Private jet charter in Riyadh
Close to three thousand nautical miles separate a London airfield from the Saudi capital, and the aircraft covers them in about six and a half hours, yet the item that fixes the date of a Saudi charter is the landing permit and not the flight. The cabin is chosen for range first, the paperwork starts days ahead, and a British passenger needs a visa, best arranged online well before departure. Private Jets UK arranges the whole chain, from the aircraft to the car waiting at the terminal door. Our customers have access to 6,500 jets of all types and configurations available for rent. We will help you choose the best option based on your needs and objectives. Our catalog contains the models from the largest manufacturers: Gulfstream, Dassault, Embraer, Airbus, Boeing, Bombardier, Learjet, Cessna, Beechcraft, Pilatus, HondaJet, etc. We have established partnerships with the world's largest airlines and VIP terminals, which means we can offer you favourable flight conditions and a high level of service. Our experts will manage the organization of your flight - starting with paperwork, agreements, etc., and ending with a transfer and meeting at the airport. Our company provides a full range of business aviation and concierge services. King Khalid International is the airport almost every private flight to Riyadh uses, 24 hours a day, with a runway of about 4,200 m and a private-aviation zone of its own. What remains to settle is the cabin for a sector that long, the week, and which of the Kingdom's other cities the party wants to see once it has landed.
At your request, the aviation consultants of Private Jets UK will help you choose the jet with the suitable technical parameters (production year, flight hours, and home base). The cost of the private jet charter in Riyadh depends on many factors, such as the model of the business jet, the number of passengers, departure and destination airports, type of flight, duration of parking, additional services, etc. Therefore, we calculate the price of each order individually taking into account your wishes. You can use an online calculator to get an instant charter quote. Please indicate your real contact details to get the final calculation.
You can calculate the cost of your flight in several ways:
- using an online calculator on the website (however, it shows only the approximate price);
- via Messenger (WhatsApp or Telegram);
- by landline or cell phone;
- via e-mail (jets@private-jets.co.uk).
Please note that the above-mentioned price is indicative only. It is calculated on this basis: a departure from Biggin Hill, an Embraer Praetor 600 and two passengers aboard. If you want to get a personal quote, just fill out the online booking form below. Our aviation consultant will make the calculation within 20 minutes, and then contact you to specify the details of the flight.
How long does it take to fly to Riyadh?
Six and a half hours from Biggin Hill, a little under seven from the Midlands and the north, and just over seven from Glasgow. Depending on the British field the distance runs from 2,753 to 3,000 nautical miles, measured with an allowance for the routing, which is more than any light jet will fly in one go and close to the limit for some midsize ones. Riyadh keeps Arabia Standard Time, three hours ahead of Greenwich with no summer clock change, so the gap to Britain is three hours in winter and two in summer. The table gives the sector from each British field we use, flown nonstop in an Embraer Praetor 600.
| Route | Aircraft | Flying time | Routing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Biggin Hill - Riyadh 2,753 nm / 5,099 km |
Embraer Praetor 600 | about 6 h 35 min | Nonstop |
| London Stansted - Riyadh 2,757 nm / 5,106 km |
Embraer Praetor 600 | about 6 h 40 min | Nonstop |
| London Luton - Riyadh 2,779 nm / 5,147 km |
Embraer Praetor 600 | about 6 h 40 min | Nonstop |
| Farnborough - Riyadh 2,782 nm / 5,152 km |
Embraer Praetor 600 | about 6 h 40 min | Nonstop |
| Southampton - Riyadh 2,798 nm / 5,182 km |
Embraer Praetor 600 | about 6 h 45 min | Nonstop |
| Birmingham - Riyadh 2,841 nm / 5,262 km |
Embraer Praetor 600 | about 6 h 50 min | Nonstop |
| Bristol - Riyadh 2,857 nm / 5,291 km |
Embraer Praetor 600 | about 6 h 50 min | Nonstop |
| Leeds Bradford - Riyadh 2,866 nm / 5,308 km |
Embraer Praetor 600 | about 6 h 50 min | Nonstop |
| Manchester - Riyadh 2,877 nm / 5,328 km |
Embraer Praetor 600 | about 6 h 55 min | Nonstop |
| Cardiff - Riyadh 2,880 nm / 5,334 km |
Embraer Praetor 600 | about 6 h 55 min | Nonstop |
| Newcastle - Riyadh 2,892 nm / 5,356 km |
Embraer Praetor 600 | about 6 h 55 min | Nonstop |
| Edinburgh - Riyadh 2,967 nm / 5,495 km |
Embraer Praetor 600 | about 7 h 05 min | Nonstop |
| Glasgow - Riyadh 3,000 nm / 5,556 km |
Embraer Praetor 600 | about 7 h 10 min | Nonstop |
Door to door, and the clock on the wall
Take off from Biggin Hill at nine in the morning and, in winter, you land at King Khalid a little after half past six in the evening Riyadh time, in time for a late dinner. The airport lies about 35 km north of the city, and a pre-booked car meeting the aircraft is the normal way in. Going home the clock works for you: a departure at ten in the morning lands in Britain in the early afternoon, whereas a departure from Riyadh in the late evening reaches London after midnight, and most clients choose the morning. Riyadh keeps Friday and Saturday as its weekend, so a government office or a handler may be quieter on those days than on an ordinary working day in Britain.
