Saudi Arabia’s $25 billion metro project reshapes daily life in Riyadh

Metro stations across Riyadh are now packed with daily commuters — a scene that would have been unthinkable just a few years ago. In a country roughly six times the size of Germany, public transport was virtually non-existent only a few years ago, with SUVs and pickup trucks dominating transportation across the country.

That began to change with the launch of the Riyadh Metro, first inaugurated in November 2024 with three lines, followed by additional routes. The system, described by the Worldcrunch outlet as highly efficient, reflects broader societal changes as the kingdom embraces new ways of living and working.

The shift has been driven by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, also known as MBS, who has led efforts to reduce Saudi Arabia’s reliance on oil and diversify the economy. Following the 2015 oil price crash, which pushed the country into a record deficit, he launched the sweeping Vision 2030 strategy to transform the kingdom into a global hub for business and tourism.

Major international events — including the 2030 World Expo and the 2034 FIFA World Cup — are part of that push, with heavy investment in infrastructure to match.

Mega-project reshapes daily life in sprawling capital

At the heart of this transformation is the Riyadh Metro, a $25 billion project built from scratch for a city of around 8 million people. Spanning more than 176 kilometres, the six-line network links key areas including the airport, universities and the King Abdullah Financial District.

To deliver the system, the Royal Commission for Riyadh City partnered with major global transport firms such as RATP Dev, Alstom and Siemens.

“Our goal is to position Riyadh among the world’s most remarkable cities in terms of quality of life, tourism, and services,” the crown prince said.

“With six automated metro lines built simultaneously, what has been achieved here is absolutely unique,” added Hiba Farès, CEO of RATP Dev, whose teams operate two of the network’s main lines.

Early figures highlight rapid uptake, with 122 million trips recorded in under a year — 60% of them on the two central routes.

The metro is also reshaping social dynamics. Women, in particular, are making extensive use of the system, with many relying on it for independent travel. On Sundays, which marks the first day of the week in many Arab countries, large numbers of students head to Princess Nourah bint Abdulrahman University, one of the world’s largest women-only campuses.

The scale of the challenge remains significant. Riyadh covers more than 1,790 km² — far larger than a city like Paris at just 105 km² — and faces extreme heat and limited pedestrian infrastructure. To address this, authorities have rolled out 89 bus routes to complement the metro, aiming to build a fully integrated, multi-modal transport network.

By Nazrin Sadigova