Airports / Saudi Arabia / RUH
King Khalid International Airport.
Riyadh, Saudi Arabia · 2,049 ft elevation. 1 charter operator based here.
OERK
IATA RUH
1
Operators based
2,049
Elevation ft
Based operators
Field elevation
Nearest alternate
Field standing
30 nm
To the nearest alternate
King Salman Air Base (SA-0094).
Overview
King Khalid International Airport (OERK / RUH) sits in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, where it functions as a large commercial airport. The field lies at an elevation of 2,049 feet. The airport supports scheduled airline service as well as private jet and charter movements.
Charter departments call it home: NasJet bases aircraft at RUH. Useful alternates include King Salman Air Base (SA-0094, 30 nm), Prince Sultan Air Base (AKH, 72 nm), and Dawadmi Domestic Airport (DWD, 144 nm). RUH offers 2 runways, the longest 13,796-foot paved runway, which supports charter types through the VIP airliner class.
For arrival logistics and seasonal timing, see the Riyadh, Saudi Arabia destination guide. The airport is also known as Riyad. Use the cost estimator to model a trip from RUH, or browse verified operators serving the area.
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Field capability
ICAO
OERK
IATA
RUH
FAA / Local
OERK
Elevation
2,049 ft
Coordinates
24.9576° N · 46.6988° E
Airspace
G · GolfClass G, GolfUncontrolled field, no tower. Pilots self-announce and sequence themselves on the common traffic advisory frequency.Source: FAA NASR class airspace
Size
Large
Scheduled svc
Yes
Elevation vs Saudi Arabia fields
state range 6–6,858 ft
At 2,049 ft, RUH sits higher than 56% of the 39 Saudi Arabia fields on the register.
Runways & aircraft access
2 runways
longest 13,796 ft
- 15L/33R13,796 ft × 197 ftAsphaltLighted
- 15R/33L13,796 ft × 197 ftAsphaltLighted
Which aircraft can operate here
vs longest paved runway 13,796 ft
RUH's 13,796 ft paved runway typically supports charter aircraft up to VIP airliners.
- Turboprop3,000 ft
- Light Jet3,500 ft
- Midsize Jet4,500 ft
- Super-Midsize Jet5,000 ft
- Heavy Jet5,500 ft
- VIP Airliner6,000 ft
Class minimums are sea-level planning rules of thumb. A specific aircraft's balanced-field length varies with weight, temperature, and field elevation. Confirm performance with the operator.
Based charter operators1
Access & alternates
Closest alternate fields by great-circle distance, every listing links to its own field brief.
- 30nmSA-0094King Salman Air BaseRiyadh
- 72nmAKHPrince Sultan Air BaseAl Kharj
- 144nmDWDDawadmi Domestic AirportDawadmi
- 153nmHOFAl-Ahsa International AirportHofuf
- 178nmELQPrince Naif bin Abdulaziz International AirportQassim
- 188nmKMCKing Khaled Military City AirportKing Khaled Military City
Destinations served
Location
Open the full mapOERK · King Khalid International Airport · Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
Flight times from here
Approximate nonstop block times from RUH on a typical midsize charter jet. Faster classes trim these; add positioning and taxi for the real schedule.
| Destination | Distance | Block time |
|---|---|---|
| Boston (BED) | 5,503 nm | 13h 12m |
| Anchorage (ANC) | 5,572 nm | 13h 21m |
| New York (TEB) | 5,661 nm | 13h 34m |
| Washington DC (IAD) | 5,854 nm | 14h 1m |
| Chicago (ORD) | 6,065 nm | 14h 30m |
| Nashville (BNA) | 6,288 nm | 15h 1m |
| Seattle (SEA) | 6,420 nm | 15h 20m |
| Palm Beach (PBI) | 6,436 nm | 15h 22m |
Common questions
- What size private jets can use RUH?
- King Khalid International Airport's longest paved runway is 13,796 ft, which typically supports charter aircraft up to VIP airliners. Lighter classes (turboprops, light and midsize jets) operate comfortably; confirm exact performance for a specific tail with the operator, since balanced-field length shifts with weight, temperature, and elevation.
- What is the longest runway at RUH?
- King Khalid International Airport has 2 runways; the longest measures 13,796 ft on a paved surface and is lit for night operations.
- Are there charter operators based at RUH?
- Yes. 1 charter operator list King Khalid International Airport as a home base, including NasJet. You can also request quotes from operators that reposition aircraft into the field.
- What is the nearest major airport to RUH?
- The closest alternate is King Salman Air Base (SA-0094), about 30 nm away, followed by Prince Sultan Air Base (AKH) at 72 nm. Operators often position aircraft between these fields depending on ramp space and availability.
- How long is a flight from RUH to major cities?
- Typical block times on a midsize jet: Boston about 13h 12m (5,503 nm), Anchorage about 13h 21m (5,572 nm), New York about 13h 34m (5,661 nm). Faster classes trim these times; add positioning and taxi for the real schedule.