On my first Umrah, I landed in Jeddah with USD 600 in cash. A forum post said Saudi drivers only take notes. I used USD 40 of it. Everything else went on a card.
If you fly from the US, UK, Canada or Australia, here is what works for Umrah transport in 2026. Cards and Apple Pay work almost everywhere. Cash is a small backup. PayPal does not work at all.
Which Payment Methods Work for Umrah Transport?
The table shows what each type of transport accepts.
| Method | Pre-booked private car | Uber and Careem | Airport and street taxi |
| Visa or Mastercard | Yes, on the driver’s terminal | Yes, in the app | Airport rank yes, street usually no |
| Apple Pay or Google Pay | Yes, same terminal | Yes, in the app | Airport rank yes, street usually no |
| Saudi riyal cash | Yes | Only if selected in the app | Yes |
| PayPal | No | No | No |
| American Express | Some companies, ask first | Yes, in the app | No |
Paying for a Pre-Booked Umrah Taxi
A licensed pre-booked company does not ask for money before the car arrives. You pay the driver at the hotel door, on a card terminal, by card or phone.
This keeps your fixed fare fixed. For a Jeddah Airport to Makkah transfer, the riyal fare quoted on WhatsApp is the amount on the terminal. Your bank statement shows it in your home currency.
If a company wants card payment in advance, book with another one.
Does Apple Pay Work for Taxis in Saudi Arabia?
Yes. Saudi card terminals run on the mada network, and mada accepts Apple Pay and Google Pay. If the driver has a terminal, your phone works on it.
Card Fees for Umrah Transport
The exchange rate is not the problem. The Saudi riyal is fixed to the US dollar at SAR 3.75. The pound, Canadian dollar and Australian dollar convert at the normal bank rate.
The problem is your own bank’s fee. Most standard cards from these four countries charge about 3 percent on foreign spending. A week of Umrah transport costs about SAR 2,500. That covers the airport transfer, the Madinah road and two ziyarat loops. The fee on that is about USD 20.
A card with no foreign transaction fee removes this cost. Wise, Revolut and similar cards work like any Visa or Mastercard on the terminal, and most charge no foreign fee.
The terminal may also ask if you want to pay in riyals or in your home currency. Always choose riyals. If you pick your own currency, the terminal sets the rate, and it is worse than your bank’s.
When to Pay Cash for Umrah Transport
Carry SAR 300 to 500 per week in small notes. You need it for three things:
- Short street taxis with no card terminal
- A driver whose terminal has no signal, such as in a hotel basement
- Fuel station stops on the Makkah to Medina road
Get riyals from a cash machine in the Jeddah arrivals hall. It gives the bank rate with a small flat fee. A currency exchange at home gives a rate 5 to 8 percent worse, often in large notes. Drivers rarely have change for SAR 500.
Do not pay drivers in dollars or pounds. The few who accept them set their own rate, and it is a poor one.
PayPal and Bank Transfers for Umrah Transport
PayPal does not work for Saudi transport, because local companies cannot receive it. If a driver asks you to send PayPal to a personal account, treat it as a warning sign.
Some companies accept a bank transfer to a Saudi account for advance bookings. It is slower, costs more than a card, and gives you no chargeback if the car does not come.
What to Have Ready Before You Land
- Two cards from different banks, in case one gets blocked
- Your card PIN, since some terminals ask for it on larger amounts
- Your card added to Apple Pay or Google Pay
- Small riyal notes for the week
- The fixed fare from your Best Umrah Taxi booking confirmation, in riyals, on your phone
Before you fly, tell your bank you are going to Saudi Arabia. Check that international payments are turned on for each card.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need to tip taxi drivers during Umrah?
No, tipping is optional. For a short ride, round up by a few riyals. On a long trip, SAR 10 to 20 is a kind thank you. Never pay a tip the driver adds to the agreed fare.
Can I use Uber or Careem with my home phone number?
Yes. Both apps work with your home number and card, and fares show in riyals. A Saudi SIM still helps, because drivers often call when they cannot find you. You can change the number in your profile after you land.
What if a Makkah taxi driver does not turn on the meter?
Saudi rules say a licensed taxi must start the meter at the start of every trip. If the driver does not, you do not have to pay for that ride. You can report the driver to the Transport General Authority.
How do I pay for the Haramain train?
Online, with Visa, Mastercard or Apple Pay. Your ticket comes by email. At the station, ticket counters take cash and cards, but the machines take cards only.
Is it safe to hand my card to the driver?
Tap or insert the card yourself and keep it in your hand. Never give a driver your card, passport or phone as a deposit. If there is a problem with payment, sort it out with the company.
