XZF - DAMMAM PORT AIRPORT

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Dammam Port Airport by Martin Brown

11 September 2007   Customer Rating :

Dammam airport is huge with about 65 gates, but in reality it doesn't need to be. Arrival was painless. Immigration looks as if it will take forever at first, but as soon as immigration staff realise it's going to be busy, they open more desks and the queue soon clears. Customs scan every bag from every person as you leave. When returning, you must have your checked luggage scanned before check in otherwise you cannot check the bag. Queues for check in weren't too bad, but then I was 3 hours early for the KLM flight. Be prepared before going through security as although the queue looks long it moves fast and security staff get annoyed if they have to ask you to remove your belt, watch etc, but they are very pleasant if you are ready. The flight I was waiting for was leaving at 1:15am and there were a few international flights, but the cafe was closed. The only place to buy refreshments was from a "trolley", however the coffee wasn't bad and wasn't too expensive but nothing to eat that was hot. There is one duty free shop with various items for sale (including washing powder?) and prices are okay. I walked from one end of the airport to the other, which took 10 minutes at normal pace, and only 6 gates had passengers waiting by them. Interestingly, there used to be a few Business Class lounges, but these appear to have been closed and moved to one lounge, such is the under use of this airport. I would be happy to fly though this airport again, mainly because, even though there is nothing really to do, it is easy to find somewhere quiet to relax and plenty of seats and the staff are mostly very friendly.

Dammam Port Airport by Nick Wallace

10 December 2006   Customer Rating : n/a

Not much to add to the comments below. Immigration tends to be slow. Security very thorough requiring removal of belts with metal buckles and shoes. Needless passport and boarding card inspections between departure lounge and aircraft.

Dammam Port Airport by Peter Morison
22 August 2006

Dammam Airport is a fairly new construction situated in the desert about 60 kilometres from the Dammam/Dahran/Al Khobar metropolitan area and a similar distance from the petro-chemical industrial city of Jubail. It is large, pretty well organised and clean. It seems to be operating well under capacity. Due to its distance from town reaching the airport by road can take up to an hour and a half depending where you start from and a taxi fare which is the only way to get there is going to be high - around US$50+. Despite its size facilities for passangers waiting for flights are pretty limited with a couple of unispiring cafes and gift shops. A long wait there can be very boring and it makes sense to obtain a bording pass in advance for Saudia flights from their offices in town to reduce the amount of time spent at the airport. Of course if your flight is delayed you have no choice but to sit tight and wait. For very long delays as there is no hotel at the airport the long trip back to Dammam to find a bed is a would be required. If you are flying Saudia don't expect them to help much. An alternative worth considering if you are traveling to or from the Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia is to fly through Bahrain as the airport there is about the same distance from the centre of Dammam as Dammam airport is. Crossing the causeway is pretty straight forward outside of the Saudi weekend when it becomes busy to Bahrain on Thursday afternoon/evening and Back to Saudi on Friday evening. Bahrain airport much more customer friendly but taxi fare will be more approx US100.

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