If you live and work in Saudi Arabia, you already know how big the country is and how often you need to move between cities — whether it’s a weekend trip to Makkah, visiting family in Madinah, or a longer haul out to Tabuk or Riyadh. Flights aren’t always practical or affordable, and that’s where intercity buses come in.
North West Bus (NWB) has quietly become one of the more reliable names for this kind of travel, especially across the northern and western regions of the Kingdom. This guide walks you through everything you need to know about the service including routes, time tables, fares, baggage allowance, how to book, cancel and refund.
Where Does North West Bus Travel?
NWB runs a fairly wide network. The big-name cities on the map include:
- Western region: Jeddah, Makkah, Al Madinah, Taif, Yanbu, Rabigh, Al Bahah
- Northern region: Tabuk, Hail, Duba, Al Wajh, Umluj, Haql, Rafha, Halat Ammar
- Central region: Riyadh, Buraydah, Unayzah, Al Dawadmi
- Southern reach: Jazan, Khamis Mushait, Bisha, Al Bashayer
On top of the main cities, the buses stop at dozens of smaller towns and shared stops along the way — places like Badr, Khaybar, Al Ula, Mastorah, Ad Darb and many others. So even if your destination isn’t a major city, there’s a decent chance it sits somewhere on a route.
| Route | Connects |
|---|---|
| NW01 | Jeddah – Hail |
| NW02 | Jeddah – Al Madinah (Express) |
| NW03 / NW04 | Jeddah – Tabuk (Normal / Express) |
| NW05 | Al Madinah – Tabuk |
| NW07 / NW08 | Jeddah – Jazan (Normal / Express) |
| NW10 | Jeddah – Khamis Mushait |
| NW11 | Jeddah – Al Bashayer |
| NW13 | Jeddah – Makkah (Express) |
| NW14 | Al Madinah – Tabuk |
| NW15 / NW16 | Al Madinah – Riyadh (Normal / Express) |
| NW17 | Al Madinah – Riyadh (via Al Dawadmi) |
| NW18 | Jeddah – Riyadh |
| NW19 / NW20 | Makkah – Riyadh (Normal / Express) |
| NW21 | Al Madinah – Rafha |
| NW22 | Al Madinah – Yanbu |
| NW23 | Makkah – Yanbu |
| NW26 | Tabuk – Haql |
| NW27 / NW29 | Tabuk – Hail |
| NW28 | Makkah – Jeddah Airport (North Terminal) |
| NW30 | Jeddah – Khamis Mushait |
| NW31 | Makkah – Tabuk |
| NW32 | Jeddah – Buraydah |
| NW33 | Riyadh – Al Bashayer |
| NW34 | Tabuk – Duba |
| NW35 | Tabuk – Halat Ammar |
Routes and route numbers are updated from time to time as new stops are added. This may change — please check the official website before you travel.
North West Bus Fares and Travel Times (Popular Routes)
| Route | Approx. journey time | Starting fare |
|---|---|---|
| Jeddah → Makkah | ~1 hr 46 min | SAR 33 |
| Makkah → Jeddah | ~1 hr 56 min | SAR 33 |
| Jeddah → Al Madinah | ~5 hr 24 min | SAR 96 |
| Al Madinah → Jeddah | ~5 hr 40 min | SAR 96 |
| Al Madinah → Yanbu | ~3 hr 47 min | SAR 79 |
| Yanbu → Al Madinah | ~3 hr 54 min | SAR 79 |
| Makkah → Yanbu | ~5 hr 29 min | SAR 113 |
| Yanbu → Makkah | ~6 hr 50 min | SAR 131 |
| Riyadh → Taif | ~9 hr 47 min | SAR 178 |
| Taif → Riyadh | ~10 hr 53 min | SAR 177 |
| Al Madinah → Riyadh | ~10 hr 36 min | SAR 227 |
| Riyadh → Al Madinah | ~10 hr 9 min | SAR 227 |
| Jeddah → Riyadh | ~11 hr 58 min | SAR 172 |
| Riyadh → Jeddah | ~11 hr 54 min | SAR 172 |
| Jeddah → Tabuk | ~15 hr 11 min | SAR 286 |
| Tabuk → Jeddah | ~15 hr 4 min | SAR 286 |
How to Book a North West Bus Ticket
You have a few options:
- Online: the easiest way — visit www.nwbus.sa and use the booking portal (
booking.nwbus.sa). You pick your route, date, seat and pay by card. - At a station or branch: NWB has stations and sales outlets in its main cities. You can buy in person, which is also useful for special-needs bookings.
- By phone: customer service is on 920020590.
A practical tip: if you or someone travelling with you needs an accessible seat, NWB asks that the ticket be booked at least 48 hours before departure so the adapted seat can be guaranteed.
Discounts and Refunds
Discounts
NWB offers a useful set of discounts. If any of these apply to you or your family, the savings add up quickly:
| Who | Discount |
|---|---|
| Infants under 2 (no seat) | 100% (free) |
| Children & students, ages 2–17 | 50% |
| University students, ages 18–25 | 15% |
| Persons with disabilities (and their carer) | 50% each |
| Cancer patients (and their carer) | 50% each |
| Families of martyrs, injured, prisoners, missing persons | 50% |
| Round trip (buy outbound + return) | 5% off the return |
| Trip with a transfer (two connected legs) | 10% |
Note that discounts generally don’t stack with special promotional fares, and you may be asked to show proof (student ID, disability card, medical report) when boarding.
Baggage allowance
- Normal class: 1 checked bag up to 25 kg free, plus 1 hand bag up to 7 kg.
- VIP class: 2 checked bags up to 25 kg each, plus 1 hand bag up to 7 kg.
- Excess: a bag between 25–50 kg costs an extra SAR 20; between 50–100 kg, an extra SAR 40 (subject to space).
- Free-of-charge bag dimensions are roughly 90 cm (length) × 50 cm (width) × 40 cm (height).
Cancellation and refunds
- More than 48 hours before departure: 5% cancellation fee.
- Between 48 and 24 hours before departure: 30% fee.
- Within 24 hours of departure: non-refundable.
- No-show: ticket is cancelled with no refund.
- Refunds to a card usually take two to five working days.
- Ticket changes are generally free — you only pay any price difference.
This article is for general guidance only. Fares, timetables, routes and policies are set by North West Bus and can change at any time. Always verify the latest details on the official website (www.nwbus.sa) or by calling 920020590 before booking or travelling.