Riyadh-Metro on SAUDI VISION 2030 Intelligence Platform

Cities and Urban Development

Sun, 22 Feb 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Cities and Urban Development: Saudi Arabia’s Urban Transformation Agenda

Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 framework positions cities and urban development as a foundational priority within Pillar 1: A Vibrant Society. The Kingdom’s ambition is explicit and measurable: place three Saudi cities among the top 100 globally ranked urban centres by liveability, sustainability, and economic competitiveness. This target reflects a recognition that the quality of urban life is inseparable from the broader social transformation objectives embedded in the national strategy.

Riyadh Metro

Sun, 22 Feb 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Definition

The Riyadh Metro is a fully automated, driverless rapid transit system comprising six lines and 85 stations spanning 176 kilometres across the Saudi capital, representing one of the largest single-phase urban rail projects in the world.

Overview

Approved in 2012 and construction launched in 2014, the Riyadh Metro is being developed by the Royal Commission for Riyadh City (now Riyadh Region Authority). The system was designed and built by three international consortia — BACS (led by Bechtel), FAST (led by FCC/Samsung/Alstom), and ANM (led by Ansaldo/Salini) — each responsible for two of the six lines.