Individual Transport
In Jeddah, as in all Saudi cities, cars, trucks and buses are still the main means of passenger and freight transport. The private car is the most widely used means of transportation, and the city is accordingly crisscrossed by wide, sometimes ten-lane roads and avenues.
Interregional connections to and from Jeddah are also well developed. Highway 40, which begins in Jeddah, connects the city with Mecca, Riyadh and Dammām on the east coast.
By contrast, the city is not yet made for pedestrians and cyclists, not only because of the lack of sidewalks and bike paths, but also because of the hot climatic conditions that make riding in air-conditioned vehicles irreplaceable for the foreseeable future.
Taxis and On-Demand Driving Services
Cabs are a very popular means of transportation if you don’t want to use the more expensive limousine service arranged esp. by hotels. The white and green cabs are operated by different companies; the green cabs are usually somewhat larger, better and cleaner than the white cabs – but as everywhere applies: the exception proves the rule. Many cab drivers come from Yemen.
In principle, the same applies as for cab traffic in Riyadh; for simplicity, please refer to the Riyadh section of this blog.
There is also Uber and Careem transportation, but they do not accept cash payments.
Bus Transport, Metro
City bus service is provided by SAPTCO from 5:30 a.m. to 11:30 p.m. (www.saptco.com.sa; or Rekab app) on six routes at 10- to 35-minute intervals. Most buses are equipped with electronic payment systems. Citizens from non-GCC countries need the original residence permit or a valid passport for visitors to use the bus system.
A Metro system does not yet exist.
Railroads
The high-speed Haramain Train is already in operation, covering the region between Jeddah and Makkah. The total length of the new passenger rail line is about 480 km (298 mi). The line so far includes five stations, one in Makkah, two in Jeddah City – one in the KAIA Airport and the other in the city center, Al-Sulimaniyah station – an additional station in Madinah, and the fifth station in King Abdullah Economic City (KAEC).
The railroad line mainly serves pilgrims coming for Hajj or Umrah. The new line reduces travel time between Jeddah and Makkah to less than half an hour, while the 410-km route between holy Makkah and Madinah now takes about two and a half hours. www.sar.hhr.sa;
For more information on transportation, please refer to my ebook “Dr. Hans-F. Loth – Travel Guide Riyadh and Jeddah”, which includes a route map of the bus lines and a map with the railway stations in Jeddah.
