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Explore retired aircraft skin tags ->King Khalid International Airport (RUH / OERK) Plane Spotting Map & Live Active Runway Predictor
Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
Riyadh
RUH/OERK
Updated Thu 29 Oct, 02:21 local
- Active runway
- 15L / 15R
- METAR wind
- 180° @ 2 kt
- Best spot
- Short final 15L - public side
- Sun
- 81° / -50°
Landing: 15L 33% · 15R 33% · 33L 17% · 33R 17% · Wind vector · +2 kt
VFR
Night
Sunrise in 3h 38m
Departure: 15L 33% · 15R 33% · 33L 17% · 33R 17%
NightWant a Telegram ping when OERK flips runways? Subscribe for $3/mo
Best Riyadh (RUH) plane spotting locations by time of day & sun angle
Live weather
VFR180° @ 2 kt
23°C · 10+ km · 1017 hPa
CAVOK
Landing: 15L 33% · 15R 33% · 33L 17% · 33R 17%
Departure: 15L 33% · 15R 33% · 33L 17% · 33R 17%
Sunrise · Sunset
Az 81° · El -50°Night / Low light
Sunrise
05:59
Sunset
17:16
Live · Auto-updatingThu 29 Oct, 02:21 localAz 81° · El -50°NIGHT / LOW LIGHT
Sunrise in 3h 38m
+0h
Live flight board
Past Arrivals
Free · up to 10No landed arrivals recorded in the current radar window for OERK.
Next Arrivals
Free #1 · Pro 2-10No inbound arrivals inside the 25 NM radar ring right now.
Unlock Arrivals #2 to #10 & Live Runway Odds
Past Departures
Free · up to 10No departures recorded in the current radar window for OERK.
Next Departures
Free #1 · Pro 2-10No taxiing departures inside the 25 NM radar ring right now.
Unlock Departures #2 to #10 & Live Runway Odds
Runway alerts for King Khalid International Airport
$3/mo
Spotting guideRunway windsATC frequencies
Lighting schedule
Morning 07:00-11:00, midday 11:00-14:00, afternoon 14:00-18:00 at RUH, scored from each spot's view bearing.
| Spotting Location | Morning (07:00-11:00) | Midday (11:00-14:00) | Afternoon / Golden Hour (14:00-18:00) | JetPhotos / Camera Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Short final 15L - public side Runway 15L | SIDE LIGHT | BACKLIT / GLARE | SIDE LIGHT | Recommended focal length 150-600mm. Best local hours for crisp fuselage illumination: 15:00. Avoid 10:00-14:00 harsh backlit contrast. |
| Short final 15R - public side Runway 15R | SIDE LIGHT | BACKLIT / GLARE | SIDE LIGHT | Recommended focal length 150-600mm. Best local hours for crisp fuselage illumination: 15:00. Avoid 10:00-14:00 harsh backlit contrast. |
Runway winds and thresholds
Land 15L / 15R · Dep 15L / 15R
Landing: 15L 33% · 15R 33% · 33L 17% · 33R 17%
Departure: 15L 33% · 15R 33% · 33L 17% · 33R 17%
| End | Hdg | Length | Headwind | Crosswind | Role |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 15L | 150° | 13,796 ft | +1.7 kt | 1.0 kt | Both |
| 33R | 330° | 13,796 ft | -1.7 kt | 1.0 kt | Standby |
| 15R | 150° | 13,796 ft | +1.7 kt | 1.0 kt | Both |
| 33L | 330° | 13,796 ft | -1.7 kt | 1.0 kt | Standby |
Recommended camera lenses & ATC radio frequencies for Riyadh (OERK)
| Facility | MHz | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Tower | 118.600 | Verified |
| Approach | 120.000 | Verified |
| Ground | 121.600 | Verified |
| ATIS | 127.150 | Verified |
Lens for the top pin: Sony FE 200-600mm, Uniden Bearcat BC125AT, FlightAware Pro Stick. Sony FE 200-600mmUniden Bearcat BC125ATFlightAware Pro Stick
Open the ATC frequency pageYour brand on OERK
One sponsor card on the OERK live map. $85/mo, shown to spotters after they check the runway.
