Airport Lounges in Saudi Arabia: The Complete 2026 Guide

Everything you need to know about airport lounges in Saudi Arabia — lounge names, locations, walk-in fees, facilities, and which UAE credit cards get you in for free at RUH, JED, DMM and beyond.

Saudi Arabia's airports are in the middle of a transformation. Lounge usage across the Kingdom's major airports has surged dramatically — Riyadh's King Khalid International saw a 155.7% increase in lounge visits, while Jeddah's King Abdulaziz International recorded a 165.6% rise, according to Dragonpass data. Whether you're a frequent flyer passing through on business, a pilgrim connecting to Mecca or Medina, or a traveller making the most of a long layover, knowing your lounge options can transform your experience at Saudi airports.

This guide covers every major airport lounge in the Kingdom — locations, access methods, walk-in fees, and facilities — plus a clear breakdown of which UAE-issued credit cards will get you through the door at no extra cost.

King Khalid International Airport, Riyadh (RUH)

King Khalid International Airport is Saudi Arabia's second-busiest airport and handles traffic across five passenger terminals plus a dedicated Royal Terminal. Terminals 1 and 3 serve international flights operated by various foreign airlines, Terminal 4 is used exclusively by Saudia for international routes, and Terminal 5 handles all domestic flights.

Saudia Alfursan Lounge — Terminal 2 (International) & Terminal 5 (Domestic)

The Alfursan Lounge is the flagship premium offering at RUH and operates on a 24/7 basis. It is open to all guests regardless of their travel class or Alfursan membership tier — meaning you can pay to access it at a cost of around 165 AED (approximately USD 45). The domestic Alfursan Lounge in Terminal 5 includes a business centre, buffet, relaxation areas, sleep rooms, and shower facilities. Complimentary access is available for Alfursan Gold members flying First or Business Class on international Saudia flights, with Gold members permitted to bring up to two registered family members.

Facilities: Buffet dining, showers, sleep rooms, business centre, prayer areas, Wi-Fi

Location: Terminal 2 (Mezzanine level, international) and Terminal 5 (domestic)

Hours: 24/7

Walk-in fee: ~165 AED / ~USD 45

Access networks: Alfursan membership, eligible credit cards

Alfursan Golden Lounge — Terminal 4

This lounge offers plush seating with a calming ambience and a diverse selection of hot and cold dishes from an extensive à la carte menu. Business travellers can use dedicated workstations and high-speed Wi-Fi, while families benefit from a designated play area for children. This is the more exclusive of the two Saudia lounges, with complimentary access for Alfursan Gold members flying First Class internationally.

Location: Terminal 4, King Khalid International Airport

Plaza Premium Lounge — Terminal 1 (Mezzanine) & Terminal 2

Plaza Premium Lounge Riyadh serves passengers departing from Terminal 2 and offers comfortable seating, locally inspired and international cuisine freshly prepared in the kitchen, complimentary Wi-Fi and TV channels including sports and news, and a wide selection of hot and cold beverages. The lounge also provides quiet rooms for privacy and spacious shower rooms with towels, amenities, and hair and body products. Entertainment options include Kidscast, The New York Times, and PPG on-air Spotify.

Plaza Premium is open to all travellers regardless of airline or class of travel, and lounge access can be booked online up to one hour in advance.

Facilities: Dining, showers, quiet rooms, Wi-Fi, children's entertainment

Location: Terminal 1 (Mezzanine) and Terminal 2

Access networks: Priority Pass, DragonPass, Mastercard Travel Pass, walk-in and pre-book

Catrion Lounge — Terminal 4 (Mezzanine)

The Catrion Lounge offers buffet food, sleeping rooms (350 AED for 3 hours, plus 100 AED per hour thereafter), VIP rooms, and seating areas. A standard 3-hour pass costs 350 AED.

Wasan Lounge (Sleep Pods) — Terminal 5

The Wasan Lounge offers futuristic sleeping pods designed for relaxation during long layovers or flight delays. Each pod features adjustable LED lighting, charging ports, luggage storage, and an interactive screen, providing hotel-quality rest. The lounge can accommodate up to 300 guests per day.

Hayyak VIP Lounge — Terminal 5

The Hayyak lounge features free Wi-Fi, entertainment screens, a children's seating area, a wide range of food and beverages including coffee, sandwiches, hot meals, and cold drinks, a prayer room, disabled access, reception, a smoking cabin, and a VIP room. Entry requires an available Priority Pass or equivalent.

