Helicopter hire in Riyadh
Sightseeing flights over the capital, transfers from King Khalid International and the KAFD helipad, and the rules that decide where a helicopter may land.
- Private hire
- SAR 5,950 to SAR 17,370/hr
- Operator
- The Helicopter Company
- City helipad
- KAFD
- Airport
- King Khalid (OERK)
Flying over Riyadh by helicopter
Yes. The Helicopter Company, the Public Investment Fund's operator based in Riyadh, flies sightseeing tours over the city, which an October 2026 partnership makes bookable online through webook.com, and private charters from the King Abdullah Financial District (KAFD) helipad and the airport. A private helicopter typically costs SAR 5,950 to SAR 17,370 per flight hour for the whole aircraft.
Riyadh is the home of The Helicopter Company (THC), founded by the Public Investment Fund in 2018 and flying since mid-2019.
The Helicopter Company says it flies more than 60 aircraft from over 16 bases, for emergency medical services, aerial work, private charters and tourism. PIF describes it as the only licensed helicopter operator for commercial flights in the Kingdom.
In November 2025 THC began flights from the KAFD helipad to destinations across Riyadh, and it has agreements in place for new landing sites at Diriyah, the Edge of the World and Ushaiqer.
Heading further? See private jets from Riyadh or Riyadh to Jeddah by private jet.
Sources:Public Investment Fund: The Helicopter Company (checked 19 October 2026)The Helicopter Company: about us, licences, locations and milestones (checked 19 October 2026)The Helicopter Company: home page and 2025 key figures (checked 19 October 2026)The Helicopter Company, 1 October 2026: sightseeing tours bookable online with webook.comThe Helicopter Company, 5 November 2025: helicopter air mobility flights activated at KAFD, RiyadhThe Helicopter Company, 2 June 2024: MoU with Riyadh Municipality for three new landing sitesUniversal Weather: business jet destination guide, Saudi Arabia (updated April 2022)
Helicopter flights in Riyadh
- From
- Set by the operator
- What it is
- A flight over Riyadh
- How it is sold
- Online through webook.com's website and app
- From
- KAFD helipad
- What it is
- Flights to key destinations across Riyadh
- How it is sold
- Through The Helicopter Company
- From
- King Khalid International
- What it is
- Premium transfer between the airport and the city
- How it is sold
- Through Almosafer, under its November 2025 partnership
- From
- Your pickup point, once approved
- What it is
- VIP transport almost anywhere in Saudi Arabia
- How it is sold
- Per flight, whole helicopter
As announced by The Helicopter Company, checked 19 October 2026. THC does not publish flight times or tour prices; we confirm both on the quote.
Sources:The Helicopter Company, 1 October 2026: sightseeing tours bookable online with webook.comThe Helicopter Company, 5 November 2025: helicopter air mobility flights activated at KAFD, RiyadhThe Helicopter Company, 18 November 2025: Almosafer partnership for helicopter transfers and toursThe Helicopter Company: services (checked 19 October 2026)
Tell us the dates and passengers. A specialist replies with aircraft options and an all-in price, around the clock.
Airport, KAFD and the new landing sites
One of the Kingdom's 24-hour airports of entry, alongside Jeddah and Dammam. Flights from abroad need a GACA landing permit filed by the operator.
In the King Abdullah Financial District. THC activated helicopter flights from the helipad in November 2025, and in February 2026 signed an agreement with KAFD's developer, KAFD DMC, to activate the district's helipads. THC has not published hours or fees for it.
Three landing sites covering 28,500 square metres in total, agreed between THC and Riyadh Municipality in June 2024 to improve access to tourist destinations. No opening dates have been published.
Sources:Universal Weather: business jet destination guide, Saudi Arabia (updated April 2022)The Helicopter Company, 5 November 2025: helicopter air mobility flights activated at KAFD, RiyadhThe Helicopter Company, 4 February 2026: MoU with KAFD DMC to enable helicopter services in RiyadhThe Helicopter Company, 2 June 2024: MoU with Riyadh Municipality for three new landing sites
Partnerships shaping Riyadh's helicopter network
- Diriyah Company and THC signed an MoU on urban air mobility in August 2025.