Routes, permits and conditions: what we check before every quote
A flight from Britain to Saudi Arabia crosses the airspace of several countries on the way, and the operator chooses the corridor. That choice depends on overflight permissions, the weather and conditions in the region that can change the preferred routing, the fuel plan and the insurance terms at short notice. Saudi Arabia requires a landing permit for a foreign private aircraft and a separate overflight permit whenever its airspace is crossed. Both are issued by the General Authority of Civil Aviation, known as GACA, and the application needs the aircraft's registration and airworthiness certificates, worldwide insurance, the crew and passenger details, the planned flight levels and the name of the ground handler. For these reasons we treat a Riyadh quote as conditional until the operator has confirmed the route, the permits and the arrival arrangements in writing. We also suggest reading the FCDO travel advice for Saudi Arabia before you commit, and telling your own insurer where you are going. If anything shifts between booking and departure, the cancellation and rerouting terms in the offer matter more than the headline price.
Which cabin for a sector of about 2,750 to 3,000 nautical miles
– A super-midsize jet is the practical floor for a nonstop flight. The Embraer Praetor 600 has a published range of about 3,900 nautical miles, which covers every field in the table with a reserve. The Bombardier Challenger 350 is published at about 3,200 and fits the southern fields with a light load, but it is close to the edge from Scotland with a full cabin, so we quote it for smaller parties or with a stop;
– The Cessna Citation Latitude is published at about 2,700 nautical miles, which is less than the distance from any London field, and the lighter jets have less range still. They can do the trip with a technical stop in southern Europe or the eastern Mediterranean, which adds roughly an hour, a second landing permit and a second set of fees. A stop for fuel needs a landing permit but no visas, and the authorities may board the aircraft to inspect it, so the saving on the hourly rate largely disappears;
– Past eight passengers, or when the party wants to sleep and work in the air, we quote a large-cabin or long-range jet next to the Praetor. Gulfstream G450, Global 6000 and the G650 family are the ones that tend to appear on this run, and the extra money buys a proper bed on the way home.
Prices for the private jet flights to Riyadh
Typical trips from Britain, cheapest first, all flown nonstop in a super-midsize jet into King Khalid International. The Saudi Cup weekend, the October investment conference and the winter entertainment season sit above these figures, and the calendar block further down explains when.
| Route | Aircraft | Passengers | Price, one way |
|---|---|---|---|
| Biggin Hill - Riyadh 2,753 nm |
Embraer Praetor 600 | 8 | from £44,000 |
| London Stansted - Riyadh 2,757 nm |
Embraer Praetor 600 | 8 | from £44,050 |
| London Luton - Riyadh 2,779 nm |
Embraer Praetor 600 | 8 | from £44,350 |
| Farnborough - Riyadh 2,782 nm |
Embraer Praetor 600 | 8 | from £44,400 |
| Southampton - Riyadh 2,798 nm |
Embraer Praetor 600 | 8 | from £44,650 |
| Birmingham - Riyadh 2,841 nm |
Embraer Praetor 600 | 8 | from £45,300 |
| Bristol - Riyadh 2,857 nm |
Embraer Praetor 600 | 8 | from £45,550 |
| Leeds Bradford - Riyadh 2,866 nm |
Embraer Praetor 600 | 8 | from £45,700 |
| Manchester - Riyadh 2,877 nm |
Embraer Praetor 600 | 8 | from £45,850 |
| Cardiff - Riyadh 2,880 nm |
Embraer Praetor 600 | 8 | from £45,900 |
| Newcastle - Riyadh 2,892 nm |
Embraer Praetor 600 | 8 | from £46,100 |
| Edinburgh - Riyadh 2,967 nm |
Embraer Praetor 600 | 8 | from £47,200 |
| Glasgow - Riyadh 3,000 nm |
Embraer Praetor 600 | 8 | from £47,700 |
The gap between the south of England and Scotland is smaller than the map suggests, because on a sector of this length the flying dominates the bill. A Praetor 600 out of Biggin Hill is £44,000; the same aircraft out of Glasgow is £47,700, a difference of about £3,700. A large-cabin or long-range jet moves the whole table up, and a round trip with the aircraft waiting in Riyadh is priced differently from two single legs. We can arrange the flights from any cities in the UK (England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland) and European countries. Due to a large database of available business jets, we can help you find an optimal jet and crew. If you have any questions about the departure or the flight itself, you can ask them using the form below:
