Transport for pilgrims · taxi companies compared · 2026
9 Best Taxi Companies in Saudi Arabia: Fares, Cities and Licence Checks for Umrah Pilgrims
Saudi Arabia had 45 licensed ride-hailing apps in the first nine months of 2024, according to Transport General Authority data reported by Argaam. With that many names, it is easy to download the wrong one or step into an unlicensed car.
I am Rohail Arshad, founder of Hujjaj Umrah Taxi. Pilgrims ask my team the same thing before every trip: "Is this ride legal and is the price fixed?" This guide lists nine taxi companies in Saudi Arabia and shows what each one says about itself. Fares and coverage change, so confirm them with the company before you book.
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How to Check a Taxi Company in Saudi Arabia Before You Ride
The Transport General Authority (TGA) regulates taxis and ride-hailing in the Kingdom. It publishes a directory of licensed passenger transport companies on its website. A company missing from it deserves a second look.
Enforcement is real. Gulf News reported in October 2024 that carrying airport passengers without a licence can bring a SAR 5,000 fine and impoundment of the car. In April 2026, House of Saud reported fines of up to SAR 20,000 for unlicensed passenger transport.
The meter rule helps visitors too. Gulf News reported in March 2025 that drivers must switch the meter on at the start of every trip. If the driver does not, the passenger can finish the trip without paying.
Taxi Companies in Saudi Arabia at a Glance
| Company | Type | Where it works | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hujjaj Umrah Taxi | Pre-booked private rides | Makkah, Madinah and Jeddah | Pilgrims who want a fixed price |
| Umrah Transport | Pre-booked transfers | Jeddah, Makkah and Madinah | Groups needing larger vehicles |
| Luxury Umrah Cab | Private cabs | Jeddah, Makkah and Madinah | Private Umrah and ziyarat trips |
| Uber | Ride-hailing app | Makkah, Madinah and their airports | Upfront price estimates |
| Careem | Ride-hailing app | Cities across Saudi Arabia | City and airport rides |
| Jeeny | Saudi ride-hailing app | Riyadh, Jeddah and Dammam offices | Choice of four ride types |
| Rehla | Ride-sharing app | Jeddah, Makkah and Madinah | Intercity trips |
| Haramain Taxi | Pre-booked private rides | Jeddah, Makkah and Madinah | Published fixed fares |
| The Umrah Taxi | Pre-booked transfers | Makkah, Madinah and Jeddah | Airport and ziyarat trips |
1. Hujjaj Umrah Taxi: Fixed-Price Private Rides for Umrah Pilgrims
Hujjaj Umrah Taxi is part of Al Harbi Transport and is registered with Nusuk, the Saudi government pilgrim platform.
We price per vehicle, not per person. Fuel, tolls and waiting are included, there is no meter, and fares do not change with the season.
| Route | Camry | Staria | Hiace | GMC Yukon XL | Coaster |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jeddah airport to Makkah hotel | 250 SAR | 300 SAR | 350 SAR | 350 SAR | 600 SAR |
| Makkah hotel to Madinah hotel | 450 SAR | 600 SAR | 700 SAR | 800 SAR | 1,150 SAR |
| Jeddah airport to Madinah hotel | 450 SAR | 600 SAR | 700 SAR | 800 SAR | 1,150 SAR |
| Makkah ziyarat tour | 200 SAR | 250 SAR | 300 SAR | 350 SAR | 550 SAR |
| Madinah ziyarat tour | 150 SAR | 200 SAR | 250 SAR | 300 SAR | 450 SAR |
| Madinah airport to Madinah hotel | 150 SAR | 200 SAR | 250 SAR | 250 SAR | 450 SAR |
2. Umrah Transport: Airport, Intercity and Ziyarat Transfers
The Umrah Transport site names itself Al-Harbi Umrah Transport and lists four services: arrival, departure, intercity and ziyarat transfers. You book through the website or WhatsApp. It says driver details are sent beforehand and that WhatsApp support runs 24 hours a day.
