Last updated: 20 October 2026
Saudi airlines power bank rules in 2026: you can carry at most two power banks per person, only in your cabin bag, and you must not recharge them on board. Each one should be 100 Wh or less (about 27,000 mAh) on Saudia, flynas and flyadeal, and using one to charge your phone in flight is discouraged. These rules come from a circular the General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA) sent to all airlines at Saudi airports, announced on 21 May 2026.
Many expats in Saudi Arabia travel with two or three power banks for long trips home or for Umrah, and security staff now check them more closely. This guide shows the exact limits per airline, a mAh to Wh table so you can check your own power bank, and what changes in 2027.
The Saudi Airlines Power Bank Rules at a Glance
| Rule | What it means | New in 2026? |
|---|---|---|
| Maximum two power banks per person | Two in total, whatever their size | Yes (GACA, May 2026) |
| No recharging the power bank on board | Do not plug it into the seat USB or power socket | Yes (GACA, May 2026) |
| Using it to charge your phone | Not banned, but GACA recommends against it; crew can ask you to stop | Yes, recommendation |
| Cabin bag only | Never in checked luggage | No, a long-standing rule |
| Protected against short circuit | In its pouch, original box, or with the ports covered | No, a long-standing ICAO requirement |
| Capacity | Up to 100 Wh without approval; 100 to 160 Wh only with airline approval; over 160 Wh banned | No (ICAO) |
GACA’s circular follows the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) update to its dangerous goods instructions that took effect on 27 March 2026. Read the full Saudi Press Agency announcement.
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Saudia, flynas and flyadeal Power Bank Limits Compared
| Airline | Capacity limit | How many | On board |
|---|---|---|---|
| Saudia | 100 Wh maximum, according to Saudia’s official customer service account; ask Saudia before flying with anything larger | Two per person | No recharging; use discouraged |
| flynas | Up to 100 Wh; flynas lists 100 to 160 Wh batteries separately, so contact flynas first for those | Two per person (Conditions of Carriage, June 2026) | Must not be recharged and should not be used to charge devices |
| flyadeal | Treated as spare batteries; keep to 100 Wh to be safe | Two per person (GACA rule) | No recharging; use discouraged |
flynas has also banned two specific models in both cabin and checked bags: Noon East power banks and GOUI power banks (model G-BELT 10-K), listed in its travel alerts. If you own one, leave it at home. Riyadh Air has not published a separate power bank policy, so the GACA rules apply to its flights too.
Is My Power Bank Allowed? mAh to Wh Table
Airline limits are in watt-hours (Wh), but most power banks show milliamp-hours (mAh) in large print. Look for the Wh figure printed on the back first. If you only see mAh, use this formula: Wh = mAh x 3.7 / 1000. Use 3.7 volts, not the 5 V output shown next to the USB port.
| Power bank | Watt-hours | Saudi flights in 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| 5,000 mAh | 18.5 Wh | Allowed |
| 10,000 mAh | 37 Wh | Allowed |
| 20,000 mAh | 74 Wh | Allowed |
| 26,800 mAh | 99 Wh | Allowed (largest common size under 100 Wh) |
| 30,000 mAh | 111 Wh | Only with airline approval; Saudia says 100 Wh maximum |
| 40,000 mAh | 148 Wh | Only with airline approval |
| 50,000 mAh | 185 Wh | Not allowed on any flight |
A power bank with no capacity printed on it is often refused at screening, because staff cannot check it. Old, swollen or damaged power banks should not be packed at all.
Can You Charge Your Phone With a Power Bank on a Saudi Flight?
There are two different things here. Recharging the power bank itself on board, for example from the seat USB port, is prohibited. Using the power bank to charge your phone or tablet is not banned on flights from Saudi airports, but GACA recommends against it and the crew can ask you to stop. The safest habit is to charge everything before you board and keep the power bank switched off in your bag under the seat in front of you, where you can reach it if it gets hot.
Flying Back to Saudi Arabia: Other Countries Are Stricter
On the way home, the rules of your airline and the country you depart from apply, and some are stricter than Saudi Arabia:
- Emirates: since 1 October 2025, only one power bank under 100 Wh, and no use at all on board.