Sponsor OERK ($85/mo) ->Alerts: $3/mo or $29/yr Pro for 45-minute Telegram runway and exceptional-flight pings. Partner links may earn a commission.
Frequently asked questions about plane spotting at Riyadh (RUH/OERK)
Which runway is active at Riyadh (RUH/OERK) right now?
As of Thu 29 Oct, 02:00 local, the METAR/TAF wind vector predicts landing and departure 15L+15R. The METAR wind is 180° at 2 kt. 15L shows +1.7 kt headwind and 1.0 kt crosswind from the right. Closed runways: none listed.
Where is the best place to plane spot at Riyadh (RUH) in the morning vs. afternoon?
At 08:00 local the sun is at 120° azimuth and 25° elevation. Short final 15L - sunny side scores 73/100, 1234 m from runway 15L, view bearing 179.2°, best as a midday spot with a 150-600mm lens. At 16:00 the sun is at 247° and 15°. Short final 15L - sunny side scores 86/100 on a 120.7° view. Morning and afternoon picks follow that bearing: a view that wants the sun in the east is a morning spot, and a view that wants it in the west is an afternoon spot.
What is the best time to plane spot at King Khalid International Airport?
The best time to plane spot at King Khalid International Airport (RUH/OERK) is the window marked CLEAN FRONT LIGHT for the fence you are using. Morning (07:00-11:00) front light: no listed spot stays fully front-lit. Afternoon / golden hour (14:00-18:00) front light: no listed spot stays fully front-lit. Midday (11:00-14:00) is HIGH SUN / TOP LIGHT at 0 of 2 spotting locations. Read the Best Time of Day & Lighting Schedule by Spot table for the lens and the hours to avoid harsh backlit contrast.
What is the sun direction at OERK spotting locations?
OERK spotting locations sun direction: Short final 15L - public side (runway 15L) is SIDE LIGHT in the morning, BACKLIT / GLARE at midday, and SIDE LIGHT in the afternoon. Recommended focal length 150-600mm. Best local hours for crisp fuselage illumination: 15:00. Avoid 10:00-14:00 harsh backlit contrast. Short final 15R - public side (runway 15R) is SIDE LIGHT in the morning, BACKLIT / GLARE at midday, and SIDE LIGHT in the afternoon. Recommended focal length 150-600mm. Best local hours for crisp fuselage illumination: 15:00. Avoid 10:00-14:00 harsh backlit contrast.
What lens focal length do I need for plane spotting at Riyadh (RUH)?
Short final 15L - public side is 1234 m from the 15L centerline, so the lens is 150-600mm. The bands are fixed from that distance: 70-200mm inside 250 m, 100-400mm from 250 m to 450 m, and 150-600mm beyond 450 m. The aircraft itself is about 573 m from this pin on a 700 m final.
What ATC radio frequencies should I monitor while spotting at Riyadh (OERK)?
Monitor Tower 118.6 MHz, Ground 121.6 MHz, Approach 120.0 MHz, ATIS 127.15 MHz. Online streams lag by 30 seconds or more. A handheld VHF airband scanner at the fence is the zero-delay way to hear a runway change on Tower 118.6 MHz.
How do I know when Riyadh (RUH) switches active runways?
No TAF wind shift in the next 6 hours flips the flow. Wind stays near 180° at 2 kt, so 15L remains the favored arrival. The $3/mo Telegram Runway-Shift Alert pings you when D-ATIS or the METAR wind vector changes the active runway: https://planespottingmap.com/airport/OERK#runway-alerts
How is Plane Spotter's Live funded? Do you use affiliate or sponsor links?
Plane Spotter's Live is independent and free to use. To cover live weather, radar, and hosting costs without intrusive popups or display ads, we offer optional $3/mo Telegram runway flip alerts, one quiet $85/mo sponsor slot per airport, and selected partner referral links (such as Aviationtag retired aircraft skin tags, telephoto lens rentals, VHF airband scanners, and runway-view airport hotels). If you purchase through a partner link, we may earn a small commission at zero extra cost to you.