- Riyadh Air and THC signed a strategic MoU on premium air mobility across Saudi Arabia in November 2025.
- Blacklane and THC announced joint trial flights and first and last mile trips in December 2025, starting with routes from Riyadh; the combined service is to launch in select markets after the trials.
- THC ordered 11 more AW139s and 8 more H145s in July 2026.
Sources:The Helicopter Company, 7 August 2025: MoU with Diriyah Company on urban air mobilityThe Helicopter Company, 17 November 2025: strategic MoU with Riyadh AirThe Helicopter Company, 15 December 2025: Blacklane partnership for sky and ground servicesThe Helicopter Company, 21 July 2026: order for 11 additional AW139 helicoptersThe Helicopter Company, 20 July 2026: 8 additional H145 helicoptersThe Helicopter Company: news archive (checked 19 October 2026)
The helicopters The Helicopter Company flies
- Engines
- Twin
- Cabin
- EMS, utility and corporate
- Passengers
- 6 to 14
- Engines
- Twin
- Cabin
- Corporate
- Passengers
- 6 to 8
- Engines
- Twin
- Cabin
- EMS and utility
- Passengers
- 6 to 8
- Engines
- Single
- Cabin
- Utility
- Passengers
- 5
Types and capacities as published by The Helicopter Company, checked 19 October 2026. It took delivery of its 40th AW139 in June 2026; Airbus reported 12 H125s and five ACH160s delivered by July 2025. Seats depend on the cabin fitted and on weight.
Sources:The Helicopter Company: fleet (checked 19 October 2026)The Helicopter Company, 17 June 2026: delivery of the 40th Leonardo AW139Airbus, 10 July 2025: THC's strategic choice, operating the Airbus H125, H145 and ACH160
What goes into a helicopter price
A private charter is priced for the whole helicopter and its crew, not per seat.
- Flying time at the hourly rate for the type: as a guide, SAR 5,950 to SAR 17,370 per flight hour for the whole helicopter.
- Positioning when the helicopter has to fly from its base to your pickup point, and back again afterwards.
- Waiting time if the helicopter holds for you during the day.
- Landing and handling charges at the airport or helipad. The Helicopter Company does not publish these, so they are confirmed on the quote.
- Sightseeing tours are sold per booking through webook.com, which The Helicopter Company named as its online booking partner in October 2026.
Sources:The Helicopter Company, 1 October 2026: sightseeing tours bookable online with webook.com
Who regulates helicopter flights in Saudi Arabia
- The General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA) licenses commercial operators. The Helicopter Company lists its GACA approvals: a Part 121 special unscheduled operator licence and a Part 145 maintenance licence (2019), a Part 133 aerial work licence (2020), a Part 135 commercial unscheduled licence (2021) and a Part 60 training licence (2025).
- Paid charters fly under GACAR Part 135. Fly Red Sea, for example, publishes the Part 135 Air Operator Certificate GACA issued it on 20 September 2023.
- The Public Investment Fund describes The Helicopter Company as the first and only licensed helicopter operator for commercial flights in the Kingdom.
- In Riyadh, new landing sites have been agreed with the landowners: The Helicopter Company signed agreements with Riyadh Municipality for three landing sites and with KAFD's developer to activate the district's helipads.
- Flights entering Saudi Arabia need a GACA landing permit; for domestic flights GACA decides case by case, and smaller airports often have curfews.
- As a broker, Altivo Jets names the operator and its licence before you book.
Sources:The Helicopter Company: about us, licences, locations and milestones (checked 19 October 2026)Fly Red Sea: fleet, base and GACA Air Operator Certificate (checked 19 October 2026)Public Investment Fund: The Helicopter Company (checked 19 October 2026)The Helicopter Company, 2 June 2024: MoU with Riyadh Municipality for three new landing sitesThe Helicopter Company, 4 February 2026: MoU with KAFD DMC to enable helicopter services in RiyadhUniversal Weather: business jet destination guide, Saudi Arabia (updated April 2022)
Helicopters flying in Riyadh
THC's H160s have corporate cabins and its AW139s are fitted for corporate, medical or utility work; the H145 flies medical and utility missions and the single-engine H125 utility work.
