King Khalid International Airport to Riyadh

Riyadh Metro Line 4 (Yellow Line) – Airport to KAFD

Line 4 runs from Airport Stations T1–2, T3–4 and T5 directly to King Abdullah Financial District (KAFD), where you can connect by metro or bus to central areas like Olaya and Batha. Trains typically operate from 06:00 to 00:00 every 5–10 minutes, with a journey of about 30–35 minutes to KAFD and around 45–50 minutes total to the core city-center area including transfers; standard 2‑hour tickets start from about SAR 4 and are valid on metro and buses for the duration.

Riyadh Metro Line 1 (Blue Line) – KAFD to Olaya / Kingdom Centre

From KAFD, transfer to Line 1 (Blue Line) towards central Riyadh to reach major downtown stops such as Kingdom Centre / Al Urubah area in roughly 10–15 minutes. This through-metro combo (Line 4 + Line 1) is the primary rail route from the airport to the commercial city center, using integrated DARB tickets valid across metro and Riyadh Bus.

Official Airport Taxi (SAFWA taxis)

Metered green airport taxis are available 24/7 outside all terminals and provide direct door‑to‑door service to central districts such as Olaya, KAFD and Batha in about 30–45 minutes depending on traffic. Typical fares reported in 2025 to central Riyadh are around SAR 70–150; follow airport signs to the official taxi rank and avoid unofficial touts.

Uber / Careem (Riyadh Airport)

App‑based rides (Uber, Careem, Bolt, Jeeny) operate from designated pickup zones at RUH and offer cashless trips to central Riyadh in roughly 30–45 minutes, with fares generally comparable to or slightly below official taxis depending on time of day and demand. Check your app for exact pickup points at each terminal and current pricing before requesting a ride.

Riyadh Bus (via KAFD interchange)

There is no direct city bus from the airport to downtown; instead, ride Metro Line 4 to KAFD and transfer to Riyadh Bus routes (e.g. express and community lines) toward central districts like Olaya and Batha. Buses typically run every 10–20 minutes on main corridors and are included in the same timed DARB ticket used on the metro, but overall door‑to‑door time can exceed 60 minutes due to transfers and stops.