RIYADH. The Royal Commission of Riyadh City has launched the first phase of the Riyadh Bus service as part of the King Abdulaziz Project for Riyadh Public Transport. More than 340 buses will operate on 15 routes, forming part of an ambitious project that will ultimately include 86 routes, 633 stations, and stops. The network will cover 1,900 km when all five phases become operational by the end of 2024, surpassing 800 buses and 2,900 stations. Additionally, the network will integrate with metro trains, with the project’s total value estimated at $22.5 billion, which aims to reduce the number of car trips by approximately 250,000 trips per day.
The Riyadh metro will have six tracks and 85 stations, covering 176 km. The first phase of the project aims to serve the city’s mobility needs, boost the public transport sector, enhance connectivity, and improve the quality of life for residents and visitors alike. The launch of an online portal for passengers to purchase tickets and view bus routes is also part of the project.
A single trip ticket costs SR4 ($1.07), valid for two hours from the first login on one of the buses or by activating the ticket through the application. The project is part of Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 initiative, which has already seen massive improvements in the transport sector. As part of this initiative, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman has recently launched Riyadh Air, a wholly-owned national airline aimed at making Riyadh a global transportation, trade, and tourism destination. Operating from the Saudi capital, it is expected to add $20 billion to the non-oil GDP growth and create over 200,000 jobs.