Private jet flights from Riyadh
Saudi Arabia is large and its cities are far apart, so a private jet is often the only practical way to see more than one. Jeddah on the Red Sea is 478 nautical miles from Riyadh, AlUla in the north-west 492, and Dammam on the Gulf coast 198. Bahrain, Doha and Dubai are short hops across the water, and Europe is the long sector again. Typical one-way prices:
| Route | Aircraft | Price, one way |
|---|---|---|
| SAUDI ARABIA BY AIR · THE KINGDOM IS LARGE | ||
| Riyadh - Jeddah 478 nm |
Cessna Citation XLS+ up to 9 passengers |
from £9,050 |
| Riyadh - AlUla 492 nm |
Cessna Citation XLS+ up to 9 passengers |
from £9,250 |
| Riyadh - Dammam 198 nm |
Cessna Citation CJ3+ up to 7 passengers |
from £5,300 |
| THE GULF NEIGHBOURS · SHORT HOPS | ||
| Riyadh - Bahrain 236 nm |
Cessna Citation CJ3+ up to 7 passengers |
from £5,300 |
| Riyadh - Doha 278 nm |
Cessna Citation XLS+ up to 9 passengers |
from £6,800 |
| Riyadh - Dubai 491 nm |
Cessna Citation XLS+ up to 9 passengers |
from £9,250 |
| FURTHER AFIELD · EGYPT, TURKEY AND EUROPE | ||
| Riyadh - Cairo 905 nm |
Cessna Citation Latitude up to 9 passengers |
from £18,750 |
| Riyadh - Istanbul 1,380 nm |
Bombardier Challenger 350 up to 9 passengers |
from £27,350 |
| Riyadh - Paris Le Bourget 2,615 nm |
Embraer Praetor 600 up to 9 passengers |
from £41,900 |
Inside the Kingdom: far on the map, permitted on paper
Jeddah is 478 nautical miles from Riyadh and AlUla 492, each about an hour and a half in a midsize jet, and by road both are a long day. Domestic legs are allowed, but they are evaluated case by case and the arriving and departing international flights must use an airport of entry. For that reason a loop of Riyadh, AlUla and Jeddah is best planned as one itinerary from the start, with the permits asked for together. Do not accept a quote for a Saudi leg that names an airport without naming the handler and the permit status. Dammam, at 198 nautical miles, is the Gulf-coast gateway and an airport of entry in its own right.
Before you accept an onward quote from Saudi Arabia
– Which airport the quote is from and who handles it. Handling is mandatory at the main Saudi airfields, and a driver told only Riyadh may wait at the wrong terminal. We put the airport and the handler in the offer, never just the city;
– Which week. Landing permits are normally processed on Sunday to Thursday, government offices can be closed or on reduced hours around Ramadan, Hajj and National Day, and a busy event week leaves less room for a late change. We ask for the permit status in writing before pricing an onward leg that falls on a peak date;
– Whether the itinerary is one booking. Riyadh to AlUla to Jeddah and back over several days costs noticeably less arranged as a single trip, because the aircraft and crew stay with you instead of repositioning between each stop.
Prices depending on the type of business jet
We can clearly show the high dependence of the cost of the flight, on the type of aircraft - we have collected approximate data, at the price of 1 flight hour, for various types of business jets:
The cost per hour indicated in the table is preliminary and does not constitute an offer or a commercial offer. Exact prices are available from the managers of the company.
Online Calculator
If you want to make an urgent calculation of the cost of a private plane flight, use our online calculator. Just fill in all the fields of the form with a note that you are interested in a specific model of the aircraft and get the final price. NB! - the figures are sent to you by email or messenger, please carefully fill in the contact details to get the calculation.
All our calculations are as transparent as possible for you. After receiving the request, we will prepare a beautiful offer - where the costs and the final price will be clearly described. The exact price is agreed in advance and is written in the contract, so you can be sure of the final cost.