- Qatar: the Qatar civil aviation authority set a maximum of two power banks of up to 100 Wh each from June 2026, cabin only, no recharging.
- India: the DGCA advisory of November 2025 bans using power banks on board and charging them from seat power.
- Singapore: a two power bank limit for flights departing Singapore since 15 April 2026, and no use or charging on board.
- Lufthansa Group: since 15 January 2026, a maximum of two, no use or charging on board, and not in overhead bins.
If you are flying out for a visit or on an exit and re-entry visa, check the airline of your return flight, not just the one you fly out with.
What Changes in 2027
IATA, the airlines’ trade body, says the option to carry a power bank between 100 and 160 Wh with airline approval will not be carried into its 68th edition of the Dangerous Goods Regulations, which applies from 1 January 2027 (IATA guidance, March 2026). In practice, most airlines are expected to cap power banks at 100 Wh from 2027. If you are buying a new power bank, pick one rated under 100 Wh, such as a 20,000 or 26,800 mAh model.
What Happens If Your Power Bank Breaks the Rules
A power bank found in checked luggage is removed by security, which can delay your bag. A third power bank, or one over the limit, is taken from you at screening or at the gate, and you usually cannot get it back. No fine for passengers has been published for power banks. GACA’s published aviation penalties are mostly fines on airlines for not following its instructions, not on travellers.
Packing Checklist Before Your Flight
- Count your power banks: two at most, including the one in your handbag.
- Check the Wh or mAh on each one against the table above.
- Put them in your cabin bag, each in a pouch or with the ports covered.
- If the airline takes your cabin bag at the gate, take the power banks out first.
- Charge your phone before boarding, and do not plug the power bank into the seat.
- Flying during airport disruption? Check your rights if your flight is delayed or cancelled.
Also travelling with gold or cash? See the SAR 40,000 cash and gold declaration limit and how much gold you can take to India. Going for Umrah? Read our guide to the Umrah visa.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many mAh power bank is allowed on Saudi Airlines (Saudia)?
Saudia’s official account says power banks must not exceed 100 Wh, which is about 27,000 mAh at the standard 3.7 volts. That means 10,000 and 20,000 mAh power banks are fine, and a 26,800 mAh bank is the largest common size that stays under the limit. You can carry at most two, in your cabin bag only, and you must not recharge them on board.
Can I carry a 20000 mAh power bank on a flight in Saudi Arabia?
Yes. A 20,000 mAh power bank is about 74 Wh, well under the 100 Wh limit used by Saudia, flynas and flyadeal. Keep it in your cabin bag, not in checked luggage, protect it in its pouch or with the terminals covered, and remember the limit of two power banks per person on flights from Saudi airports.
Can I charge my phone with a power bank on a Saudi flight?
GACA prohibits recharging the power bank itself on board, for example plugging it into the seat USB port. Using the power bank to charge your phone is not banned, but GACA recommends against it, and the crew can ask you to stop. Charge your devices before you board and keep the power bank switched off in your bag.
Can I put a power bank in my checked luggage in Saudi Arabia?
No. Power banks and spare lithium batteries are allowed only in carry-on baggage on every airline, and this has been the rule for years. If a power bank is found in a checked bag, security will remove it and may delay the bag. If the airline takes your cabin bag at the gate, take the power bank out and keep it with you.
What changes for power banks from January 2027?
IATA says the option to carry a power bank between 100 and 160 Wh with airline approval will not be carried into its 2027 dangerous goods rules, which apply from 1 January 2027. Most airlines are expected to cap power banks at 100 Wh, or about 27,000 mAh. If you are buying a new power bank, choose one rated under 100 Wh.
Sources: Saudi Press Agency, GACA power bank circular, 22 May 2026; IATA Guidance Document for Operators on Power Banks, 31 March 2026; Saudia official customer service replies (2025); flynas Conditions of Carriage (June 2026) and travel alerts; flyadeal help centre; Emirates, Qatar CAA, India DGCA, CAAS and Lufthansa Group announcements as dated above.