Off-campus buses!

27 May, 2021

​What's new?

  • Relaunching free Jeddah shopping buses
  • New paid destinations: KAEC and Thuwal (university students and under 12 years of age ride for free)
  • Free onboard Wi-Fi on all gold bus routes
  • Tawakkalna status required


Off-campus bus offer

  • Jeddah shopping bus
    From May 27, there will be a gradual ramp-up of free buses to Jeddah shopping centers. Destinations will be limited to start, and more will be added over time.
  • Introducing Thuwal and KAEC Buses 
  •  KAEC Railway Station resuming May 27, Thuwal Downtown starting on June 2, and KAEC Corniche starting on June 3. Based on overwhelming community feedback, off-campus buses will include routes to our neighboring towns: Thuwal downtown, King Abdullah Economic City Corniche, and King Abdullah Economic City railway station. The bus to the railway station is free, the standard roundtrip fare to Thuwal is SAR 10 and the standard roundtrip fare for the KAEC Corniche is SAR 30 – please see payment details below.
  • Work haul bus
    Work haul buses continue to operate with payment arranged through HR.
  • Jeddah hospital bus
    Jeddah hospital buses continue to operate free of charge. You must produce a proof of medical appointment for use of the hospital bus. The patient plus one support person can travel on the bus.
  • Mecca and Medina bus
    Buses to Mecca and Medina have been replaced with a free bus to the King Abdullah Economic City railway station.


Free on-board Wi-Fi

Free Wi-Fi is now available on all of the large gold buses, covering the majority of destinations. The smaller bus which travel the short journey to Thuwal do not have Wi-Fi.


Tawakkalna status required

For bus users ages 18+, you must show your COVID-19 status is listed as immune, immune by first dose, or immune by recovery using the Tawakkalna app at the time of boarding. No Record of Infection of COVID-19 status will be accepted for the Jeddah hospital bus and work haul bus only. Download the Tawakkalna App.

For the safety of the whole community, please ensure you follow Keeping KAUST Safe guidelines at KAUST and while using KAUST buses off campus.


Payment

While our off-campus bus services remain heavily subsidized by KAUST, fees are being introduced for Thuwal and KAEC corniche buses. In keeping with the strategy to Grow Strategically while Optimizing Costs, introducing charging for these buses will help us continue to find efficiencies and optimize resources.

The round-trip fee is paid by card only when you arrive at the bus. There is no one-way payment option and cash cannot be accepted at this time.

Discounts: Children aged 12 and under ride free. University students and their dependents also ride free, and copy of the KAUST ID indicating the primary's student status is required to be provided as proof.


Booking

Pre-booking is recommended to guarantee your seat, as we resume the service with 50% bus occupancy level.

Wishing you a pleasant journey ahead!