Riyadh to Beijing (RUH–PEK) — Airlines, Schedules & Connections
No flights match your filters.
No scheduled airline flights on this route — it's flown by charter / private operators (). No nonstop flights on this route. connecting options below.
Most recently operated nonstop flights — the month shown is when each was last scheduled. Most destinations remain reachable with a connection.
No discontinued nonstop flights on record for this route.
RUH–PEK had nonstop service from Air China, last on the schedule in June 2026. There's no nonstop on it right now, so today you'd fly it with one stop. The connecting options below are sorted by layover. Nonstop, it's about 4,099 miles in 9h 12m.
Airline Landscape
| Airline | Freq/wk | Aircraft | Duration | Dep OTP | Alliance | Codeshares |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CA Air China | 5 | – | – | – | Star Alliance | – |
Connection Landscape
Travel Essentials
RUH: +03 · PEK: CST
When it's 6:00 PM in Riyadh, it's 11:00 PM in Beijing.
Saudi passport holders enter China visa-free for up to 30 days under the expanded visa-free policy introduced in 2024. No fee, no advance application. Passport must be valid for at least 6 months beyond the date of entry. At Beijing Capital (PEK), Beijing Daxing (PKX), Shanghai Pudong (PVG), or Guangzhou Baiyun (CAN), you go through the standard immigration lane and receive a 30-day entry stamp. This policy covers tourism, business visits, transit, and family visits.
The 30-day visa-free stay cannot be extended, so plan your trip length accordingly. For longer stays, apply for a Chinese visa at the Chinese Embassy in Riyadh or the Consulate in Jeddah before travel ($140 for a single-entry tourist visa, processing 4 to 7 business days). China also offers a 144-hour visa-free transit for travelers transiting through designated cities to a third country, covering Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Chengdu, and others.
Direct flights from Riyadh to Beijing run about 8 hours on Saudia and Air China. Jeddah to Guangzhou runs about 9 hours on China Southern and Saudia. Shanghai, Shenzhen, and other Chinese cities connect through a stop or via Gulf hubs. China uses the Chinese yuan (CNY), trading at roughly 1.94 CNY per SAR 1. WeChat Pay and Alipay dominate payments, but foreign Visa and Mastercard now link to these apps. Cash is accepted at most places. No mandatory vaccinations. Beijing's subway costs CNY 3 to CNY 10 per ride (SAR 1.55 to SAR 5.15), and Shanghai's metro is similar. High-speed rail connects Beijing to Shanghai in 4 hours 30 minutes (CNY 553 second class, about SAR 285).
Airport Express to Dongzhimen takes 16 minutes (¥25) and connects to Metro Lines 2 and 13 for central Beijing. Running 6am to 11pm from T2 and T3. It bypasses road congestion regardless of traffic conditions.Taxis use the meter; central Beijing runs ¥80–120 from the airport. Didi ride-hailing is available and widely used. Airport express buses (¥25–30) serve multiple city zones. T3 (international hub) and T2 are connected by a free inter-terminal bus if not airside. Note: Beijing has two airports; Capital (PEK) and Daxing (PKX) are not connected by convenient transport.
Humid continental climate with cold, dry winters (−8 to 2°C) and hot summers (28–35°C). The primary flight disruption risks are winter fog and smog (November–February, heavily air quality-dependent), summer thunderstorms (July–August), and spring sandstorms from the Gobi Desert (March–May) that can reduce visibility rapidly.
Fall (September–October) brings clear skies and minimal disruptions. The 2022 Winter Olympics improved Beijing's snowfall preparedness. Fog and smog remain serious delay causes through winter.
RUH–PEK Quick Facts
Frequently Asked Questions
Flights from RUH to PEK
King Khalid International Airport (RUH) and Beijing Capital International Airport (PEK) had nonstop service from Air China, last on the schedule in June 2026. The nonstop is dormant right now, so the way to fly it today is one connection, and the options above are sorted by layover.
RUH to PEK Flight Duration and Schedule
Nonstop flight time from RUH to PEK is about 9 hours 12 minutes gate to gate. The route covers a distance of 4,099 miles (6,596 km).
Connecting Options and Alternatives
1-stop connecting options are also available, commonly via Al Maktoum, Guangzhou Baiyun and Shenzhen Bao'an. Two-stop connections are also available via intermediate hubs.