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MED

Prince Mohammad bin Abdulaziz International Airport

Medina (Al Madinah Al Munawwarah), Saudi Arabia

Medina airport has a Main Terminal and a separate Hajj terminal. Most pilgrims land, pass passport control, collect their bags and leave by bus or taxi for the city, about 30 minutes away. A 24 hour information desk helps in person and by phone. Ask your airline or caravan leader which terminal your flight uses, and stay with your group.

Airport staff speak English at every airport in these guides. Showing the help card, or the title of the step you are on, is enough; you do not need the local language.

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Both flights on ONE ticket

Your bags go through. You only change planes.

  1. Leave the plane with your hand luggage and stay with your group

    Take every bag you carried on board. Keep your passport, your Saudi visa and your caravan papers in your hand, not in a bag. Walk with the other pilgrims from your flight. The airport does not publish its sign wording, so if you are not sure where to go, stop, ask anyone in a uniform and show your passport and boarding pass.

  2. Only changing planes here? Go to the transit counters first

    If your ticket continues to another city on the same booking, the airport says to check in at the transit counters in the International Arrival area, before passport control. Follow the signs or ask a Customer Service staff member. If you are unsure, call the information desk on +966 14 813 9999. If Medina is the end of your flight, walk on to passport control.

  3. Go through passport control

    If Medina is the end of your flight, you go through Saudi passport control. The airport does not describe the queues or checks, so follow the other passengers and go where the staff point you. Have your passport open at the photo page and your visa ready. If your caravan leader has told you to wait for the group, wait. If you do not understand a question, show your visa and caravan papers and ask for help.

  4. Collect your bags

    After passport control, go to the baggage hall. Look for your flight number on the information screens to find your belt. Baggage trolleys are free. Porters work 24 hours a day in the arrival hall for 10 Saudi riyals plus tax. If a bag is missing, go to the Luggage Services Office in the international arrival hall and tell the ground handling company for your flight (Saudi Ground Services or Swissport).

  5. Walk through customs into the arrivals hall

    Walk through customs with your bags. The airport publishes no customs rules, so declare anything you are unsure about and do not carry goods for other people. You then come out into the arrivals hall, where people wait for arriving passengers. Look here for your caravan leader or your group's sign. If you cannot find them, stay inside the building and ask a porter or anyone in a uniform to call your group or to take you to the 24 hour information desk, which is next to Check-in Area C (+966 14 813 9999).

  6. Money, SIM card and medical help

    The airport lists bank branches with ATMs in the open area of the terminal, in front of the domestic arrival gate near Gate 5, and an ATM with foreign currency exchange in the international departure area. It does not say which cards work, and no official page mentions Iranian bank cards, so bring cash. SIM cards (STC, Mobily, Zain) are sold opposite the international arrivals gate, next to Gate 3. Medical centres run by the Saudi Ministry of Health are open 24 hours, including one in International Arrivals. If you feel unwell, tell any staff member.

  7. Leave for the city with your group, or by official transport

    Ask your caravan leader how the group leaves the airport. If you are on your own, the airport lists a shuttle to the Prophet's Mosque, licensed taxis and limousines directly outside the terminal building, and the Careem app. Use only licensed taxis and do not go with private drivers who approach you. Fares are fixed: the airport's list gives 75 riyals for a normal taxi to the Central Haram area, about 20 km away, and 90 riyals for a 5 passenger taxi. The Haramain high speed train has no station at the airport; its Medina station is in the Al Hadra district, about 9 km from the city. If unsure, ask at the information desk.

Flights on SEPARATE tickets

You collect your bags and check in again. Allow much more time.

  1. Check your terminal and be at the airport 3 hours early

    Saudia tells guests on international flights to arrive 3 hours before departure, and the airport says to confirm the recommended arrival time when you book. Your caravan leader may set an earlier bus time from the hotel; follow the group time. The airport names a Main Terminal and a separate Hajj terminal but does not say which flights use which, so ask your airline or caravan leader which terminal to go to. If unsure at the airport, ask at the information desk next to Check-in Area C.

  2. Ask your caravan leader about Zamzam water before check-in

    Saudia carries one 5 litre Zamzam package from the Sogia factory free for every guest leaving Medina. It goes as a separate checked item and must never be packed inside a suitcase. Do not go outside the terminal on your own to buy it; ask your caravan leader or airline staff where to buy it. If you fly with another airline, ask the caravan leader or that airline what it accepts, because we found no official page for other airlines.

  3. Find your airline's check-in counter

    Look at the departure screens for your flight number and the check-in area letter. Iran Air and Mahan Air are not on the airport's airline list, so for Iranian pilgrim flights follow your caravan leader to the counters they name. Show your passport and ticket. Hand over your suitcase and your Zamzam package separately, and keep medicines and documents in your hand luggage. Saudia (+966 920022222) says to ask its staff for the counters set aside for guests with disabilities, and to tell them if you are a senior who needs help.

