The airport has a total of 3 passenger terminals. The buildings are not connected to each other and even each of them is located at completely different ends of the airport.
Book a hotel near JED Airport. The newest and largest terminal has been in operation since and meets the highest international standards. The building is huge, spacious, clean and very uncluttered. The transit area is divided into a more distant international section about a 20 minute walk from security and a closer domestic section within 5 minutes of security. Both security and passport control are well organised, but you can be delayed up to 45 minutes at peak times morning and late evening.
We recommend arriving at the terminal 2. The Old North Terminal, sometimes referred to as Terminal 2, serves most international airlines.
However, all international flights of local airlines Saudia, Flynas and flyadeal are operated from the new Terminal 1. The North Terminal is old and cramped. Expect large crowds in a small space and not enough seats.
Restaurant and shop facilities are adequate, but there are fewer toilets than needed, for example. Near the North Terminal is the famous architecturally award-winning Special Terminal Building set aside exclusively for charter flights carrying Muslim pilgrims to the holy cities of Mecca and Medina. Flights operated at the Hajj Terminal are charter only and therefore organised by special tour operators. The South Terminal was previously used for domestic flights only, but remains closed as of and is occasionally used for cargo flights only.