On my first Umrah, I landed in Jeddah with USD 600 in cash. A forum post said Saudi drivers only take notes. I used USD 40 of it. Everything else went on a card.
If you fly from the US, UK, Canada or Australia, here is what works for Umrah transport in 2026. Cards and Apple Pay work almost everywhere. Cash is a small backup. PayPal does not work at all.
Which Payment Methods Work for Umrah Transport?
The table shows what each type of transport accepts.
| Method | Pre-booked private car | Uber and Careem | Airport and street taxi |
| Visa or Mastercard | Yes, on the driver’s terminal | Yes, in the app | Airport rank yes, street usually no |
| Apple Pay or Google Pay | Yes, same terminal | Yes, in the app | Airport rank yes, street usually no |
| Saudi riyal cash | Yes | Only if selected in the app | Yes |
| PayPal | No | No | No |
| American Express | Some companies, ask first | Yes, in the app | No |
Paying for a Pre-Booked Umrah Taxi
A licensed pre-booked company does not ask for money before the car arrives. You pay the driver at the hotel door, on a card terminal, by card or phone.
This keeps your fixed fare fixed. For a Jeddah Airport to Makkah transfer, the riyal fare quoted on WhatsApp is the amount on the terminal. Your bank statement shows it in your home currency.
If a company wants card payment in advance, book with another one.
Does Apple Pay Work for Taxis in Saudi Arabia?
Yes. Saudi card terminals run on the mada network, and mada accepts Apple Pay and Google Pay. If the driver has a terminal, your phone works on it.
Card Fees for Umrah Transport
The exchange rate is not the problem. The Saudi riyal is fixed to the US dollar at SAR 3.75. The pound, Canadian dollar and Australian dollar convert at the normal bank rate.
The problem is your own bank’s fee. Most standard cards from these four countries charge about 3 percent on foreign spending. A week of Umrah transport costs about SAR 2,500. That covers the airport transfer, the Madinah road and two ziyarat loops. The fee on that is about USD 20.
A card with no foreign transaction fee removes this cost. Wise, Revolut and similar cards work like any Visa or Mastercard on the terminal, and most charge no foreign fee.
The terminal may also ask if you want to pay in riyals or in your home currency. Always choose riyals. If you pick your own currency, the terminal sets the rate, and it is worse than your bank’s.
When to Pay Cash for Umrah Transport
Carry SAR 300 to 500 per week in small notes. You need it for three things:
- Short street taxis with no card terminal
- A driver whose terminal has no signal, such as in a hotel basement
- Fuel station stops on the Makkah to Medina road
Get riyals from a cash machine in the Jeddah arrivals hall. It gives the bank rate with a small flat fee. A currency exchange at home gives a rate 5 to 8 percent worse, often in large notes. Drivers rarely have change for SAR 500.
Do not pay drivers in dollars or pounds. The few who accept them set their own rate, and it is a poor one.
PayPal and Bank Transfers for Umrah Transport
PayPal does not work for Saudi transport, because local companies cannot receive it. If a driver asks you to send PayPal to a personal account, treat it as a warning sign.
Some companies accept a bank transfer to a Saudi account for advance bookings. It is slower, costs more than a card, and gives you no chargeback if the car does not come.
What to Have Ready Before You Land
- Two cards from different banks, in case one gets blocked
- Your card PIN, since some terminals ask for it on larger amounts
- Your card added to Apple Pay or Google Pay
- Small riyal notes for the week
- The fixed fare from your Best Umrah Taxi booking confirmation, in riyals, on your phone
Before you fly, tell your bank you are going to Saudi Arabia. Check that international payments are turned on for each card.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need to tip taxi drivers during Umrah?
No, tipping is optional. For a short ride, round up by a few riyals. On a long trip, SAR 10 to 20 is a kind thank you. Never pay a tip the driver adds to the agreed fare.
Can I use Uber or Careem with my home phone number?
Yes. Both apps work with your home number and card, and fares show in riyals. A Saudi SIM still helps, because drivers often call when they cannot find you. You can change the number in your profile after you land.
What if a Makkah taxi driver does not turn on the meter?
Saudi rules say a licensed taxi must start the meter at the start of every trip. If the driver does not, you do not have to pay for that ride. You can report the driver to the Transport General Authority.
How do I pay for the Haramain train?
Online, with Visa, Mastercard or Apple Pay. Your ticket comes by email. At the station, ticket counters take cash and cards, but the machines take cards only.
Is it safe to hand my card to the driver?
Tap or insert the card yourself and keep it in your hand. Never give a driver your card, passport or phone as a deposit. If there is a problem with payment, sort it out with the company.
