Skip to main content

First three lines of Riyadh Metro to open

Driverless mass transit system runs 176km in Saudi Arabia's capital
By Adam Hill November 29, 2024 Read time: 2 mins
Riyadh Metro: fully open in January 2025 (image: RCRC)

Riyadh Metro, a driverless mass transit system, will open to the public on 1 December.

Riders will be able to use three lines of the network, which will soon rise to six lines in the Saudi Arabian capital.

The Blue line (Line 1), Yellow (Line 4) and Purple (Line 6) are the first to open; then comes the Red line (Line 2) and Green (Line 5) on 15 December; and finally the Orange line (Line 3) on 5 January 2025.

The 176km network is designed to accommodate up to 3.6 million passengers daily at full capacity, with 85 stations, including four 'iconic main' stations: King Abdullah Financial District (KAFD), STC, Qasr Al Hokm, and Western Station.

Riyadh Metro is a key component of Riyadh Public Transport (RPT), which also includes buses - including bus rapid transit and bus on demand - as well as park and ride facilities.

It will "significantly bolster urban mobility and the services and logistics sector in Riyadh", according to the Royal Commission for Riyadh City (RCRC).

This investment in infrastructure and mobility is part of the Saudi Vision 2030, strengthening the city’s readiness for hosting major events.

"The network is in line with Riyadh’s economic, social, environmental and urban development objectives, and represents a historic milestone in the capital’s transportation sector," says H.E. Ibrahim bin Mohammed Al Sultan, minister of state, member of the Council of Ministers, and CEO of RCRC.

“Today, Riyadh City is reaping the benefits of this project that will reshape the capital’s image and redefine mobility for its residents and visitors."

Related Content

  • January 8, 2025
    Riyadh Metro hits schedule with clockwork Orange
    Orange Line opens on time, completing the network in Saudi Arabia's capital
  • August 28, 2013
    Riyadh metro contracts awarded
    The contracts for the design and construction of Riyadh’s new US$22.5 billion metro system, the next major step in the development of the largest public transport project in the world - the Riyadh Public Transport Project. The Project encompasses a city-wide metro, bus network, and park and ride services. The Arriyadh Development Authority (ADA) has announced that Riyadh Metro Transit Consultants (RMTC), a joint venture between US firm Parsons and French firms Egis and Systra, has been awarded the first
  • May 1, 2025
    Keys to the Kingdom
    Saudi Arabia is investing heavily in smart infrastructure projects. Zeina Nazer takes a look at them – from Riyadh Metro to the controversial ‘vertical urbanism’ of The Line
  • December 11, 2024
    Indra ticketing starts in Riyadh
    New system is part of €266m public transit deal in Saudi Arabian capital