Wondering if I need cash for taxis in Saudi Arabia or if I can just pay with card or app like in other countries?
I spent a few days in Dammam and Khobar in June and found that ride-hailing apps were the best option for someone like me who prefers using cards. I paid for all my rides with my Dutch ING debit card via the Careem app, which is widely used even for airport pickups. Traditional taxis do still exist but none of them offered card payment. One driver told me he “used to have a reader” but it stopped working. If you're sticking to the Eastern Province and want to skip the ATM, apps are the way to go. Just make sure your card is enabled for international payments.
I stayed in Mecca during my trip for Umrah in April and taxis near the Haram mostly preferred cash. Some of them were willing to use Careem if you requested through the app, but if you just hailed them directly, they almost always asked for cash. My French Amex didn’t work even when one driver had a portable POS machine, he said it only took Mada and Visa. I recommend keeping at least 100 to 150 riyals in small denominations just for taxis in Mecca and Madinah, especially around religious sites where internet is spotty and drivers may avoid apps/
I was in Jeddah last month and used a mix of Uber and traditional taxis. Uber worked great and let me pay with my Australian Mastercard directly through the app. But one evening I flagged a regular taxi outside Red Sea Mall and the driver said he only accepted cash or Mada card. No international cards. I gave him 30 riyals for the short trip. Most official taxis in Jeddah don’t carry portable card machines, so if you’re planning to take them off the street, you’ll need cash in small bills. But if you stick to the apps, you won’t need any.
Just returned from a week in Riyadh, and I didn’t carry cash for taxis at all. I used Careem every single day to get around the city and it was super smooth. Paid directly through the app using my Revolut Visa card with no problems. Careem is widely used in Saudi Arabia and very reliable. I did try one street taxi from King Fahd Road to my hotel and the driver asked for cash only and didn’t have a card reader. Luckily I had about 50 riyals on me. But if you want to avoid cash, stick to ride-hailing apps, they’re safer and far more convenient especially for solo travelers.