian border.Train tickets for all SAR services can be booked online. Travelers receive an e ticket instantly by email or SMS after completing their booking — no printing required, and the process takes just a few steps from any device.
Haramain train tickets can be booked online - the booking process is straightforward: select your route, choose your travel date, select economy and business class depending on your preference, enter passenger details, pay securely online, and receive your e ticket instantly by email or SMS — ready to present at the station on your departure day.nNote that some foreign credit cards can encounter issues with the official SAR portal's payment gateway. If your card is declined, third-party platforms such as Rail Ninja offer international-friendly payment options and accept a wide range of cards and digital wallets. Buying tickets at station kiosks is also possible, though walk-up fares are higher and seats may be unavailable during peak season.
Yes — booking in advance is strongly recommended for all Saudi Arabia trains, especially the Haramain train during Umrah season, Ramadan, and Hajj.
SAR uses dynamic pricing: the earlier you book, the lower the fare. Haramain train tickets for the Mecca–Medina route start from around SAR 150 in economy class when booked in advance, rising significantly closer to the travel date or during peak demand periods.
Business class tickets also sell out quickly during Ramadan and Hajj — advance booking guarantees your preferred class and seat on your chosen departure.
Book especially early for travel during Hajj and the last ten days of Ramadan, when demand across the entire network reaches its highest point of the year. Users who book at least one to two weeks in advance consistently secure the best available prices.
The Haramain high speed train — officially the Haramain High Speed Railway (HHR) — is Saudi Arabia's flagship rail project and the first high speed train in Saudi Arabia, the Middle East, and West Asia. It is one of the fastest electric trains in the world, reaching speeds of up to 300 km/h, and carries millions of passengers on every Hajj and Umrah season.
Opened to the public on 11 October 2018, the Haramain train connects the two holiest cities in Islam — Mecca and Medina — via five stations across a 450-kilometre line, transforming a journey that once took five hours by road into a smooth, air-conditioned train ride of just over two hours, making it the most convenient and time-efficient way to travel between the holy cities.
The route runs from Mecca north through Jeddah, Jeddah airport (King Abdulaziz International Airport), and King Abdullah Economic City, before terminating at Medina station. Built using Talgo 350 high speed rolling stock — the same technology used on high speed lines across Spain and Europe — the Haramain train is a landmark achievement in Saudi Arabia's Vision 2030 infrastructure programme.
On board, passengers enjoy air conditioning, spacious seats, power outlets, personal screens in business class, a cafeteria in the fifth coach, and free Wi-fi throughout the journey.
The Haramain high speed railway connects five main stations across western Saudi Arabia, each designed by Foster + Partners with Islamic-inspired architecture and modern facilities that can accommodate up to 20,000 passengers per hour at peak times.
Mecca Station — Located in the Al-Rusaifah district, approximately 3.5 km from Masjid Al-Haram, with wide waiting halls, a food court, prayer areas, and direct taxi and bus connections to the city centre. Note that access to Mecca station is restricted to Muslim travelers only.
Jeddah Station (Al-Sulimaniyah) — The main hub for Jeddah trains, located in the Sulaymaniyah district and connected to the city's business and residential zones. Jeddah trains depart frequently throughout the day connecting to all other stations on the line.
Jeddah Airport Station (King Abdulaziz International Airport) — A dedicated station inside King Abdulaziz International Airport, connected to the main Haramain corridor via a 3.75-kilometre branch line. This makes Jeddah airport trains one of the most practical features of the entire network: arriving international passengers can step off their flight and board a high speed train to Mecca or Medina in just a few steps, without ever leaving the transport network.
King Abdullah Economic City (KAEC) Station — Located near Rabigh, this station serves the purpose-built King Abdullah Economic City, an emerging economic and resort destination on the Red Sea coast.
Medina Station — Situated in the Al Hadra district, approximately 8–10 km from Masjid al-Nabawi (the Prophet's Mosque), with taxis and shuttle services available around the clock for the short onward journey into the city.
The Haramain high speed train offers economy and business class on all routes — two clearly differentiated options to suit different budgets and comfort needs.
