The much-awaited Riyadh Metro, the backbone of Saudi capital’s public transport network, was inaugurated on Wednesday (November 27) by King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud.

 

King Salman viewed an introductory video about the Riyadh Metro — one of the Kingdom’s major projects during his reign — distinguished by its standout design and technological features, with a network that spans 176 km across 6 lines and 85 stations, including 4 iconic ones, said a Saudi Press Agency report.

 

His Royal Highness Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Crown Prince, Prime Minister, and Chairman of the Royal Commission for Riyadh City (RCRC), said: “The Riyadh Public Transport Project, which spans metro and bus networks, is the culmination of concerted efforts made by Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, and the outcome of his visionary leadership, while serving as the Chairman of the High Commission for the Development of Arriyadh, the predecessor of RCRC.”

 

The Riyadh Public Transport Project was launched following studies conducted back then by the High Commission for the Development of Arriyadh (now RCRC) on the capital city’s current and future public transport needs, and outlined the best solutions for a sustainable public transit system that reflects the city’s unique urban, population, and traffic characteristics. These studies resulted in the comprehensive Public Transport Plan for Riyadh City, which included a metro system and a parallel bus network that would meet Riyadh’s current and projected mobility needs. 

 

The plan culminated with the Council of Ministers adopting a resolution to “approve the execution of the Riyadh Public Transport Project – Metro and Buses.” RCRC then launched a bidding process that saw the participation of several global consortia. Finally, a Royal Decree awarded the Riyadh Metro contracts to three consortia, comprising over 19 major global companies from 13 countries.

 

Considered one of the world’s largest public transport projects conducted in a single phase, the Riyadh Public Transport stands out for its meticulous planning and exceptional design and technology, and is tailored to meet Riyadh’s social, environmental, and urban requirements. It is also poised to significantly contribute to the capital city’s urban mobility needs, enhancing the quality of life of its residents and visitors alike, in line with the objectives of Vision 2030, said the report.