King Khalid International Airport handled 40.8 million passengers in 2025, according to the General Authority for Statistics (GASTAT). It is the main base of Saudia, flynas, flyadeal and Riyadh Air. In 2026 its terminals changed twice: a planned reshuffle in February, then temporary operating changes from October. Guides written before then are often wrong.
Good to know: Temporary arrangements as of mid-November 2026. Since 25 October 2026 only Terminals 1 and 2 are in use. Many foreign airlines have paused Riyadh flights, with restart dates that keep moving. Some Saudia, flynas and Riyadh Air flights use Qassim airport (ELQ) or Dammam, with a road transfer from Riyadh. Your airline’s app is the only reliable guide to your airport and terminal.
Riyadh airport terminals now: which terminal is in use
The airport announced that Terminals 1 and 2 would handle flights from Sunday 25 October 2026. flynas’s travel advisory, read in November 2026, gives the same split.
| Terminal | Current use (mid-November 2026) |
|---|---|
| Terminal 1 | Domestic flights |
| Terminal 2 | International flights of Saudi airlines |
| Terminals 3, 4 and 5 | Not in use under the temporary arrangements |
Airlines flying to Riyadh in November 2026
- Riyadh Air: from 9 November 2026 its Riyadh–London flights operate from Terminal 2. Its Cairo, Jeddah, Dhaka, Lahore and Islamabad flights still run via Qassim. Passengers check in at the InterContinental Durrat Al Riyadh and take a free coach, which leaves 6 hours 30 minutes before departure. The trip takes about 4 hours 30 minutes.
- flynas: selected flights operate via Qassim. Its transfer bus leaves Riyadh 7 hours before the flight, and you carry your own bags to check-in. Since 29 October 2026, flynas international flights at Qassim use that airport’s Domestic Terminal.
- Saudia: The National reported some Riyadh flights routed via Qassim or Dammam, with buses to Riyadh.
- Foreign airlines: many had paused flights. The National’s 6 November round-up listed Etihad until 19 November, KLM until 27 November and Philippine Airlines until 29 November. British Airways moved its restart to 11 January 2027. These dates change often.
The normal plan from February 2026 (partly suspended)
Between 16 and 25 February 2026 the operator, Riyadh Airports Company, moved airlines terminal by terminal. This is the allocation the airport normally uses. It is partly suspended while the temporary arrangements apply.
| Terminal | Flights under the normal plan | Airlines (examples) |
|---|---|---|
| Terminal 1 | International flights of Saudi low-cost airlines | flynas, flyadeal |
| Terminal 2 | International flights of Saudia and Riyadh Air | Saudia, Riyadh Air |
| Terminals 3 and 4 | Domestic flights | Saudia, flynas, flyadeal |
| Terminal 5 | International flights of foreign airlines | Qatar Airways (moved 25 Feb 2026) and other foreign carriers |
Terminal 2 reopened on 25 January 2026 after a full rebuild. Terminals 1 and 2 together can handle about 14 million passengers a year. Terminal 2’s departures hall has 114 check-in counters, 43 staffed passport desks and 20 e-gates, per the opening announcement.
Moving between terminals
Terminals 1 to 4 stand in a row, and Terminal 5 is a separate building. The operator says free shuttle buses run between terminals, leaving from outside each terminal about every 10 minutes. For now, a connection between a domestic and an international flight means going from Terminal 1 to Terminal 2. The operator’s WhatsApp service (920020090) answers terminal questions.
How to get from Riyadh airport to the city
The airport sits about 35 km north of central Riyadh. You can take a taxi, a licensed ride-hailing car, a hire car or, normally, the metro.
Riyadh Metro (Yellow Line)
The Yellow Line (Line 4) opened on 1 December 2024. It has three airport stations, Airport T1-2, Airport T3-4 and Airport T5, and runs to the King Abdullah Financial District (KAFD). There you change to the Blue Line for Olaya and Batha. We found no official notice on which airport stations are served under the temporary arrangements, so check the Darb app first. Fares and payment are in our Riyadh airport metro guide.
Taxis and ride-hailing apps
The operator lists official airport taxis with 24-hour pick-up points on the arrivals floor of each terminal. Licensed apps listed by the airport include Uber, Careem, Bolt, Jeeny and Shift. The Transport General Authority fines unlicensed passenger transport SAR 5,000. Take rides only from the official rank or through a licensed app.