NaSmiles Lounge — Terminal 5

Reserved exclusively for Flynas frequent flyers enrolled in the NaSmiles loyalty programme. It offers comfortable seating, a food and beverage area, VIP rooms, sleep rooms, and a prayer room

King Abdulaziz International Airport, Jeddah (JED)

Jeddah is Saudi Arabia's busiest international gateway and the primary port of entry for Hajj and Umrah pilgrims. Its new terminal is airy and modern, with huge windows letting in natural light, and the airport handles high seasonal traffic with remarkable organisation even during peak pilgrimage periods.

Saudia Alfursan Lounge (Business Class) — Terminal 1

The flagship lounge at JED is one of the largest airline lounges in the entire SkyTeam alliance. The 3,500-square-metre lounge can accommodate around 450 guests at any one time and over 10,000 guests throughout the day. Business Class walk-in access costs AED 345, while First Class access costs AED 575 for 6 hours. Notably, Priority Pass and standard credit card access are not accepted at the Alfursan Lounge in Jeddah — credit card holders should use the nearby Welcome Lounge instead.

Eligible guests include Saudia Business and First Class passengers, Alfursan Elite and Elite+ members, and SkyTeam Elite cardholders flying Saudia.

Facilities: Live cooking station, à la carte and buffet dining, showers, relaxation zones, children's area, business workstations, prayer room

Location: Terminal 1, international departures (airside circle, upstairs)

Walk-in fee: AED 345 (Business) / AED 575 (First Class)

Hours: 24/7

Plaza Premium Lounge — Terminal 1, Near Gate 39

The Plaza Premium Lounge at KAIA is open 24 hours and offers comfortable seating, locally inspired and international cuisine freshly prepared in the kitchen, complimentary Wi-Fi and TV channels including sports and news. It accepts Priority Pass and can be pre-booked online, making it the most accessible lounge option for travellers on credit card programmes.

Location: Terminal 1, International Departures, near Gate 39

Access networks: Priority Pass, DragonPass, Mastercard Travel Pass, pre-book online

Hours: 24/7

Honest note: Traveller reviews of the Plaza Premium Jeddah are mixed — food quality has been criticised as inconsistent. If you have a choice, Alfursan is the superior experience, though it carries a higher walk-in fee.

King Fahd International Airport, Dammam (DMM)

King Fahd International Airport serves Saudi Arabia's Eastern Province and the country's vital oil industry corridor. DMM offers a total of seven lounges — two in the domestic terminal and five in the international terminal.

Plaza Premium Lounge — International Terminal (Departure Level)

The Dammam Plaza Premium Lounge recently underwent a comprehensive rebuild. The new 1,067sqm space seats 262 guests and blends authentic Saudi heritage with contemporary design, zoned to cater to diverse needs — quiet reflection, productive work, premium dining, or family relaxation. Self-check kiosks have been installed for seamless lounge access.

The lounge is located on the departure level, within the restricted area for passengers who have cleared customs and passport control — opposite Al Dawa Pharmacy. It features live cooking stations where chefs prepare pasta and other dishes on request.

The Dammam Plaza Premium has been rated 4-Star by Skytrax. The rating notes "a good quantity of seating including privacy pods with reading lights and plug sockets" and highlights showers as a positive, while flagging that barista coffee service can be slow.

Facilities: Live cooking station, buffet dining, showers, privacy pods, spa services (chargeable), Wi-Fi, prayer area

Location: International departure level, opposite Al Dawa Pharmacy

Walk-in fee: From AED 165/USD 45

Hours: 24/7

Access networks: Priority Pass, DragonPass, Mastercard Travel Pass

Saudia Alfursan Golden Lounge — International Terminal

The Saudia Alfursan Golden Lounge at DMM is available from around AED 188 for day-pass access and is primarily designed for Saudia premium class passengers and loyalty programme members.

Domestic Terminal Lounges

Domestic terminal options at DMM include the naSmiles Lounge (for Flynas loyalty members) and the Saudia Alfursan Golden Lounge.

Prince Mohammed bin Abdulaziz International Airport, Madinah (MED)

Madinah Airport is a critical gateway for Umrah and Hajj pilgrims and handles significant traffic year-round. The airport includes a Royal Lounge, a VIP Lounge, and executive offices, as well as a transit passenger service for those connecting between international stations. Third-party lounge access via Priority Pass and similar programmes is available; confirm current availability directly with your lounge network app before travel, as capacity management is tightly controlled during Hajj and Umrah seasons.

Abha International Airport (AHB)

Abha serves Saudi Arabia's mountainous Asir region and has seen explosive growth in domestic tourism. Lounge usage at Abha International Airport surged 271.8% — the steepest increase of any Saudi airport — reflecting the region's growing popularity as a domestic travel destination.