  4. Go to departure passport control

    After check-in, go on to departure passport control. The airport does not describe this area or its signs, so walk with your group or ask anyone in a uniform for the way. Have your passport and boarding pass ready. Do not stop in the shops on the way.

  5. Security check

    The airport asks you to check your hand luggage for prohibited items before you reach security. Its list is only a picture we could not read, so pack liquids in your suitcase. Your Zamzam package must already be checked in. If you cannot walk through the scanner or you carry a medical device, tell the officer before your turn.

  6. Find your gate and sit near it

    Check the screens for your gate and walk there early. Saudia says its electronic gates at Medina close 30 minutes before departure and departure gates close 20 minutes before the scheduled departure time. There are priority waiting seats for passengers with special needs in the gate areas. The Prime Class lounge is in the international departure area and the Hayyak and Welcome lounges are in the domestic departure area; the airport gives no prices, so ask before you enter.

  7. If you miss your flight or something goes wrong

    Go back to your airline's counter, or ask at the information desk next to Check-in Area C, which is open 24 hours (+966 14 813 9999, infodesk1@tibahairports.com). Tell your caravan leader at once. For Umrah visas the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah sets a last date to leave the Kingdom each season, so do not delay a new booking. If you must stay the night, the Millennium Madinah Airport Hotel is less than 500 metres from the terminal and has a free 24 hour shuttle.

Passport control

If you are only changing planes on the same booking, go to the transit counters before passport control; everyone else who lands in Medina goes through Saudi passport control. You need a Saudi visa before you fly: Saudia tells guests to obtain visas and travel documents in advance, and points Hajj and Umrah visa questions to the Saudi Ministry of Hajj and Umrah. We found no official page that sets out the Umrah or Hajj visa route for Iranian passports, and the Iranian Hajj and Pilgrimage Organisation website could not be opened, so ask your caravan or that organisation which visa you carry, and keep it with your passport. The Ministry sets a last date to enter and a last date to leave the Kingdom for each Umrah season. On 5 November 2026 its page still showed only the finished 1447 season (last departure 18 April 2026) and no dates for 1448, so ask your caravan for the current dates. The Ministry's help line is +966 920002814. We could not open the Saudi Ministry of Interior's Makkah Route page, so we cannot say whether any pre-clearance applies to flights from Iran; expect the normal passport control in Medina.

Getting around

The airport names a Main Terminal, where taxis wait directly outside the building. Its pages name check-in areas by letter (the information desk is next to Check-in Area C), landside Gates 3, 4 and 5, an international arrivals gate, a domestic arrival gate, a domestic departure area and an international departure area. The airport also names a separate Hajj terminal, but no official page says where it is, how you get between the two, or which flights use it, so check your terminal with your airline or caravan leader before you travel. The airport publishes no walking times or terminal map that we could read. Baggage trolleys are free in the departure halls, baggage claim areas and car parks. Porters cost 10 riyals plus tax. For the city, the airport lists a shuttle to the Prophet's Mosque, licensed taxis and limousines with fixed fares (75 riyals for a normal taxi to the Central Haram area, about 20 km), and the Careem app. The Haramain high speed train has no station at the airport; its Medina station is in the Al Hadra district, about 9 km from the city, open daily 06:30 to 00:30, with shuttle buses to the Haram and taxis outside.

Wheelchair and special help here

Ask your airline or your travel agency, not the airport. The airport says to request help at least 48 hours before the flight, and that wheelchairs are provided by the airlines. If you travel with an Iranian pilgrim caravan, tell your caravan leader when you register that you need a wheelchair or walking help, and ask them to confirm it with the airline for both flights. Saudia says guests who need help, including seniors, should coordinate with Saudia staff at the airport and ask for the counters set aside for guests with disabilities. The airport's own Special Needs Services office is on +966 14 847 9869.

Ramped drop-off and pick-up points are at the terminal entrances, with reserved parking nearby. A dedicated information and check-in desk has staff trained to help passengers with hearing or speech disabilities. Priority waiting seats are in the gate areas. Accessible toilets have emergency alarms. The 24 hour information desk is next to Check-in Area C. Medical centres run by the Ministry of Health are in the Reception and Welcome area, in International Arrivals and in the Hajj terminal, and there is a mobile clinic.

Saudia carries wheelchairs, crutches and up to two mobility aids free of charge; they are handed over before boarding and returned on arrival. Saudia asks guests who use a portable oxygen concentrator to send the doctor's form at least 48 hours ahead and to check in 3 hours before the flight. The airport lists no price for its own assistance. The Haramain train stations also offer wheelchairs and a discount for passengers with a disability card.

Where to ask for help

Information desk: next to Check-in Area C, open 24 hours, +966 14 813 9999, infodesk1@tibahairports.com. Staff at this desk answer questions in person and by phone; the airport does not say which languages they speak, so expect English and Arabic. Transit counters: in the International Arrival area before passport control, for passengers continuing on the same booking. Special Needs Services office: +966 14 847 9869. Luggage Services Office: in the international and domestic arrival halls (Saudi Ground Services +966 12 690 9965, Swissport +966 55 254 7278). Medical emergency: 014 813 5555, or tell any staff member. Saudia at the airport: +966 920022222. Ministry of Hajj and Umrah help line: +966 920002814, Care@haj.gov.sa. The airport has a MED Airport app (Apple and Google) and free Wi-Fi throughout the terminal. Keep your caravan leader's phone number written on paper.