On my first Umrah, I landed in Jeddah with USD 600 in cash. A forum post said Saudi drivers only take notes. I used USD 40 of it. Everything else went on a card.
If you fly from the US, UK, Canada or Australia, here is what works for Umrah transport in 2026. Cards and Apple Pay work almost everywhere. Cash is a small backup. PayPal does not work at all.
Which Payment Methods Work for Umrah Transport?
The table shows what each type of transport accepts.
| Method | Pre-booked private car | Uber and Careem | Airport and street taxi |
| Visa or Mastercard | Yes, on the driver’s terminal | Yes, in the app | Airport rank yes, street usually no |
| Apple Pay or Google Pay | Yes, same terminal | Yes, in the app | Airport rank yes, street usually no |
| Saudi riyal cash | Yes | Only if selected in the app | Yes |
| PayPal | No | No | No |
| American Express | Some companies, ask first | Yes, in the app | No |
Paying for a Pre-Booked Umrah Taxi
A licensed pre-booked company does not ask for money before the car arrives. You pay the driver at the hotel door, on a card terminal, by card or phone.
This keeps your fixed fare fixed. For a Jeddah Airport to Makkah transfer, the riyal fare quoted on WhatsApp is the amount on the terminal. Your bank statement shows it in your home currency.
If a company wants card payment in advance, book with another one.
Does Apple Pay Work for Taxis in Saudi Arabia?
Yes. Saudi card terminals run on the mada network, and mada accepts Apple Pay and Google Pay. If the driver has a terminal, your phone works on it.
Card Fees for Umrah Transport
The exchange rate is not the problem. The Saudi riyal is fixed to the US dollar at SAR 3.75. The pound, Canadian dollar and Australian dollar convert at the normal bank rate.
The problem is your own bank’s fee. Most standard cards from these four countries charge about 3 percent on foreign spending. A week of Umrah transport costs about SAR 2,500. That covers the airport transfer, the Madinah road and two ziyarat loops. The fee on that is about USD 20.
A card with no foreign transaction fee removes this cost. Wise, Revolut and similar cards work like any Visa or Mastercard on the terminal, and most charge no foreign fee.
The terminal may also ask if you want to pay in riyals or in your home currency. Always choose riyals. If you pick your own currency, the terminal sets the rate, and it is worse than your bank’s.
When to Pay Cash for Umrah Transport
Carry SAR 300 to 500 per week in small notes. You need it for three things:
- Short street taxis with no card terminal
- A driver whose terminal has no signal, such as in a hotel basement
- Fuel station stops on the Makkah to Medina road
Get riyals from a cash machine in the Jeddah arrivals hall. It gives the bank rate with a small flat fee. A currency exchange at home gives a rate 5 to 8 percent worse, often in large notes. Drivers rarely have change for SAR 500.
Do not pay drivers in dollars or pounds. The few who accept them set their own rate, and it is a poor one.
PayPal and Bank Transfers for Umrah Transport
PayPal does not work for Saudi transport, because local companies cannot receive it. If a driver asks you to send PayPal to a personal account, treat it as a warning sign.
Some companies accept a bank transfer to a Saudi account for advance bookings. It is slower, costs more than a card, and gives you no chargeback if the car does not come.
What to Have Ready Before You Land
- Two cards from different banks, in case one gets blocked
- Your card PIN, since some terminals ask for it on larger amounts
- Your card added to Apple Pay or Google Pay
- Small riyal notes for the week
- The fixed fare from your Best Umrah Taxi booking confirmation, in riyals, on your phone
Before you fly, tell your bank you are going to Saudi Arabia. Check that international payments are turned on for each card.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need to tip taxi drivers during Umrah?
No, tipping is optional. For a short ride, round up by a few riyals. On a long trip, SAR 10 to 20 is a kind thank you. Never pay a tip the driver adds to the agreed fare.
Can I use Uber or Careem with my home phone number?
Yes. Both apps work with your home number and card, and fares show in riyals. A Saudi SIM still helps, because drivers often call when they cannot find you. You can change the number in your profile after you land.
What if a Makkah taxi driver does not turn on the meter?
Saudi rules say a licensed taxi must start the meter at the start of every trip. If the driver does not, you do not have to pay for that ride. You can report the driver to the Transport General Authority.
How do I pay for the Haramain train?
Online, with Visa, Mastercard or Apple Pay. Your ticket comes by email. At the station, ticket counters take cash and cards, but the machines take cards only.
Is it safe to hand my card to the driver?
Tap or insert the card yourself and keep it in your hand. Never give a driver your card, passport or phone as a deposit. If there is a problem with payment, sort it out with the company.