Private jets are ready to take off
Our database contains over 6,500 business jets (about 3,500 in Europe and 3,000 in the rest of the world) of different configurations and production years. The list of models is constantly updated. Unfortunately, we can't post a full list of available jets on our website due to confidentiality issues. Please contact the managers of the company for more accurate information. We will help you choose a suitable model taking into account your wishes. These are the typical choices for Riyadh:
Super-midsize, the working choice from Britain
Aircraft with the range for the nonstop run and no more cabin than the party needs. Range depends on load, and the operator confirms the fuel plan for your passenger count before the offer is final.
Large cabins, for delegations and long days
For ten or more passengers and for a team that works in the air. Where a full cabin cannot make the sector in one hop, we plan a lighter load or a stop and show you both figures.
Long-range heavies
The comfortable answer on a six-and-a-half-hour sector: a proper bed for the return, space for a delegation and range to spare. Worth the money when the same aircraft carries on to Asia or Africa.
Light and midsize jets, for the legs inside the Kingdom
The right aircraft for Jeddah, AlUla, Dammam and the Gulf neighbours. From Britain they need a stop, so we quote them only for the regional hops.
Helicopters
Not for the flight from Britain but for the last stretch inside the Kingdom. Landing sites and permits are agreed in advance, and the machine is chosen for the task once the site is confirmed.
This is a small part of what is available. The Gulf has its own long-range fleet and aircraft are based in Saudi Arabia, so for a booking outside the busiest weeks there is sometimes a jet already in the region, and that is occasionally where the better price comes from. For the flight out from Britain, though, the aircraft usually comes from a European base, and the positioning is part of the quote.
How to book a private jet?
You can book a private jet flight to Riyadh in 6 easy steps:
- Flight request - indicating the route and your preferences for the model of business jet and other points.
- Coordination of flight details - our consultant will contact you to offer the possible flight options and answer all your questions.
- Commercial offer - we will send you a final offer on a specific model taking into account all your wishes.
- Signing of the contract.
- Payment for the flight and booking a business jet.
- Departure at the agreed time and date. Assistance during the whole flight.
In addition to renting the private jets and arranging the flights, we provide concierge services, premium transfer, security, exclusive catering, etc. We have learned to solve problems of any complexity, offering the service of the European level. Our experts will be happy to answer your questions and help you arrange your flight.
How to rent a business jet with a crew
5 main stages:
-
Sending an application
-
Clarification of details and search for options
-
Preparation and coordination of optimal options
-
Registration of documents. Payment of the invoice.
-
Departure on the route.
Business aviation airports in Riyadh
One airport carries almost all the private traffic to the capital, and the others matter for onward trips. It helps to know which is which before a quote arrives with the wrong one in it.
| Airport | What it gives you |
|---|---|
| King Khalid International RUH / OERK |
The airport for Riyadh and for nearly every private flight to it. About 35 km north of the city, open 24 hours, with two runways, the longer of about 4,200 m. It is an airport of entry with customs, slots are required and handling is mandatory. Jet Aviation runs an executive terminal there with a lounge, a crew room and a prayer area, open round the clock, and Saudia Private Aviation is the second name that appears in handler listings. Immigration and customs at the executive terminal are on call, so we give the handler the arrival time and the passenger details ahead of the flight |
| King Abdulaziz International JED / OEJN |
The second gateway, on the Red Sea, about 24 km north of Jeddah and 478 nautical miles from Riyadh. Open 24 hours, an airport of entry with customs, slots required and handling mandatory. Handlers describe slot availability here as highly competitive, and the airport is the one most affected by the pilgrimage seasons, so a Jeddah booking needs more notice than a Riyadh one |
| King Fahd International DMM / OEDF |
The Gulf-coast airport near Dammam, 198 nautical miles from Riyadh and an airport of entry. It is the usual entry for the Eastern Province, and handler listings describe the services here as more limited than at Riyadh or Jeddah, without a full FBO, so we confirm the handler and fuel before pricing |
| Al-Ula International ULH / OEAO |
A destination rather than a gateway: the airport for the desert heritage region of AlUla in the north-west, 492 nautical miles from Riyadh. International flights are normally routed through an airport of entry first, and the domestic leg is permitted case by case, so we plan it as part of a Saudi itinerary and confirm the permit and the handler in writing |
| Bahrain and Doha BAH / OBBI, DOH / OTHH |
Not Saudi airports but the nearest neighbours, at 236 and 278 nautical miles. They matter for clients who combine the Gulf capitals in one trip, each with its own landing permission and handling |
Four points settle most Riyadh arrivals:
Choose the terminal and the handler
At King Khalid the private-aviation facilities are separate from the main passenger building. Jet Aviation operates an executive terminal and Saudia Private Aviation is also listed there, and handling is mandatory for every foreign private flight. Tell us which one your car and your guests are expecting, and we name the handler in the offer.
