Saudi Arabia: Riyadh Metro To Begin This Year, Confirms Minister

The Riyadh Metro is set to begin operations this year, according to Saudi Minister of Transport and Logistics Services, Saleh Al-Jasser. This announcement aligns with a previous statement from the Royal Commission for Riyadh City (RCRC).

Residents have been eagerly observing trial runs of the metro trains across various lines over the past few months. The anticipation is growing as the city prepares for this significant development, according to multiple reports.

Minister Al-Jasser highlighted that the Riyadh Metro is the largest metro project in the world to be constructed in a single phase. He made these remarks during an interview with Al-Arabiya Business at the inauguration of Maersk's largest integrated logistics zone in the Middle East at Jeddah Islamic Port.

The metro is part of the King Abdulaziz Project for Riyadh Public Transport. This initiative aims to provide all population groups with suitable public transport services, addressing both current and future mobility needs in Riyadh.

The public transport network will feature six metro lines, 84 metro stations, 80 bus routes, 2,860 bus stops, and 842 buses. Together, these elements will create an interconnected city capable of handling 1.7 million passengers daily during the initial operation phase.

The metro network spans a total length of 176 km and includes 84 stations. It will cover densely populated areas and key public facilities such as educational, commercial, and medical institutions. The network will also connect to King Khalid International Airport and King Abdullah Financial District.

Detailed Metro Lines

The Blue line runs along Al-Olaya – Al-Batha – Al-Hayer roads for 38 km. The Red line follows King Abdullah Road for 25.3 km. The Orange line covers Al-Madinah Al-Munawarah Road – Prince Saad Bin Abdurrahman I Road for 40.7 km.

The Yellow line stretches along King Khalid International Airport Road for 29.6 km. The Green line runs along King Abdulaziz Road for 12.9 km, while the Violet line covers Abdurrahman Bin Awf Road – Sheikh Hassan Bin Hussain Bin Ali Road for 30 km.

Main Stations

The project includes four main stations located in densely populated areas and at intersections of metro lines and bus networks. These stations offer support services such as parking lots, ticket outlets, shops, and customer service offices.

The four main stations are Qasr Al-Hukm District, King Abdullah Financial District (KAFD), Western Metro Station, and STC Station.

This extensive network aims to transform Riyadh into a well-connected city with efficient public transport options for all residents.