Helicopter operator in Riyadh
Commercial helicopter flights in Saudi Arabia are operated by a GACA-licensed operator.
Sources:Public Investment Fund: The Helicopter Company (checked 19 October 2026)The Helicopter Company: fleet (checked 19 October 2026)The Helicopter Company: services (checked 19 October 2026)
Questions, answered
Still deciding? A charter specialist will talk you through aircraft, airports and price, with no obligation.
Ask a specialistHow do I book a helicopter tour in Riyadh?+
The Helicopter Company's sightseeing tours are bookable online through webook.com's website and app, under a partnership announced on 1 October 2026. For a private flight on your own schedule, ask us for a charter quote.
How much does a helicopter cost in Riyadh?+
As a guide, SAR 5,950 to SAR 17,370 per flight hour for the whole helicopter, plus positioning, waiting time and landing charges. Tour prices are set by the operator at booking.
Where do helicopters land in Riyadh?+
At King Khalid International Airport (OERK) and the KAFD helipad. Landing sites at Diriyah, the Edge of the World and Ushaiqer were agreed with Riyadh Municipality in 2024; no opening dates have been published.
Can I take a helicopter from Riyadh airport to the city?+
Yes, as a private charter. Almosafer also announced in November 2025 that it would sell THC's airport to city helicopter transfers in Riyadh and Jeddah.
Who is allowed to fly helicopter charters in Saudi Arabia?+
An operator licensed by GACA. The Public Investment Fund describes The Helicopter Company as the first and only licensed helicopter operator for commercial flights in the Kingdom.
How many people fit in the helicopter?+
Up to five in an H125, six to eight in an H145 or ACH160, and six to 14 in an AW139, depending on the cabin and weight.
Fares, dates and rules on this page were checked on 19 October 2026. Official fares and schedules change every season; the operator or authority named in each source has the final word.
- 1.Public Investment Fund: The Helicopter Company (checked 19 October 2026)
- 2.The Helicopter Company: about us, licences, locations and milestones (checked 19 October 2026)
- 3.The Helicopter Company: home page and 2025 key figures (checked 19 October 2026)
- 4.The Helicopter Company, 1 October 2026: sightseeing tours bookable online with webook.com
- 5.The Helicopter Company, 5 November 2025: helicopter air mobility flights activated at KAFD, Riyadh
- 6.The Helicopter Company, 2 June 2024: MoU with Riyadh Municipality for three new landing sites
- 7.Universal Weather: business jet destination guide, Saudi Arabia (updated April 2022)
- 8.The Helicopter Company, 18 November 2025: Almosafer partnership for helicopter transfers and tours
- 9.The Helicopter Company: services (checked 19 October 2026)
- 10.The Helicopter Company, 4 February 2026: MoU with KAFD DMC to enable helicopter services in Riyadh
- 11.The Helicopter Company, 7 August 2025: MoU with Diriyah Company on urban air mobility
- 12.The Helicopter Company, 17 November 2025: strategic MoU with Riyadh Air
- 13.The Helicopter Company, 15 December 2025: Blacklane partnership for sky and ground services
- 14.The Helicopter Company, 21 July 2026: order for 11 additional AW139 helicopters
- 15.The Helicopter Company, 20 July 2026: 8 additional H145 helicopters
- 16.The Helicopter Company: news archive (checked 19 October 2026)
- 17.The Helicopter Company: fleet (checked 19 October 2026)
- 18.The Helicopter Company, 17 June 2026: delivery of the 40th Leonardo AW139
- 19.Airbus, 10 July 2025: THC's strategic choice, operating the Airbus H125, H145 and ACH160
- 20.Fly Red Sea: fleet, base and GACA Air Operator Certificate (checked 19 October 2026)
See Riyadh from the air.
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