Hours, slots and permits
The airport is open 24 hours and slots are required. The landing permit from GACA is officially a matter of about three working days, Sunday to Thursday, though a complete short-notice request is sometimes turned round much faster. The permit is valid for 24 hours either side of the approved day, and GACA often wants a local sponsor or receiving party named on the application.
Border and passport
British citizens need a visa for Saudi Arabia, and the passport should have at least six months left from the day of arrival. Alcohol, pork products, narcotics and weapons cannot be brought in, and the liquor cabinet on board is sealed on arrival. Customs, immigration and quarantine are cleared at the executive terminal.
Car and the road
The airport is about 35 km north of central Riyadh and traffic is heavy at the rush hours. A pre-paid car with a driver is the recommended way in. Give us the hotel's drop-off point as well as the airport, and we arrange the car and the driver's details for the terminal door, not the main arrivals hall.
Border, passport and the first hour
British citizens need a visa for Saudi Arabia, and the UK government lists several online routes: an electronic travel authorisation for business and tourism, an e-visa for tourists, and an electronic visa waiver for a single entry. They differ in validity and in what they include, so the right one depends on the purpose of the trip, and we advise that every passenger applies online before departure and does not leave the visa to the arrival hall. The passport must have at least six months' validity from the arrival date, and a passport that shows travel to Israel can cause problems at the border. At a private terminal the formalities for passengers and crew are cleared in the building, and the aircraft is sealed after arrival, so anything needed from the cabin should be taken off before you leave it. The authorities often check the details on the permit with the local sponsor, which is why the passenger list we file must match the passports exactly. On the way home Britain applies its own rule for private flights: the General Aviation Report is filed no earlier than 48 hours and no later than 2 hours before departure, and we file it for you.
From the apron to the Kingdom
Riyadh is a spread-out city built for the car, and a private arrival is a drive of some distance from the airfield into town. The other places a private client asks about are in different parts of the country, and the air distances show how far apart they are.
about 35 km, driven south from the airfield; ask the handler for a drive-time estimate for your hour of arrivalby car
478 nautical miles across the country to the Red Sea, the second gatewayabout 1 h 35 min
492 nautical miles to the north-west, reached by a domestic legabout 1 h 40 min
198 nautical miles east, towards the Gulf coastabout 1 h 00 min
236 nautical miles, the nearest foreign capitalabout 1 h 05 min
Flying to Riyadh with a dog or a cat
Saudi Arabia is a strict destination for a pet owner, and dogs are the harder case. The animal travels in the cabin beside you on our flights, and the rest is paperwork that has to be done in the right order and well ahead.
What Saudi Arabia typically asks for when a dog or cat arrives from Britain:
- An import permit applied for through the Saudi Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture on its electronic platform, valid for 30 days from issue, with the arrival through the ports named in the permit;
- A microchip or other approved identification, and a rabies vaccination given between 30 days and six months before export, with the vaccine still having at least six months of validity left on arrival;
- A health certificate completed by an Official Veterinarian on the UK export health certificate for Saudi Arabia, with a copy of the rabies certificate attached, and the original certified by the veterinary authorities;
- Legalisation of the certificate, which the UK guidance describes as a step at the Foreign Office and then at the Saudi embassy in London;
- For dogs, a restriction on entry: the UK guidance says dogs are not admitted other than guard, hunting and guide dogs, and lists breeds that are not permitted, so a pet dog needs the written agreement of the Saudi authorities before anything else is arranged.
What catches owners out on the Riyadh run
– The question of whether a pet dog may enter comes first. Cats have no breed restrictions in the UK guidance, but dogs may need the written agreement of the Saudi authorities, and an owner who starts with the vaccination before that answer arrives may do the work twice;
– The permit and the certificate have short windows. A 30-day permit and a vaccination that has to fall between 30 days and six months before export leave little room to move the flight, and the arrival is allowed only through the ports named in the permit;
– The way home is a separate project. A dog needs a tapeworm treatment from a vet between 24 and 120 hours before arrival in Britain, cats do not, and the travel document and declaration have to be in order. We check which category Saudi Arabia falls into on GOV.UK for your date, because the rules for countries outside the simplified list are stricter and include a blood test. On a private flight, the question of which airport an animal may enter through and whether it may stay in the cabin is not settled by a printed rule we can point to, so we confirm the entry point and the paperwork for the animal in writing before the flight.
