Riyadh Metro Red Line Extension Awarded For Design And Construction To Enhance Public Transport

The Royal Commission for Riyadh City has awarded a major contract to extend the Red Line of the Riyadh Metro by 8.4 kilometres, linking King Saud University with the Diriyah Gate Development project through five additional stations, aimed at strengthening the capital’s public transport network and overall urban connectivity.

The Red Line expansion of the Riyadh Metro is designed to connect important residential districts with educational, cultural, and healthcare facilities, while also improving access to key development zones such as Diriyah. The project supports wider plans to make public transport a practical daily option for residents and visitors across Riyadh.

According to the Royal Commission for Riyadh City, demand for metro services has grown strongly since operations started in late 2024. Total ridership has exceeded 173 million passengers, showing that many people now rely on the network and regard its performance and service levels as dependable and efficient.

Minister of State, Cabinet Member, and CEO of the Royal Commission for Riyadh City Eng. Ibrahim Al-Sultan states that the Red Line expansion of the Riyadh Metro will strengthen the public transport system, support a sustainable urban mobility model, and improve links between major centres, neighbourhoods, and educational and cultural destinations throughout Riyadh.

The Red Line expansion of the Riyadh Metro involves 7.1 kilometres of deep underground tunnels and 1.3 kilometres of elevated tracks, together with new stations. Two stations will serve King Saud University, one dedicated to the medical city and health colleges, and another positioned for the main university concourse.

Within Diriyah, the Red Line expansion of the Riyadh Metro will add three further stations, one of which is planned as a future interchange with Line 7. This configuration is intended to support the Diriyah Gate Development project and improve integration between heritage areas, new developments, and the wider city network.

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The Red Line expansion of the Riyadh Metro continues wider development efforts in Riyadh during the era of Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, with ongoing support and direction from His Royal Highness Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Crown Prince, Prime Minister, and Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Royal Commission for Riyadh City.

The Red Line expansion of the Riyadh Metro builds on the Riyadh Public Transport Project, which was inaugurated under the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques in November 2024, with the metro system positioned as the backbone of the capital’s public transport network, and the new extension scheduled for completion in about six years.

With inputs from SPA