Its guide page gives estimated fares by vehicle, and says prices change with season, distance and demand.
| Vehicle | Passengers | Estimated fare |
|---|---|---|
| Sedan | 1 to 3 | 150 to 300 SAR |
| GMC SUV | 5 to 7 | 400 to 700 SAR |
| Hiace van | 10 to 12 | 700 to 1,100 SAR |
| Coaster bus | 13 to 20 | 1,200 to 1,800 SAR |
The page does not state a licence or registration number, so ask for it before you book.
3. Luxury Umrah Cab: Private Cabs for Umrah and Ziyarat
Luxury Umrah Cab profile says it serves Umrah pilgrims with private transport instead of local taxis or public transit. The profile lists these routes: Jeddah airport to a Jeddah or Makkah hotel, Makkah to Madinah and back, and Madinah hotel to Jeddah airport. It also lists ziyarat visits in both holy cities.
The profile gives a Madinah address in Al-Suqya. It does not name vehicle models or prices, so ask which car you will get and confirm the fare in writing.
4. Uber: App-Based Taxi Rides in Makkah and Madinah
Uber's pages say you can request a ride in Makkah 24 hours a day. They list UberX and UberXL, and UberXL carries up to 6 people. You can reserve a ride up to 30 days ahead, and the app shows a price estimate before you book.
For Madinah, Uber lists average UberX fares of about SAR 20 to Al-Masjid an-Nabawi and Quba Mosque. It lists SAR 29 to the Haramain train station parking. These are averages and vary with traffic and promotions.
Uber offers pickup at Jeddah (JED) and Madinah (MED) airports. At Madinah airport, the app assigns the meeting point, which may not be the nearest exit. Check the driver's name, plate and car colour before you get in. The app also has an emergency button.
5. Careem: Convenient City and Airport Rides
Careem's Saudi service began in 2013 in Riyadh, Jeddah, Dammam, Dhahran and Khobar, and later reached 29 cities, according to Gulf Business in 2022. In 2017 it opened dedicated pick-up and drop-off zones at all terminals of Riyadh's King Khaled International Airport, as Arab News reported.
One guide says sign-up codes arrive by SMS or WhatsApp, so a data-only eSIM cannot verify an account. Argaam also names Careem among the licensed apps in TGA data.
6. Jeeny: Ride-Hailing in Both Holy Cities
Jeeny's site shows four services: Jeeny Eco, Jeeny Taxi, Jeeny EcoLite and Jeeny Xpress. It mentions many payment options and 24-hour support, and lists no cities. Its blog gives offices in Riyadh, Jeddah and Dammam.
Motory reported in 2018 that the app began in 2013 as Easy Taxi and was renamed Jeeny in 2018. Check the app for service in Makkah and Madinah before you rely on it.
7. Rehla: Intercity Rides and Tourism Transport
Rehla Car is a Saudi ride-sharing company that launched in 2019, according to Entrepreneur Middle East in 2021. Drivers post the city they are travelling to and when, and travellers choose a trip. The article names Jeddah, Makkah and Madinah, with a focus on tourists and visitors.
It also added ride-hailing and booking in advance. The article mentions no licence, so check the TGA directory before you book.
8. Haramain Taxi: Fixed-Price Umrah Transfers
The Haramain Taxi site says every fare is agreed before pickup, with tolls and fees included, no meter and no surge pricing. It offers sedans, a 7-seater Hyundai Staria and an 11-seater Toyota Hiace. Service runs 24 hours a day, and drivers track flights so pickups adjust to delays.
Booking is by WhatsApp. You pay on arrival, in cash or by PayPal, and PayPal payers get 5% off. No deposit is needed. The site says every vehicle and driver is licensed for transfers across Jeddah, Makkah and Madinah, but gives no licence number. It states no cancellation policy.