The lounges at Abha were expanded in 2019 to increase passenger capacity as part of a broader Saudi airports development programme, after which the airport was upgraded to international status in 2020. Lounge options here are more limited than at the major hubs; walk-in access and credit card network coverage should be confirmed in advance.

How UAE credit cards get you into Saudi airport lounges

Residents of the UAE frequently travel to Saudi Arabia for business and leisure — and the good news is that most premium UAE credit cards carry lounge access programmes that work at the major Saudi airports. Here is what you need to know in 2026.

The three major lounge access networks

Priority Pass is the most widely recognised independent lounge network globally and covers Plaza Premium locations at RUH, JED, and DMM, among others in Saudi Arabia. It operates independently of your card network and is offered by banks including FAB (First Abu Dhabi Bank), HSBC UAE, and Citi UAE on their premium products.

Mastercard Travel Pass (powered by DragonPass) is Mastercard's lounge access programme, operating through the Mastercard Travel Pass app. This programme provides access to over 1,200 lounges globally. From May 2025, significant changes came into effect: cardholders must register their card on the Mastercard Travel Pass app (physical card presentation no longer grants access), and must have made a minimum international spend of USD 1 (or non-AED equivalent) within the three months prior to their lounge visit to unlock complimentary access. Many cards now have an annual cap on complimentary visits — for example, the Citi Ultima carries a cap of 14 lounge visits per calendar year, with international spend required to unlock access for each 3-month rolling period.

Visa Airport Companion (powered by DragonPass) is the equivalent programme for Visa cardholders. From October 2024, Visa moved to DragonPass as its lounge provider and now requires cardholders to use the Visa Airport Companion app for all lounge access — previous LoungeKey memberships are no longer valid.

Important for UAE Mastercard holders: Titanium Mastercard cards issued in the UAE have had their complimentary airport lounge access replaced with a Flight Delay Pass. This is different from Saudi Arabia, where Titanium Mastercard holders still receive complimentary lounge access upon making an international payment of USD 1.

Fees and thresholds are indicative and subject to change. Always verify current terms with your card issuer.

The Emirates NBD Skywards Infinite Credit Card gives unlimited complimentary access to over 1,000 airport lounges worldwide via the Visa Airport Companion app, including access for one guest.

The American Express Platinum Card (UAE edition) offers complimentary access to more than 1,550 airport lounge locations across 140 countries, with free access for up to two guests and children under 12 at certain locations. This is particularly valuable for Saudi Arabia travel as it also covers American Express Centurion Lounges globally.

Key rules to know before you fly to Saudi Arabia

Download the app before you go. Neither Visa Airport Companion nor Mastercard Travel Pass accepts physical card presentation any longer. If you land in Riyadh without the app installed and registered, you will pay the walk-in rate.

Check your annual visit cap. Many Mastercard products introduced or reinforced annual caps from June 2025 — unused visits do not roll over to the following calendar year.

Alfursan Jeddah does not accept credit card access. As noted above, the Saudia Alfursan Lounge in Jeddah does not accept Priority Pass or credit card entry - if this is your only lounge benefit, budget for the walk-in rate or use the Plaza Premium instead.

Guest fees apply at most Saudi lounges. Expect to pay around USD 32 per guest through card network programmes if your card does not include complimentary guest access.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I access Saudi airport lounges without a premium ticket or credit card?

Yes. All three major Saudi international airports — Riyadh, Jeddah, and Dammam — offer walk-in access to at least one lounge. Rates range from around AED 168 (approximately USD 45) for the Alfursan in Riyadh to AED 345–575 for the Alfursan in Jeddah. Plaza Premium locations can also be pre-booked online at similar rates.

Do Saudi airport lounges serve alcohol?

No. Alcohol is not available anywhere in Saudi Arabia, including airport lounges. All beverage offerings are non-alcoholic — expect a wide selection of Arabic coffee, teas, fresh juices, and soft drinks alongside food service.

Are Saudi airport lounges open 24/7?

The major Plaza Premium and Alfursan lounges at RUH, JED, and DMM all operate around the clock, which is important for passengers on early morning or late-night Hajj and Umrah connections.

Will my UAE credit card lounge access work in Saudi Arabia?

In most cases, yes — provided your card is linked to Priority Pass, DragonPass/Mastercard Travel Pass, or Visa Airport Companion, and your chosen Saudi lounge is part of that network. Always verify in your app before your trip, as the Alfursan lounges in Jeddah operate independently of these networks.