Economy class is the most affordable option, with 304 comfortable seats in a 2+2 layout featuring foldable armrests and tables, seat headrests, and power outlets. Economy class fares start from SAR 49 for short routes and from SAR 150 for the full Mecca–Medina journey, depending on the travel date and how far in advance you book.
Business class offers 113 spacious seats in a wider 2+1 layout, with personal screens, foldable tables, power outlets, a quieter cabin atmosphere, priority boarding, and lounge access at main stations. Business class fares start from SAR 99 and rise to SAR 240–280 for the full Mecca–Medina route depending on travel date and demand.
Both classes have access to the on-board cafeteria in the fifth coach, free Wi-fi, clean restrooms, and the same high speed rail connectivity. Choose the class that suits your journey — both deliver a fast, comfortable, and reliable travel experience across Saudi Arabia.
Mecca trains refer to Haramain high speed services departing from and arriving at Mecca station — connecting the holy city to Jeddah in 43 minutes, to Jeddah Airport in approximately 45 minutes, and to Medina in around 2 hours and 20 minutes.
Mecca station is the southern terminus of the Haramain line, located in the Al-Rusaifah district just a short taxi ride from Masjid Al-Haram — just a few steps beyond the main station concourse into the taxi rank. The station is open only to Muslim travelers and is designed to serve the millions of Umrah pilgrims and Hajj visitors who travel to Mecca each year.
Booking Mecca train tickets in advance is essential during peak Umrah and Hajj periods — seats sell out quickly and prices rise significantly closer to the travel date.
Medina trains refer to Haramain high speed services connecting Medina to the rest of the network — to Mecca in around 2 hours and 20 minutes, to Jeddah in approximately 1 hour and 40 minutes, and to Jeddah Airport in under two hours.
Medina station is the northern terminus of the Haramain line, located in the Al Hadra district with convenient access to Masjid al-Nabawi and the city's main hotels and holy sites. Taxis and shuttle services operate around the clock from Medina station for the short onward journey to the Prophet's Mosque.
Medina train departures are especially busy during Ramadan and Hajj seasons — book well in advance of your travel date to secure your preferred departure and class.
Jeddah trains connect Saudi Arabia's most cosmopolitan city to the Haramain network via two stations: Jeddah Station (Al-Sulimaniyah) in the city centre, and Jeddah Airport Station inside King Abdulaziz International Airport.
Jeddah is the main gateway for international travelers arriving in Saudi Arabia, and the airport station makes onward rail travel uniquely convenient — connecting international flight arrivals directly to Mecca in under 45 minutes and to Medina in under two hours, without any additional ground transport.
From Jeddah city station, trains depart regularly throughout the day to all destinations on the Haramain line. Jeddah train tickets can be booked online in advance or purchased at the station, and the route offers some of the most affordable fares on the entire Haramain network.
The Jeddah airport train station — located inside King Abdulaziz International Airport — is one of the most traveler-friendly features of the entire Haramain network, and an outstanding destination for anyone arriving in Saudi Arabia by air.
A dedicated 3.75-kilometre branch line connects King Abdulaziz International Airport directly to the main Haramain high speed rail line, allowing arriving passengers to board a train to Mecca or Medina in just a few steps from the arrivals hall — eliminating the need for a long taxi or bus transfer and dramatically reducing travel times from airport to holy city.
For pilgrims arriving from abroad for Umrah or Hajj, the Jeddah airport train is the fastest, most convenient, and most stress-free way to begin their journey to the holy cities. Book Jeddah airport train tickets in advance alongside your flight to secure your preferred departure time, route, and class.
SAR allows each Haramain train passenger to bring one large piece of luggage with maximum dimensions of 65 × 55 × 35 cm and a weight limit of 25 kg, plus one additional hand luggage item such as a backpack, laptop bag, camera bag, purse, or similar item.
On Haramain trains, luggage is stored in overhead racks and in dedicated luggage areas at the end of each carriage. Arrive at the station with enough time before departure to store your luggage — the main stations are designed to accommodate large crowds efficiently, with spacious concourses and clear signage in Arabic and English.
All Saudi Arabia trains are fully air-conditioned and equipped with clean restrooms. Accessibility facilities are available at all main stations, and each Haramain train includes two dedicated business class seats for passengers with special needs. Dress code on board must be in accordance with the traditions and customs of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.