Riyadh Airport

On arriving from Jeddah to connect with a Saudia flight to London I discovered one has to exit the airside area walk some 100 metres inside the terminal parallel to the frontage of the building and go through security again - Or did staff misdirect me? Security check was reasonably quick and standard. Toilets were fine - clean and smelling of disinfectant. Eating places and shops after security are rather on the scarce side and with not a great variety of products. But the airside area was quiet calm and airy. The only sign I could detect of neglect was carpeting at the gate that badly required cleaning.

I live in Riyadh and this must be the worst airport after Damascus in the Middle East. This airport has no redeeming features both from an aesthetic and service point of view. I flew out of Riyadh on 18 September (start of the Eid break) and there were over 400 people wanting to get in to the secure area to have their passports checked by Saudi immigration. Everyone pushing and shoving (mostly men) with no regard for the welfare of women and children. The response of the Saudi guards was to close the small door that passengers entered irrespective of whether passengers had to catch flights. It took over two hours to make our way through immigration and airport security. As a result the flight left 45 minutes late. Fraport the company that manages Riyadh airport said that there was not much they could do about instituting proper procedures for immigration and security screening.

During check in majority of the passengers line up to get their baggage xray done at just one machine even though the other one is available - but the guy operating it is busy having "chai" and he cant miss drinking it. I've seen people waiting behind the xray machine while their flight is boarding and these poor souls have been waiting for over 3 hrs in the queue. The atmosphere in the airport is very dreary and depressing. There is no currency exchange counter in the airport eateries only sell over priced rubbish. Taxi service is poor. All the rent-a-car stalls are empty with no one to cater to travellers. The only good thing about it is the connectivity to the city. Nothing else.

Riyadh airport is one of the worst capital city airports in the world. The toilet facilities are insanitary food franchises such as they are are appalling and the taxi touts outside remind one of the worst developing countries. There is no concession to the comfort and convenience of passengers. The layout and ease of transfer from terminal to terminal is unplanned and primitive. The frequency of flights in and out of Riyadh make it an excuse for a principal point of entry but I can see why airlines don't want to fly in and out. Swaggering immigration and security officials lounge around smoking and chatting or making mobile phone calls rather than dealing with passengers which they seem to regard as an interruption to socialising. It is impossible to buy tickets for flights at the terminal you want to fly from. You have to besiege a travel agency together with hundreds of distressed passengers.

King Khaled International Airport in Riyadh has four surprisingly small triangular terminals in a row. Terminal 1 is for international flights with foreign airlines terminal 2 is for international flights with Saudia and terminal 3 (Saudi by definition for the time being) is for domestic flights. Terminal 4 (the first terminal you pass when arriving by car from central Riyadh) is closed. The VIP section is placed between the two Saudi terminals thus preventing direct access from international to domestic flights. The terminals are not unattractive from an architectural point of view with a large (and noisy) cascading fountain in each and a multilevel roof construction that is vaguely reminiscent of the classical Ottoman mosques which also gives light to the interior of the terminal. Regrettably the airport does not seem to have undergone major renovation since it was built and the interior is dominated by shades of beige brown and dark red. Shiny chrome air-condition pillars and shabby plastic counters do not enhance the visual impression. Only once have I experienced that passengers have been required to use a bus instead of the elevated tunnel when leaving the aircraft. Facilities for passengers are scarce. Between the two international terminals you can buy some electronic equipment get a bite to eat or use the ATM/banking counter and in the terminal for foreign airlines there is a small shops selling newspapers dates cameras etc. before you pass through immigration and security. In all three terminals at the airport the departure halls themselves offer nothing except three snack bars.

I've travelled through Riyadh on several occasions and think it is an appalling excuse for an airport. We have to change from Domestic to International when we arrive in Riyadh and there is nobody to direct you so you just have to follow the masses and hope for the best. The only food available is between Domestic & International and on my last visit (Jan 05) the only decent place to eat (Pizza Hut) was closed down. Inside International Departures you have the usual surly guard who glares but doesn't speak while checking your passport. Then you're through the terminal where all the gates are close together there is not enough seating and the only refreshments available are from a coffee guy who sells soft drinks/coffee & crisps. Coming back to Saudi via Riyadh is even worse as you have to collect your baggage clear customs and then then drag it from International Arrivals to Domestic Departures to check it onto the plane. Totally disorganized is being nice to this aiport! I always fly with my husband but as I've not changed my name since getting married my passport is passed around from one supervisor to another to determine if they can give me grief for being with a man who is not my husband. This airport needs a complete overhaul in terms of facilities staff and general organisation.