A city taxi here is a short ride at an agreed time, in a cab you booked. It is not the same as an intercity transfer, where the journey is long, or a chauffeur, where one driver stays with you. This page explains when a city taxi is the right choice, why booking ahead matters in these four cities, and what to know about each.
When a city taxi is the right choice
Choose a city taxi for a single trip or a return that you will arrange separately: a hotel to a restaurant, a hotel to a hospital appointment, a visit to relatives, a trip to a mall. You tell us the pickup, the destination and the time. If you have several stops or the driver needs to wait, a private chauffeur is a better fit.
Why booking ahead matters
Demand rises sharply after the congregational prayers, on Fridays and in Ramadan and the Hajj season, when large crowds leave the mosques at once. Looking for a ride at those times can mean a long wait. A booking gives you a fixed time and a driver who is expecting you.
Send your pickup, destination, date and passengers and we will confirm the vehicle and price.
City by city
Each city has its own limits on where a car can stop and how long a ride takes.
Makkah
Pickups near the Haram depend on where cars can stop, which changes with the crowd. See Makkah taxi service.
Madinah
Roads in the central area around the Prophet's Mosque are restricted. See Madinah taxi service.
Jeddah
The city is long, so trips between Al-Balad, the Corniche and the north can take a while. See Jeddah taxi service.
Taif
Hotels, resorts and viewpoints are spread out, and some roads are steep. See Taif taxi service.
What to send when you book
A booking needs only a few things:
- The pickup address or hotel, with a location pin if you can
- The destination
- Date and time
- Number of passengers and bags
- Whether you need a child seat
Common short trips we are asked for
City rides are usually small jobs with a particular purpose: a lift to a restaurant after the evening prayer, a visit to a hospital or clinic, a trip to a market or a shopping mall, or a transfer between two hotels in the same city. Because each has a different pattern, it helps to tell us what the ride is for. A hospital visit, for example, may need a driver who can wait, while a restaurant dinner is usually a drop-off and a later pickup.
Parents with young children often ask for a car that can wait a few minutes while they put on a seat or load a pram. Say so when you book and the pickup will be planned with that in mind.
Paying attention to access near the holy mosques
In central Makkah and Madinah, pickup and drop-off points can be a few streets from the destination, and they change with crowd levels. Agree where to meet before you go, not when you are already outside. In other parts of both cities, and in Jeddah and Taif, cars can usually reach the door.
Using a city taxi alongside other plans
A city taxi pairs well with the longer services. A pilgrim who arrives by an airport transfer may use a few short rides during the stay, then leave with a hotel transfer. If you find yourself booking three or four rides a day, ask about a private chauffeur, which is usually easier than booking each one separately.
Late nights and early mornings
The city does not stop when the prayers end, and neither do our rides. Late-evening bookings are common after dinners and evening prayers, and early-morning rides are common before Fajr at the mosque. If you need a car at an unusual hour, book it the day before and confirm the pickup point, since streets are quieter but fewer vehicles are available at short notice.
For a late return from a dinner or a gathering, agree a pickup time and place before you go, and message us if the evening runs long.
Taxis around a hospital or clinic visit
Appointments rarely start or end on time, so a ride to a clinic works best with a flexible pickup. Tell us the appointment time and the clinic name, and whether you would like the car to wait or to return when you call. If the patient is elderly or unwell, say so, so that the driver can park close to the entrance and help with the door. Keep your phone near you, because the end of a consultation is hard to predict.