Rest and comfort

Free Wi-Fi covers the whole terminal. Priority seats for passengers with special needs are in the gate areas. Three lounges are listed: Prime Class in the international departure area (920028428), and Hayyak (+966 595259061) and Welcome Lounge (966 148139992) in the domestic departure area. The airport gives no hours or prices, so ask before you go in. Medical centres run by the Ministry of Health are open 24 hours in the Reception and Welcome area, International Arrivals and the Hajj terminal, and an ambulance team comes to you in an emergency. Bank branches with ATMs are in the open area of the terminal near Gate 5, and an ATM with foreign currency exchange is in the international departure area. The only Zamzam sale point the airport lists is outdoors, in front of the Hajj terminal gate (5 litre bottles, 12.50 riyals, passport needed); do not go there alone, and ask your caravan leader or airline staff where to buy. The airport names no prayer rooms on its website, although the Haramain train stations list them, so ask staff for the nearest prayer room. The Millennium Madinah Airport Hotel is less than 500 metres away, with a free 24 hour shuttle.

My help card

Print this page, fill in the lines by hand, and keep the card in your pocket.

I am traveling alone. I need help to find my connecting flight. Please show me the way, or call someone who can help me. Thank you.

You can type the details here before printing. They stay on this device only.

Partly checked against official pages.

What we could not confirm (21)
  • We could not confirm the arrival or departure route step by step (signs, where the foreign passport queue is, whether fingerprints and a photo are taken, the layout of departure passport control and security), because the airport's Arrivals, Arrivals Hall, Customs and Baggage Reclaim pages contain only one sentence each or are empty, and no page describes departures.
  • We could not confirm the Umrah or Hajj visa rule for Iranian passports on any official page. The Saudi Ministry of Hajj and Umrah page gives season dates only, the Saudi visa platform shows no Umrah visa service for individuals, Nusuk's Umrah pages returned errors, and the Iranian Hajj and Pilgrimage Organisation website (haj.ir) could not be opened.
  • We could not confirm the Umrah season dates for 1448. On 5 November 2026 the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah page still showed only the 1447 season, which ended on 18 April 2026.
  • We could not confirm whether Iranians can book Hajj directly on Nusuk for 1448. The Nusuk list we read was for 1447 (Hajj 2026, now over) and did not include Iran, and no 1448 list was published.
  • We could not confirm whether the Makkah Route initiative applies to flights from Iran, because the Saudi Ministry of Interior website could not be opened. No official page we read mentions Iran in connection with it.
  • We could not confirm where caravan leaders meet pilgrims. The airport only says the arrivals hall is where people wait for arriving passengers.
  • We could not confirm the operator, boarding point, fare or timetable of the shuttle bus to the Prophet's Mosque, because the airport's Buses and Rehla pages are empty.
  • We could not confirm which airline counters Iranian pilgrim flights use. Iran Air and Mahan Air are not on the airport's airline list, and the Iran Air website did not resolve.
  • We could not confirm Zamzam rules for airlines other than Saudia.
  • We could not confirm the opening hours of the airport's Zamzam sale point in front of the Hajj terminal gate, whether it works outside the Hajj season, or how far it is from check-in in the Main Terminal.
  • We could not confirm whether Iranian bank cards work at the airport. No official page mentions them; the airport lists banks and ATMs without saying which cards are accepted, and gives no opening hours.
  • We could not confirm prayer room locations in the terminal. The airport website names none.
  • We could not confirm a terminal map, walking times, or the floor layout. The airport's Airport Maps page is empty and its only map is an airline route map.
  • We could not confirm where the Hajj terminal is in relation to the Main Terminal, whether there is a walk between them, whether it is used outside the Hajj season, or which flights use it.
  • We could not confirm that the information desk next to Check-in Area C can be reached from the international arrivals hall without leaving the building, or how far it is.
  • We could not confirm the GACA passenger rights rules for passengers with special needs, because gaca.gov.sa could not be opened; the airport only refers to them.
  • We could not confirm the languages spoken at the information desk.
  • We could not confirm lounge prices, opening hours or whether pilgrims may pay at the door.
  • We could not confirm an airport-wide check-in closing time. The 3 hour arrival advice, the 30 minute e-gate closing and the 20 minute gate closing are Saudia rules.
  • We could not confirm the customs rules (cash limits, declaration channels) because the airport's customs page is empty.
  • We could not confirm whether the airport's Special Needs Services office provides wheelchairs itself when an airline has not arranged one.

Airports change signs, gates and rules. This guide is general help, not an official instruction. Always follow the staff and the screens, and check with your airline.

Last prepared 5 November 2026.

Where this comes from (28)