I Missed My Flynas Flight: Jeddah to Riyadh by Road, Bedouins, Petrol Prices and Desi Breakfast
I missed my flynas flight from Jeddah to Riyadh, so I went by road: about 10 hours with a Pathan driver, Fajr in a desert mosque, Bedouin herders, Saudi petrol prices and a huge desi breakfast.
By Hafiz Tayyab · 24 October 2026 · 1 min read
The route
- JakartatoMumbaiIndiGo
- MumbaitoJeddahIndiGo
- JeddahtoRiyadhMissed flynas · ~10 h taxi
Missed flight
The flynas plane left without me.
Bedouins
Real Saudi herders in the desert.
Petrol prices
Cheap enough to shock anyone from Pakistan.
After Indonesia I flew IndiGo via Mumbai to Jeddah. My family was in Saudi Arabia, and the plan was simple: a short flynas flight to Riyadh.
The flight I missed
I got to Jeddah airport and missed the flynas flight. No way around it, the plane left without me.
I looked at the options at the airport and decided to go by road. A Pathan bhai with a taxi was heading to Riyadh, and we set off.
Ten hours across the desert
- Fajr at a mosque by the highway, with a look at how Saudi mosques run on the road.
- Sunrise over the desert: one of the most beautiful views of the whole trip.
- Bedouins (baddu) and sheep herders out in the open desert.
- Petrol prices: we stopped to fill up, and the price will shock anyone from Pakistan.
- A huge desi breakfast at a Pakistani hotel: paratha, chana and halwa.
About 10 hours after leaving Jeddah we drove into Riyadh and went to a friend's room for desi chicken.
Expat life, honestly
This video also has a long, honest conversation about pardes ki zindagi: what life is really like for Pakistanis working in Saudi Arabia. There are shorts from it too, including what to know before you come and the fines for running a private taxi.
Tips
- Get to the airport early for Saudi domestic flights. Gates close on time.
- The road is a real option. Long, but you'll see the country.
- Carry water and snacks for the desert stretches.
- Pakistani hotels are along the main highways if you want desi food.
Next stop: Diriyah, the birthplace of Saudi Arabia. Follow the Saudi Arabia Season 2 series.
Watch the episodes
Pardes Ki Haqeeqat 💔 (Expat Life in Saudi) | Hafiz Tayyab Vlog
24 Feb 2026
Meeting a Real Saudi 'Baddu' in Desert 🏜️😂 | Hafiz Tayyab Vlog
24 Feb 2026
Saudi Arabia Mein Desi Nashta 🤤🫓 | Hafiz Tayyab
25 Feb 2026
Pardes Aane Se Pehle Ye Zaroor Suno! ⚠️✈️ | Hafiz Tayyab
2 Mar 2026
Saudi Mein Private Taxi Chalane Ka Fine? 😱🚨 | Rules for Expats
3 Mar 2026Questions people ask
How long is the drive from Jeddah to Riyadh?
About 10 hours by taxi in Hafiz Tayyab's case, with stops for Fajr and breakfast.
What can you do if you miss a domestic flight in Saudi Arabia?
He looked at alternatives at the airport and took a shared road trip by taxi with a Pathan driver to Riyadh.
Is there Pakistani food on the Jeddah–Riyadh road?
Yes, he had paratha, chana and halwa at a Pakistani hotel on the way.
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