Private jet charter prices from Riyadh have surged to as much as $350,000 as wealthy residents rush to leave the Gulf amid rising regional tensions, a report by Semafor said.
The Saudi capital has emerged as the main evacuation hub after missile and drone strikes hit cities including Dubai and Abu Dhabi, as well as locations in Qatar and Bahrain over the weekend.
With airspace closures across parts of the region, stranded executives and high-net-worth individuals are travelling overland to Riyadh to secure flights out.
Some are undertaking nearly 10-hour road journeys from Dubai before boarding chartered aircraft.
According to people familiar with the arrangements, private security firms are deploying fleets of SUVs to move clients to the Saudi capital, where charter demand has spiked sharply.
Ameerh Naran, chief executive of Vimana Private, said Riyadh is currently “the only real option” for those seeking to exit. He confirmed that charter rates to Europe have climbed to $350,000 per flight due to limited availability and soaring demand.
Alternative exit routes have narrowed. Security providers explored using Oman as a corridor, but that plan stalled after reported strikes on port infrastructure and a tanker there.
The sharp rise in charter costs marks a dramatic shift. In past crises, expatriates often preferred other Gulf hubs.
Now, with Saudi airspace open and visas available on arrival for many nationalities, Riyadh has become the region’s most expensive gateway out.
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