Car hire and parking
The operator lists car hire companies including Theeb, Sixt, Yelo, Avis, Enterprise and Budget. Desks normally sit in several terminals, so confirm your pick-up point with the company while only Terminals 1 and 2 are in use. The airport runs short-stay, long-stay and valet car parks.
Riyadh airport arrivals and departures: checking your flight
Flight times change all the time, so this page does not list them. Check them here:
- The official KKIA departures and arrivals page, which shows terminal and status.
- Your airline’s app or website. It also tells you if your flight now uses Qassim or Dammam.
- The KKIA WhatsApp service on 920020090.
If you are meeting someone, check the arrival terminal and airport before you set off.
Facilities: food, Wi-Fi, prayer rooms, lounges
- Wi-Fi: free in all terminals. The network is “KKIA free Wi-Fi” and needs no registration.
- Prayer: prayer rooms in every terminal, and a grand mosque that holds Friday prayers.
- Food: the operator says every terminal has restaurants and coffee shops. Its directory lists AlBaik in Terminals 1 and 2. Outlets in Terminals 3 to 5 are of no use while those terminals are out of service.
- Lounges: the operator lists Al Fursan (Saudia’s lounge for first and business class), Hayyak and Plaza Premium, among others. Entry rules depend on the lounge and your ticket.
- Other services: baggage services, Fast Track and an “Ask Me” help team. Indoor maps are on maps.kkia.sa.
King Salman International Airport: when will it open
A new airport, King Salman International, is under construction north of King Khalid International. It is planned over about 57 sq km with six parallel runways. Reports give a target of 2029 (Gulf News) or 2030 (Argaam, quoting the acting CEO). No official opening date has been announced.
Places to visit from Riyadh airport
- The At-Turaif district in Diriyah, a UNESCO World Heritage Site on Riyadh’s north-western edge.
- Masmak Fortress, the mud-brick fort in the old centre of Riyadh.
- Domestic flights to Jeddah and Dammam currently leave from Terminal 1.
Before you fly: practical tips
- Get your visa sorted first. Most visitors need an eVisa. Some nationalities can get a visa on arrival.
- Check the airport, not only the terminal. Some Riyadh bookings now start or end at Qassim or Dammam.
- Allow time for road transfers. Riyadh Air’s coach to Qassim leaves 6 hours 30 minutes before departure, and the flynas bus leaves 7 hours before.
- Use licensed transport only. Use the official taxi rank, a licensed app or the metro.
Questions travellers ask
How many terminals does Riyadh airport have?
King Khalid International Airport has five passenger terminals, numbered 1 to 5, plus a Royal Terminal for official flights. Under temporary arrangements since 25 October 2026, only Terminals 1 and 2 are in use. Terminals 3, 4 and 5 return to service only when the operator announces it.
Which terminal does flynas use at Riyadh airport?
flynas says that Riyadh currently runs domestic flights from Terminal 1 and international flights from Terminal 2. Some flynas flights are routed through Qassim airport (ELQ), with a transfer from Riyadh. Your booking shows which airport and terminal apply to your flight.
Which terminal is Qatar Airways at Riyadh airport?
Under the normal plan, Qatar Airways and other foreign airlines use Terminal 5, where Qatar Airways moved on 25 February 2026. In early November 2026 The National reported Qatar Airways' Riyadh flights as suspended with no restart date. Check Qatar Airways' travel advisory before booking.
Which is the domestic terminal at Riyadh airport?
For now, domestic flights use Terminal 1, under the airport's temporary arrangements since 25 October 2026. Under the normal February 2026 plan, domestic flights use Terminals 3 and 4. Before 2026 Terminal 5 was the domestic terminal, so old guides are wrong on this point.
Does Riyadh airport have a metro?
Yes. The Yellow Line (Line 4) has three airport stations: Airport T1-2, Airport T3-4 and Airport T5. We found no notice confirming which airport stations trains are calling at under the current temporary arrangements. Check the Darb app before you travel.
How do I transfer between terminals at Riyadh airport?
The operator says free shuttle buses run between the terminals, leaving from outside each terminal about every 10 minutes. With only Terminals 1 and 2 in use, a domestic-to-international connection means moving from Terminal 1 to Terminal 2, so allow extra time.
Does Riyadh airport have free Wi-Fi?
Yes. The operator says free Wi-Fi covers all domestic and international terminals. The network is called KKIA free Wi-Fi and needs no registration; you connect and open your browser.