Requirements for cats, ferrets, birds and anything less usual are collected on our flying with pets guide, and our managers confirm the position in writing for your dates before a booking is taken.
The Riyadh calendar: a winter season and a very hot summer
Riyadh has a visitor year that runs from October to March. The days in the middle of winter are mild, with mean daily highs around 20 degrees in January, and the entertainment calendar is full. The summer is long and very hot, with highs above 43 degrees in July and August. Knowing which week you want matters more than the choice of aircraft.
Why the Saudi Cup week costs more
Not the flying. What gets tight is the permit lead time, the number of parking positions at the executive apron, and good cars and hotel rooms, all in the same few days. A booking made two weeks before the Saudi Cup or the investment conference can still be done, but it pays more and may use an aircraft positioned from Europe or from another Gulf state. The same booking made two months earlier is simpler and cheaper. Outside those weeks, and especially in summer, Riyadh is one of the easier places in the region to arrange a flight, provided the permit is asked for early.
Ways to bring the Riyadh price down
- Move the dates a few days, away from the Saudi Cup weekend and the October conference week. The weeks in between are calmer and the permits are quicker to arrange;
- Ask for the permit early. A complete application filed with the sponsor and handler details in order is processed much faster than one that has to be corrected, and a late revision costs time that a charter cannot spare;
- Choose the cabin for the sector. A super-midsize jet flies the route without a stop, while a smaller one adds a fuel stop with its own permit, so the cheaper hourly rate is not always the cheaper trip;
- Book the return at the same time. A round trip with the aircraft waiting in Riyadh is priced differently from two single flights, and the difference is worth asking about.
Types of flights
Riyadh produces its own mix, shaped by a government and investment economy, a long entertainment season and a country where the sights are hundreds of miles apart. It differs from the European cities we cover.
- Business and delegation travel, built around the October conference and ministry meetings, where dates are fixed and arrival formalities matter most;
- Sports and entertainment travel for the racing, boxing and football fixtures between October and March, with larger parties and a lot of luggage;
- Heritage and leisure travel to AlUla and Jeddah, usually combined with a Riyadh night at either end;
- Business with Dammam and the Eastern Province, often flown on a midsize jet;
- Onward legs to Asia, Africa and the other Gulf capitals for clients whose aircraft carries on rather than turning round;
- Positioning flights, where a client travels on a leg that the aircraft was making anyway.
A same-day return from London is not a practical plan on this route. The aircraft and crew would spend the best part of a day in the air and the working window in Riyadh would be short. A better pattern is to leave in the morning, spend a night or two on the ground and fly back, with the aircraft waiting for you, which we quote next to two separate one-way flights so the difference is visible.
Empty Legs
An empty leg is a repositioning flight with nobody aboard, offered at a fraction of the usual price. On the Riyadh route they come from the pattern of events and from the aircraft that fly in and out of the Gulf, and it helps to know what produces them.
Where Riyadh empty legs come from
– Event weeks. When guests fly in for the investment conference, the Saudi Cup or a major fight night on charters, the aircraft often leave empty a day or two later, which produces outbound legs towards Britain and Europe in the days after;
– Fleet movements. Business jets based in the Gulf are moved according to demand, so a jet that has taken a party out of Riyadh may need to come back empty, and the reverse;
– Gulf rotation. Aircraft that fly a party to Riyadh from Dubai, Doha, Bahrain or Jeddah often return empty, and the short regional legs between those places can be cheap.
Because the long sector between Britain and the Gulf is flown less often than a European city pair, a client who can name a few days rather than one has a far better chance than one who needs a particular evening. What you give up is the usual: the operator owns the date and the hour, and a leg can vanish when the original booking moves. Whatever is free is listed on our empty legs page, and we flag a Riyadh match the day an operator releases it.
Helicopter charter
In Riyadh a helicopter is a specialist tool and not a routine airport transfer. The airport is about 35 km from the city and the sights are spread out, so the case for rotary flight rests on a view, on a site with no easy road access, or on a schedule that does not allow for traffic. Saudi Arabia has a national commercial helicopter operator, The Helicopter Company, owned by the Public Investment Fund, which lists private charters and tourism flights among its services.
the airport transfer by air, against a drive of about 35 kmon request
a short scenic flight, arranged around the daylight and the heaton request
each landing point is agreed with the operator and the authorities before the quoteon request
Before you plan around a helicopter
– A helicopter cannot land wherever it likes. Each pick-up and set-down point needs the approval of the operator and the authorities, and restrictions on airspace can change a route at short notice, so the exact sites are agreed before we quote, not after;
– Heat sets the schedule. In the summer months the hottest hours are hard on aircraft performance and on passengers, so early morning and evening are the sensible slots;
– We choose the machine for the party and the task and book it together with the jet, to keep both crews on one timetable.
