Is a 25 min layover in Riyadh long enough?
RUH · King Khaled International · Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
Cutting It Close
25 minutes is far below any realistic transfer time given the mandatory bus ride and re-screening between RUH's separate terminals.
Quick Stats
5
40m
20m
Saudia
Minimum Connection Times
45min
✗60min
✗75min
✗90min
✗AD PLACEMENT — CONTEXTUAL
Tips for 25 min Connections
Check whether both your flights depart from the same terminal (especially Terminal 5 for Saudia-Saudia connections) since same-terminal transfers avoid the bus transfer and re-screening entirely.
Budget extra time for the inter-terminal shuttle bus, which can be delayed by traffic on the airport ring road, especially during peak banks.
If transferring between an international and domestic flight, be prepared to pass through a passport/immigration check even if you don't intend to leave the airport.
Saudia's hub operations at Terminal 5 are generally the smoothest connection option in Riyadh, so try to book itineraries that stay within that terminal.
Keep boarding passes and passport handy at all times, as transfer passengers are re-screened and re-checked multiple times through the terminal-hopping process.
Busyness — Connection Risk
12a6a12p6p12a
Low risk
Moderate
High risk
Tight connections are safer outside peak hours. Morning rush (6–9a), midday (11a–2p), and evening (4–8p) are highest risk.
Getting Between Concourses
There is no inter-terminal train at RUH; passengers move between terminal buildings via landside shuttle buses that loop the airport perimeter, which can take 15-25 minutes depending on traffic and terminal distance. Because the terminals are separate structures, most transfers require exiting the arrival terminal, clearing an immigration/security checkpoint again, and re-entering through departures security at the connecting terminal, adding significant time versus an airside-connected hub.
Is 25 minutes enough for a layover at RUH?
25 minutes is far below any realistic transfer time given the mandatory bus ride and re-screening between RUH's separate terminals.
Other Layover Durations at RUH
AD PLACEMENT — BEFORE FOOTER