Fares below are per vehicle, from its rate list.
| Route | Sedan (4 seats) | Staria (7 seats) | Hiace (11 seats) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jeddah airport to Makkah hotel | 200 SAR | 245 SAR | 275 SAR |
| Jeddah airport to Madinah hotel | 400 SAR | 475 SAR | 500 SAR |
| Madinah airport to Madinah hotel | 150 SAR | 175 SAR | 200 SAR |
| Makkah hotel to Madinah hotel | 350 SAR | 450 SAR | 500 SAR |
| Makkah hotel to Makkah ziyarah sites | 200 SAR | 235 SAR | 265 SAR |
9. The Umrah Taxi: Private Airport and Ziyarat Services
The Umrah Taxi company profile describes taxi services in Makkah, Madinah and Jeddah for airport transfers and ziyarat of the holy sites. It also says it works with tour operators on group batches.
The profile gives an address on King Abdul Aziz Road in Madinah. It does not describe vehicles or prices, so ask for both in writing.
Taxi Tips for Makkah and Madinah
Halal Booking reports that apps cannot pick up directly outside the Haram gates because of traffic restrictions. Drivers often ask you to walk to a nearby road, so agree the meeting point before the ride ends.
Allow an extra 5 to 10 minutes at peak prayer times. House of Saud reports surge multipliers of 1.5 to 3 times during Hajj and Riyadh Season.
Which Taxi Company in Saudi Arabia Is Best for Umrah? My Recommendation
The best choice depends on the trip. For short city rides, an app is fine. For an airport-to-hotel transfer on Umrah, I recommend Hujjaj Umrah Taxi. Compare the published terms below.
| Term | Hujjaj Umrah Taxi | Umrah Transport | Haramain Taxi |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price basis | Fixed, per vehicle | Estimated ranges by vehicle | Fixed, per vehicle |
| Charged online at booking | Nothing | Not stated | No deposit |
| Cancellation | Free up to 12 hours before pickup | Not stated | Not stated |
| Driver details before pickup | Name, photo and phone on WhatsApp the day before | Sent beforehand | Not stated |
| Nusuk registration | Yes | Not stated | Not stated |
"Not stated" means the page I reviewed does not say. The company may still offer it, so ask in writing. These are the points pilgrims ask me about most: what they pay, when they pay and who is coming.
Whichever company you pick, ask for the price in writing and the licence details before you pay. Then check the plate when the car arrives. A good company will not mind.
Book a fixed-price ride with Hujjaj Umrah Taxi
Hujjaj Umrah Taxi meets you in the arrivals hall and drives door to door to your hotel, with intercity and ziyarat rides in Makkah and Madinah. Fixed fare agreed on WhatsApp before pickup, driver name, photo and plate sent the day before, nothing charged online, free cancellation up to 12 hours before.
Send your flight number, hotel and group size on WhatsApp and we reply with one fixed price.
Get a quote on WhatsAppFrequently Asked Questions
- How much does a taxi ride cost in Jeddah?
- Uber's Jeddah page cites an average 19-minute UberX ride at SAR 28. Your fare will differ with distance, time of day and demand. The app shows the full price when you confirm the ride, so compare it with a second app before you accept. Pre-booked airport transfers are priced separately, by vehicle.
- Should I pre-book a taxi or use an app in Saudi Arabia?
- Pre-book when you land late, travel with luggage or have a group, because you know the price and the driver before you arrive. Use an app for short city rides, where the upfront price is shown. Ask any pre-booked company for the fare in writing before you travel.
- Do I tip taxi drivers in Saudi Arabia?
- Tipping is optional. Uber's page says you can tip through the app or with cash handed to the driver. I found no official rule that requires it. A small tip for help with heavy luggage is a kind gesture, but you owe nothing beyond the fare.
- Can I get a wheelchair-accessible taxi in Saudi Arabia?
- Uber says wheelchair-accessible vehicles are not currently available in Jeddah. Its drivers must still help passengers board and exit as far as possible. Other cities and companies may differ, so contact the company before you travel and ask about the exact vehicle.
- How do I report a taxi driver in Saudi Arabia?
- The Transport General Authority takes complaints on 19929 and through its @tga_care account on X, according to the Saudi Press Agency. Give the date, time, plate number and company name. Save your receipt and a screenshot of the trip, because they help the authority trace the driver.