We do not publish a fixed fleet list for Saudi Arabia, because the aircraft that are available change with the operator and the task. Tell us the sites and the number of passengers, and we come back with the machine, the price and the permission status in one reply.
Flight payment options
The main goal of our company is to provide the highest level of comfort to our customers. Therefore, we're always ready to meet you halfway. Our consultants will offer you a wide variety of flights to meet your needs and budget. Most customers prefer a non-cash method (a transfer to an EU bank account), which guarantees a high level of confidentiality and security of payment. All payment details are provided in advance, so you'll have enough time to make the necessary checks. For years of working in business aviation, our company has gained an impeccable reputation. We practice transparency and are always ready to present all necessary documents.
Private Jets UK works with both physical and legal entities. We guarantee the confidentiality and security of payments. You can pay for the flights from Riyadh in any convenient way:
- cashless (by transfer to our account);
- by cash;
- by card;
- by cryptocurrency.
Our company works with European and British banks, which allows you to choose the most convenient payment method. In addition, we conclude formal agreements and provide our clients with all necessary documents and invoices, which guarantees the safe payment and delivery of services. If you have any financial questions, feel free to contact our private aviation consultants.
If you need to book an urgent flight, please keep in mind that the bank transfer can take a few days. In such situations, we may need to involve our partner companies so that you can pay for your flight in cash. If you have any questions, you can contact your personal consultant 24/7.
Flights from the UK to Riyadh
Biggin Hill, Luton, Stansted and Farnborough send most of the traffic on this corridor, with Southampton, Bristol and Birmingham behind them and Manchester, Newcastle and Scotland at the long end; the price table higher up covers thirteen of those pairings. Our clients have access to all airports of the UK and Europe. Due to the unique partnership conditions, we can offer our clients the best prices for business aviation services. Our experts will consult you on the availability of private jets in a particular city and help you choose the best option.
List of TOP 25 business aviation airports:
| Airport | Country | ICAO | IATA |
|---|---|---|---|
 London Heathrow Airport |
England | EGLL | LHR |
| Birmingham Airport |
England | EGBB | BHX |
| London Gatwick |
England | EGKK | LGW |
| London City Airport |
England | EGLC | LCY |
| London Luton |
England | EGGW | LTN |
| Edinburgh Airport |
Scotland | EGPH | EDI |
| Leeds Airport |
England | EGNM | LBA |
| Manchester Airport |
England | EGCC | MAN |
| London Stansted |
England | EGSS | STN |
| Liverpool John Lennon Airport |
England | EGGP | LPL |
| Newcastle Airport |
England | EGNT | NCL |
| Bristol Airport |
England | EGGD | BRS |
| Glasgow Airport |
Scotland | EGPF | GLA |
| East Midlands Airport |
England | EGNX | EMA |
| Southampton Airport |
England | EGHI | SOU |
| Jersey Airport |
Channel Islands | EGJJ | JER |
| Cardiff International Airport |
Wales | EGFF | CWL |
| Inverness Airport |
Scotland | EGPE | INV |
| Bournemouth Airport |
England | EGHH | BOH |
| London Farnborough Airport |
England | EGLF | FAB |
| Oxford Airport |
England | EGTK | OXF |
| London Biggin Hill |
England | EGKB | BQH |
| Belfast Airport |
Northern Ireland | EGAA | BFS |
| Gibraltar Airport |
Gibraltar | LXGB | GIB |
| Aberdeen Airport |
Scotland | EGPD | ABZ |
Riyadh charters from the booking notes: six typical trips
What the corridor looks like once a quote turns into a flight. Six typical jobs of the kind that come through our booking notes, described in outline, with the particulars changed.
DELEGATION · FIXED DATES
A team for a three-day investment conference
Biggin Hill - Riyadh, Praetor 600, about 6 h 35 min · 6 pax
The dates were set by the conference and not by the client. Six people, laptops, printed folders and a request for a car at the terminal door. Every passenger applied for the visa online before the flight, the operator confirmed the landing permit in writing, and the return was booked as a separate leg for the end of the week.
RACING · THE LUGGAGE BOOKED THE CABIN
A group for the Saudi Cup weekend
Farnborough - Riyadh, Global 6000, about 6 h 10 min · 11 pax
Eleven people, formal clothes and cases of equipment took the hold well beyond a super-midsize cabin, and the quote moved up to a long-range jet for that reason, not for the seats. The booking went in two months ahead, and the aircraft left on the Sunday after the meeting.
