UAE low-cost carrier flydubai announced on 24 February that all services on the busy Dubai–Riyadh corridor will move from Terminal 3 to Terminal 5 at King Khalid International Airport with effect from 25 February 2026. The last flights to use T3 will be FZ 843/844; the first from the new facility will be FZ 849/850 on the same day.
The Dubai–Riyadh route ranked seventh-busiest worldwide in 2025, handling 4.46 million seats, a large share of them business travellers shuttling between the Gulf’s two biggest economies. Terminal 5 is newer, with dedicated immigration desks and shorter walking distances, but it sits farther from some airport hotels and car-hire depots than Terminal 3. Travellers with pre-arranged chauffeurs or ride-shares should therefore reconfirm pick-up points.
![Flydubai shifts Riyadh flights to Terminal 5—frequent flyers urged to update ground-transport plans]()
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Connectivity inside DXB is unaffected; flights will continue to operate from Terminal 2 in Dubai. However, corporate travel managers should update internal booking tools and traveller briefings to reflect the Riyadh terminal change, particularly for day trips where every minute counts. The switch could also influence minimum connection times for passengers continuing on Saudia or other carriers from RUH.
Flydubai says the move aligns with capacity-allocation plans at King Khalid International Airport and will facilitate future frequency increases. The airline has not indicated any change to baggage allowances or check-in deadlines.
The Dubai–Riyadh route ranked seventh-busiest worldwide in 2025, handling 4.46 million seats, a large share of them business travellers shuttling between the Gulf’s two biggest economies. Terminal 5 is newer, with dedicated immigration desks and shorter walking distances, but it sits farther from some airport hotels and car-hire depots than Terminal 3. Travellers with pre-arranged chauffeurs or ride-shares should therefore reconfirm pick-up points.
For passengers who still need to organise entry documents, VisaHQ can expedite visa processing for both the UAE and Saudi Arabia through its intuitive online platform, saving valuable time ahead of a tight itinerary; full details are available at https://www.visahq.com/united-arab-emirates/
Connectivity inside DXB is unaffected; flights will continue to operate from Terminal 2 in Dubai. However, corporate travel managers should update internal booking tools and traveller briefings to reflect the Riyadh terminal change, particularly for day trips where every minute counts. The switch could also influence minimum connection times for passengers continuing on Saudia or other carriers from RUH.
Flydubai says the move aligns with capacity-allocation plans at King Khalid International Airport and will facilitate future frequency increases. The airline has not indicated any change to baggage allowances or check-in deadlines.
