Yes, Jeddah King Abdulaziz International Airport (JED) has designated indoor smoking rooms available to passengers. Terminal 1 features modern ventilated smoking rooms in the departure area after security, the North Terminal has smoking rooms in the departure lounge, and the Hajj Terminal provides seasonal smoking facilities during pilgrimage periods.
Jeddah King Abdulaziz International Airport (JED) is the largest airport in Saudi Arabia by area and the primary gateway for millions of Hajj and Umrah pilgrims traveling to Mecca. Handling roughly 40 million passengers per year, it is one of the busiest airports in the Middle East. The airport provides designated indoor smoking rooms to comply with Saudi regulations.
Airport Layout
Jeddah Airport has undergone a major transformation in recent years. Terminal 1, designed by Foster+Partners, opened in 2019 and handles most international and domestic flights. It features a stunning honeycomb roof inspired by traditional Islamic geometric patterns and can process 30 million passengers annually. The North Terminal still operates, serving mainly non-Saudi (foreign) airlines. The former South Terminal was permanently closed in June 2020, with all its operations transferred to Terminal 1. The famous Hajj Terminal — an open-sided structure with distinctive white tent-like fabric roofs — activates during the annual pilgrimage season to handle the massive surge of arrivals.
Smoking Areas
Terminal 1 (Main Terminal)
The modern Terminal 1 has designated smoking rooms in the departure area after security, separated into male and female rooms as is standard at Saudi airports. These rooms feature ventilation systems in keeping with the terminal’s contemporary design. After clearing security, follow directional signage to locate the smoking facilities within the gate areas. The T1 Plaza Premium Lounge also has dedicated smoking rooms for lounge guests.
North Terminal
The North Terminal, which mainly serves non-Saudi (foreign) airlines, provides smoking rooms in the departure lounge. Facilities here are older than Terminal 1 but functional.
Hajj Terminal
During Hajj season, the Hajj Terminal operates to manage the enormous flow of pilgrims. Smoking facilities are available, but expect significant crowding. The terminal’s open-sided design means outdoor smoking areas are accessible, though summer heat during Hajj can be extreme.
Pre-Security and Arrivals
Outdoor smoking areas are available near terminal entrances before security. On the arrivals level, you can smoke in designated outdoor spots outside the terminal building. Jeddah’s coastal location makes it slightly less extreme than Riyadh in summer, but temperatures still regularly reach 40°C or more.
Summary
| Area | Smoking Allowed | Type | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Terminal 1 (Post-security) | Yes | Indoor rooms | Modern ventilated facilities |
| North Terminal | Yes | Indoor rooms | Departure lounge area |
| Hajj Terminal | Yes | Indoor/Outdoor | Seasonal operation, basic facilities |
| Terminal entrances | Yes | Outdoor | Designated spots before security |
| Arrivals level | Yes | Outdoor | Outside terminal buildings |
| General terminal areas | No | — | Fines for violations |
For Saudi Arabia airport smoking rules, vaping rules, and other general info, see our Saudi Arabia smoking guide.