WINTER TRIP · RIYADH, ALULA AND BACK
Four adults on a ten-day heritage itinerary
London Luton - Riyadh, Praetor 600, about 6 h 40 min · 4 pax
A trip planned for the cool months: two nights in Riyadh, a domestic leg to AlUla in a midsize jet and the return from Riyadh. The domestic permit was requested together with the international one, and the whole itinerary was priced as one booking, below separate charters for each leg.
A CAT ON BOARD · WEEKS OF PREPARATION
Two adults and a cat on a long stay
Southampton - Riyadh, Praetor 600, about 6 h 45 min · 2 pax + cat
The paperwork took longer than the flight. The microchip, the rabies vaccination inside its window, the permit and the legalised certificate were sorted weeks ahead, and we confirmed the entry point and the cabin arrangement in writing before the offer was accepted.
SECOND GATEWAY · RIYADH TO JEDDAH
A business party on to the Red Sea coast
Riyadh - Jeddah, Citation XLS+, about 1 h 35 min · 6 pax
The party finished meetings in Riyadh on a Wednesday and wanted to be in Jeddah that evening. Booked as a single itinerary, the aircraft and crew stayed with them for the days that followed, and the landing permit and the handler at Jeddah were requested on the same day as those for Riyadh.
EMPTY LEG · A JET ALREADY GOING YOUR WAY
Riyadh back to Britain at the end of a conference week
Riyadh - London Luton, Praetor 600 empty leg, about 6 h 40 min · 4 pax
The aircraft had brought a party to Saudi Arabia and was going home empty. The client gave us a three-day window instead of a date, which is what makes these work, and paid well below a fresh one-way charter for the long sector.
Frequently asked questions about flying to Riyadh
1How long is a private jet flight from London to Riyadh?
About six and a half hours from Biggin Hill or Stansted (2,753 nautical miles) and a little under seven hours from Birmingham, Manchester or Bristol in a Praetor 600. From Edinburgh or Glasgow allow just over seven hours. Riyadh is three hours ahead of Greenwich with no summer clock change, so a nine o'clock departure lands in the early evening local time.
2How much does a private jet to Riyadh cost?
From about £44,000 one way in a super-midsize jet out of Biggin Hill. Luton comes to £44,350, Birmingham to £45,300, Manchester to £45,850 and Glasgow to £47,700. A large-cabin or long-range jet costs considerably more, and the Saudi Cup weekend, the October investment conference and the winter entertainment season price above these figures.
3Which Riyadh airport and terminal should a private jet use?
King Khalid International (RUH / OERK), about 35 km north of the city. It is open 24 hours, an airport of entry with customs, slots are required and handling is mandatory. Jet Aviation operates an executive terminal there and Saudia Private Aviation is also listed, and we name the handler in the offer. Jeddah (JED / OEJN) is the second gateway, about 478 nautical miles away, and the usual choice for the Red Sea coast.
4Do British passengers need a visa for Saudi Arabia?
Yes. British citizens need a visa, and the UK government lists an electronic travel authorisation, an e-visa for tourists and an electronic visa waiver as online routes. The passport should have at least six months left from the day of arrival. We advise applying before departure and not relying on the arrival hall. Alcohol, pork products, narcotics and weapons cannot be brought in, and some medicines need special approval.
5Can I take my dog or cat to Riyadh on a private jet?
Possibly, and a cat is the easier case. The animal travels in the cabin on our flights, but Saudi Arabia typically asks for an import permit valid for 30 days, a microchip, a rabies vaccination given between 30 days and six months before export and a certificate signed by an Official Veterinarian. The UK guidance says dogs are not admitted other than guard, hunting and guide dogs, so a pet dog needs written agreement first. For the return to Britain a dog needs a tapeworm treatment from a vet between 24 and 120 hours before landing, and we confirm the entry point and the paperwork for the animal in writing before the flight.
6How far ahead do I need a landing permit for Riyadh?
Saudi Arabia requires a landing permit from GACA for a foreign private aircraft, and an overflight permit whenever its airspace is crossed. The official lead time is about three working days, Sunday to Thursday, and a complete application is sometimes turned round faster. Ask the operator for its planned route and any technical stop, the status of the permit, whether its insurers cover the route, and the cancellation and rerouting terms. Airspace conditions in the region can change the routing, so we treat a quote as conditional until the operator confirms in writing, and we suggest reading the FCDO travel advice for Saudi Arabia.