The last day in Makkah, with everyone in tow
Travelling alone, getting to the airport is simple: book a car and go. When you're responsible for an extended family or a group of pilgrims, departure day becomes a logistics exercise. Who's ready first? How many bags do we really have? One big vehicle or two? When do we leave the hotel so nobody misses the flight? This guide is written for whoever is organising, and sets out a practical way to move a group from Makkah to King Abdulaziz International Airport in Jeddah.
Count the bags, not just the people
Most group booking mistakes come from counting passengers and forgetting luggage. Pilgrims tend to go home with their original suitcase plus an extra bag of gifts and dates, and often Zamzam water too. Before you message us, gather three things:
- The number of adults and children, and which children need a car seat.
- The number of large and small bags, plus any pushchair or wheelchair.
- Your departure time and airline, which tells us the terminal.
With that information we can recommend the right setup: one family vehicle, a family vehicle plus a sedan, or several cars for a larger group. You can see the categories on our fleet page.
One large vehicle or several cars?
A single vehicle keeps everyone together and makes coordination easy, as long as the group and its bags fit comfortably. Once the group grows, splitting it across two or more cars has real advantages: they arrive at roughly the same time and nobody ends up with a suitcase on their knees. Remember that our fares are per car, not per passenger, so the fuller a car is (comfortably), the less each person pays.
Which vehicle suits which group
| Vehicle | Best for |
|---|---|
| Sedan | A small party with moderate luggage |
| Family (SUV / van) | A large family or lots of bags |
| VIP | Extra comfort |
Fares are fixed per car and start from 190 SAR for a sedan. For groups that need several cars, we confirm the split and the total on WhatsApp before the travel day. Each class is priced on our Makkah to Jeddah Airport taxi page.
A departure-day timetable
The road from Makkah to the airport is about 100 km and normally takes an hour to an hour and a quarter. Groups, though, need extra time to gather and load. Here's a suggested timeline for an international flight:
- Six hours before take-off: a final reminder in the family chat about when to come down to the lobby.
- Five hours before: everyone in the lobby, bags in one place, rooms checked out.
- About four and a half hours before: leave the hotel.
- Around three hours before: arrive at the departures terminal.
For a domestic flight, each step can move about an hour later. During Ramadan or on a Friday, build in more buffer.
Small things that speed up loading
- Pick one person to communicate with the driver so messages don't clash.
- Mark every bag with a coloured ribbon or a name tag. Counting them at loading and at the airport becomes much quicker.
- If your hotel is in the central area, ask where a car can actually stop. Some streets near the Haram have restricted access.
- Let elderly travellers board first and take the seats that are easiest to get in and out of.
- Keep passports and boarding information in a hand bag, not in a suitcase at the bottom of the boot.
Organisers' questions
Is the price per person or per car?
Per car, always. It doesn't change with the number of passengers within the same category, and you pay on arrival with no prepayment for a normal booking.
If we book several cars, will they arrive together?
We schedule them to reach the hotel at the same time and leave together, and we send the organiser each driver's details.
Can we stop in Jeddah before the airport?
Yes, if you mention it when booking. We'll work out the timing and confirm the fare on WhatsApp.
What about the arrival leg?
For the opposite direction, our Jeddah Airport to Makkah transfer page covers everything: meet and greet in arrivals with a name sign and 60 minutes of free waiting.
Can you also take the group on to Madinah?
Yes. Many groups do Makkah, then Madinah, then fly home from Madinah. Tell us the full itinerary and we'll quote each leg.
Send your group size, bag count and flight time to Mishwar Al Haramain on WhatsApp (+966582918075), or use the booking page, and we'll reply with a suggested setup.