Riyadh Metro Guide: Lines, Stations, Tickets, and Travel Tips

Riyadh Metro: The World’s Longest Driverless Metro

The Riyadh Metro transformed how visitors and residents move across the Saudi capital. Inaugurated by King Salman on November 27, 2024, the system is the longest driverless metro in the world — six lines, 85 stations, and 176 km of combined track length, built at a cost of $22.5 billion as part of the King Abdulaziz Project for Riyadh Public Transport. Recognized by Guinness World Records as the world’s longest fully automated driverless metro network, the system eliminates the need to rely exclusively on ride-hailing (Uber and Careem) and provides direct connections between major attractions, hotels, and King Khalid International Airport.

The metro recorded 1.9 million passengers in its first week of operation in December 2024, demonstrating immediate public adoption. At full capacity, the system is designed to accommodate 3.6 million passengers daily and is expected to reduce car trips by 250,000 per day, saving approximately 400,000 litres of fuel daily. For visitors, the metro is the single most practical transportation option in Riyadh — cheaper than taxis, faster than buses, and immune to the traffic congestion that can add 30-60 minutes to road journeys during peak hours.

Phased Opening Timeline

The metro launched in three phases over five weeks, bringing the full network online by early January 2025:

Phase 1 (December 1, 2024): Lines 1 (Blue), 4 (Yellow), and 6 (Purple) opened, providing the north-south backbone, airport connection, and southeastern coverage.

Phase 2 (December 15, 2024): Lines 2 (Red) and 5 (Green) launched, adding the east-west corridor and western-southern connections.

Phase 3 (January 5, 2025): Line 3 (Orange) completed the network, adding the longest line at 41 km with broad suburban coverage.

Metro Lines at a Glance

Line 1 (Blue): The backbone line running north-south through the city centre. Key stations serve KAFD, Olaya Street (for Kingdom Centre Tower and Al Faisaliah Tower), and the central business district. This is the line most visitors will use most frequently, as it connects the primary hotel district, skyline landmarks, and heritage areas.

Line 2 (Red): East-west on King Abdullah Road. 24.2 km with 15 stations. Connects eastern residential districts to the city centre and western areas. Useful for visitors staying in eastern Riyadh or accessing attractions along the King Abdullah Road corridor.

Line 3 (Orange): The longest line at 41 km, providing broad coverage across the city’s expanding suburbs and connecting to interchange stations on other lines. Line 3 extends the metro’s reach into developing areas and provides connections that would otherwise require ride-hailing.

Line 4 (Yellow): The airport line. Serves King Khalid International Airport with three dedicated stations — Terminal 1 and 2 (station 20), Terminal 3 and 4 (station 19), and Terminal 5 (station 18). This line makes the metro the most practical and affordable way to travel between the airport and central Riyadh, replacing taxi rides that cost SAR 40-80 with a SAR 4 metro fare.

Line 5 (Green): Connects western and southern districts, providing access to areas including the route toward Diriyah. Useful for visitors headed to the UNESCO World Heritage Site and Bujairi Terrace dining district.

Line 6 (Purple): Serves the southern and southeastern parts of Riyadh, connecting residential areas to the main network. Less immediately relevant for most tourist itineraries but provides access to developing southern districts.

Iconic Stations

Four architecturally significant main stations anchor the network and are destinations in their own right:

KAFD Station: Designed by Zaha Hadid Architects, this station features flowing parametric architecture with a shell-like canopy structure that has become one of the most photographed contemporary buildings in Riyadh. The station serves the King Abdullah Financial District, placing visitors at the centre of Riyadh’s most architecturally ambitious development. See our KAFD profile and Photography Guide for visit planning.

STC Station: A major transit hub serving the central-eastern corridor with interchanges to multiple lines.

Qasr Al Hokm Station: Located in the central Riyadh heritage area, this station places visitors within walking distance of Masmak Fortress, Souq Al Zal, and the National Museum — the core of any heritage-focused itinerary.

