Haramain Train Tickets for Pilgrims: Cancel Economy for 20% to 50%, Business Free Before 24 Hours
Cancelling a Haramain train economy ticket costs 20% over 24 hours out and 50% later. Business is free early and 35% later. See change fees and missed trains.
On the Haramain high speed train between Makkah and Madinah, cancelling an economy ticket more than 24 hours before departure costs 20% of the ticket price, and cancelling a business ticket that early is free. Inside the last 24 hours the cost rises to 50% for economy and 35% for business. Within 20 minutes of departure you cannot cancel at all.
Many Pakistani pilgrims take this train between the two holy cities, and a change of plan is common: a delayed flight, a hotel mix-up, a sick relative. We read the ticket rules on the Haramain railway's ticket page, its common questions page and its home page on 21 October 2026. The railway is run by Saudi Arabia, so its rules are Saudi rules, not Pakistani ones.
Cancelling an economy ticket costs 20% to 50% of the price
Economy cancellation costs 20% of the ticket price more than 24 hours before departure and 50% from 24 hours down to 20 minutes before. Business costs nothing more than 24 hours before and 35% after that. Nothing can be cancelled within 20 minutes.
| When you act | Economy change | Business change | Economy cancel | Business cancel |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| More than 24 hours before | 10% | Free | 20% | Free |
| 24 hours to 20 minutes before | 20% | 10% | 50% | 35% |
| Less than 20 minutes before | Not allowed | Not allowed | Not allowed | Not allowed |
The percentages are shares of the ticket price. The pages do not say whether they apply before or after any government tax. On a ticket of 100 riyals, an economy cancellation a day early would cost 20 riyals, which is our own example and not a quoted fare.
Changing a date is cheaper than cancelling
An economy date change costs 10% of the price more than 24 hours before departure and 20% after that. Business changes are free early and cost 10% later. The railway says changes and cancellations go through the same channel you used to buy.
That last line matters. If you bought on the HHR website, change it there. If an agent bought it for you, the agent must do it, and you should ask before you travel. Make the change as early as you can, because the cheapest slot is the one more than 24 hours out.
A missed train is a lost ticket
The railway says tickets are invalidated if you do not attend the train before departure, and no refund is given. A full refund is available only if the railway cancels the trip. It is not responsible for compensation when delays come from causes outside its control.
For pilgrims this is the real risk. A bus from Makkah that arrives late, or a queue at the station, leaves the ticket worth nothing. Our guide to getting from Jeddah airport to Makkah shows the train, package transport and taxi side by side, which helps you plan a buffer.
Book for the right passenger type and keep the e-ticket
Adults are aged 12 and over. Children aged 0 to 12 travel with a seat, and infants aged 0 to 2 travel without one. Everyone in one booking must travel in the same class. After payment you get an e-ticket by email and ticket numbers by SMS.
Tickets cannot be passed to someone else. The general terms say they can only be used by the named person, so a name mistake is a problem at the gate. Gregorian dates are the official dates on all tickets, so do not work from the Hijri calendar when you check your date.
- Open hhr.sa and choose the stations: Makkah, Al-Sulimaniyah in Jeddah, Jeddah airport, King Abdullah Economic City or Madinah.
- Pick the date and passenger numbers by age.
- Choose economy or business for the whole booking.
- Pay, then keep the e-ticket email and the SMS.
- If plans change, use the same channel to change or cancel, and do it more than 24 hours ahead.
If the train is part of an Umrah package, ask the agent who controls the ticket
Some Umrah packages include the Makkah to Madinah transfer. If yours does, the agent may hold the booking, and the railway's cancellation fees will fall on whoever bought it. Ask for the ticket numbers in writing before you leave Pakistan.
Pakistani operators must be attested, and a contract should state what transport is included. The steps to check that are in how to check an Umrah agent's contract is attested. The railway helpline is 920 004 433, the headquarters is in Jeddah, and lost items go to contactcenter@hhr.sa.
Common questions
How much does it cost to cancel a Haramain train ticket?
An economy ticket costs 20% more than 24 hours before departure and 50% after that. A business ticket is free early and costs 35% after that.
Can I cancel a Haramain train ticket on the day?
Yes, until 20 minutes before departure, with the higher fee. After that no change or cancellation is allowed.
Can someone else use my Haramain train ticket?
No. The railway says tickets are non-transferable and can only be used by the named person.
What if I miss the train?
The ticket is invalidated and no refund is given. Only a trip cancelled by the railway earns a full refund.
Do children need their own ticket?
Children aged 0 to 12 travel with a seat. Infants aged 0 to 2 travel without a seat.
What number do I call?
Call 920 004 433, the number listed on the railway's website.
How we verified this
What we checked, where we read it, and what we could not confirm.
Last checked 21 October 2026. Cancellation and change fees, the missed train rule, passenger ages, stations, e-ticket delivery and the phone number come from the Haramain high speed railway's tickets page, common questions page and home page at hhr.sa, which we read on that date. Ticket prices and the timetable are not on the pages we read, so we have not given them. We did not buy or cancel a ticket. The 100 riyal example is our own arithmetic. Saudi rules can change without notice, and the railway says it may change prices and conditions at any time.
About the author
Senior Writer, Public Services and Technology
Shahid joined us in 2024 as an author. He is a senior contributor to Pakistan's leading technology websites. He writes detailed articles, mostly covering his expertise in the latest tech, mobiles, apps, gadgets, and step-by-step guides. His ideology is to help people understand the latest trends and explain complex methods through very easy-to-understand guides.
