Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
Smoking policy at Jeddah, King Abdulaziz International Airport (JED)
Warnings & Caveats
Smoking outside designated areas in Saudi Arabia carries a fine of SAR 200 (approximately USD 50), increasing for repeat offences. Some smoking rooms may be temporarily closed or operating with temporary doors due to ongoing terminal expansion work (completion expected 2035). No smoking is permitted inside the terminal building before security.
King Abdulaziz International Airport (JED) in Jeddah is one of the more smoker-friendly airports in the Gulf region. Designated smoking rooms exist both before and after security, and the airport's new terminal has clearly signed, gender-separated facilities that are relatively easy to find once you know where to look. That said, the airport is still undergoing phased expansion work (due to complete in 2035), so some rooms may be temporarily closed or operating with temporary service doors.
Before Security
Landside, smoking is only permitted outside the terminal buildings in designated outdoor areas. There are no indoor smoking rooms before the security checkpoint. Head outside through any of the main terminal exits and look for marked smoking zones away from the entrance doors.
After Security
The airside situation is considerably better. The new international terminal has multiple gender-separated smoking rooms that are signed throughout the concourse:
Male smoking rooms: Several are available and reported to be large and very clean. One confirmed location is near Gates A22-24. Directional signs point toward a male smoking room near Gate A41 (see signage image). Travelers in early 2025 also reported a smoking lounge on the right side of Gate A41a.
Female smoking room: At least one dedicated female smoking room exists. Signage confirms a location in the direction of Gates A34-37. An earlier report (February 2024) placed a female smoking room at Gate A9 in international departures. A November 2022 report noted the female room near Gate 35.
North Terminal: As of February 2025, there is a small smoking room in the North Terminal just after the duty-free area, before the gates. It was open but operating with a temporary service door due to ongoing renovation work.
Airport transfers for King Abdulaziz International Airport
Smoking Rooms in the New Terminal
Images show enclosed, dedicated smoking rooms with standard airport signage in both Arabic and English. The rooms appear to be standalone enclosed cabins with ventilation, ashtrays, and seating. The terminal's interior features the distinctive white branching columns and geometric patterned walls of the new KAIA design, making the signage easy to spot against the architecture.
Saudi Arabia Smoking Law
Saudi Arabia prohibits smoking in most indoor public spaces. Violations carry a fine of SAR 200 (approximately USD 50), which increases for repeat offences. Smoking outside designated areas inside the terminal could result in a fine, so stick to the marked rooms.
Vaping
No specific information is available about vaping rules at JED. Given Saudi Arabia's general tobacco regulations, it is safest to treat vaping the same as smoking and only use designated areas.
Transit and Layovers
If you are transiting through JED, the airside smoking rooms are accessible without re-clearing security. The airport does not appear to offer a straightforward exit-and-reenter option for landside smoking, so plan to use the airside rooms during your layover.
Bottom Line
JED is genuinely accommodating for smokers airside, with multiple signed, gender-separated smoking rooms throughout the new terminal concourse. Use the outdoor areas before security, and follow the bilingual signs to the nearest room once you are past the checkpoint.
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