Western Station: The western terminus providing access to developing western districts and future expansion corridors.

Ticket Prices and Passes

The metro uses a straightforward fare structure designed for both residents and visitors.

Students and seniors receive a 50% discount on all pass types. Tickets can be purchased at station ticket machines, which accept cash and cards. The 3-day and 7-day passes are the best value for most tourists — a visitor making 5 trips per day on a 7-day pass pays approximately SAR 1.14 per trip, compared to SAR 4 per trip with individual 2-hour passes. See our budget travel guide for additional money-saving strategies.

Value comparison: A typical Uber or Careem ride across central Riyadh costs SAR 25-60. A single ride-hailing trip can equal 6-15 metro journeys. The airport-to-city metro ride (SAR 4) replaces a taxi that costs SAR 40-80 — the savings from this single trip nearly pay for a 3-day unlimited pass.

Using the Metro as a Visitor

Classes: Trains operate with three classes — standard, family (reserved for women and families with children), and first class. The family section designation reflects Saudi social customs. International visitors of any gender can use standard class. Women traveling solo or with other women can choose between standard and family carriages based on personal preference.

Operating Hours: Trains run from approximately 6:00 AM to midnight, with frequency varying by line and time of day. Peak-hour frequency is approximately 3-5 minutes on major lines. Off-peak frequency is 5-10 minutes. Plan your last trip to allow arrival at your destination before midnight.

Capacity: The system is designed to accommodate up to 3.6 million passengers daily, so overcrowding is rarely an issue outside of peak commuting hours (7-9 AM, 4-7 PM on weekdays). During Riyadh Season events, stations near entertainment venues may experience increased traffic.

Air Conditioning: Trains and stations are fully air-conditioned, maintaining comfortable temperatures regardless of the extreme outdoor heat. In summer months when outdoor temperatures exceed 45 degrees Celsius, the metro provides a climate-controlled transportation corridor between destinations.

Connections: The metro integrates with Riyadh’s bus network, which operates over 840 buses on 80 routes linking 2,900 stops across the city. Metro-to-bus transfers extend your reach to areas not directly served by rail. Route information is available through the Riyadh Transit app and Google Maps.

Metro Connections to Major Attractions

The metro provides direct or close access to many of Riyadh’s key visitor destinations:

Kingdom Centre Tower and Al Faisaliah Tower: Line 1 (Blue) serves the Olaya district where both landmarks are located. The towers are within walking distance of the nearest station.

KAFD: Dedicated station on Line 1 (Blue) provides direct access to the King Abdullah Financial District and its restaurants, entertainment venues, and Zaha Hadid-designed architecture.

Central Riyadh and Masmak Fortress: The Qasr Al Hokm station on Line 1 places you within walking distance of the fortress, Souq Al Zal, and the National Museum.

Airport: Line 4 (Yellow) connects all airport terminals to the metro network, making it possible to reach your hotel without a taxi from the moment you land. See the airport section below for terminal-specific station details.

Boulevard City: Accessible via nearby metro stations, though a short ride-hailing trip from the station may be needed depending on the specific entrance.

Diriyah: Line 5 (Green) provides the closest metro access to the Diriyah area, though a short ride-hailing connection from the nearest station may be needed to reach At-Turaif and Bujairi Terrace.

Airport to City Centre by Metro

The Line 4 (Yellow) airport connection is one of the metro’s most valuable features for visitors. King Khalid International Airport sits 35 km north of central Riyadh, and a taxi or ride-hailing trip into the city can take 30-60 minutes depending on traffic and cost SAR 40-80. The metro provides a fixed-time, fixed-price alternative at SAR 4.

Terminal Assignment (as of February 2026): The airport underwent the largest terminal reallocation in its history in February 2026. Terminals 1 and 2 now handle international flights by Saudi carriers (Flyadeal and Flynas at T1, Saudia and Riyadh Air at T2). Terminals 3 and 4 serve domestic routes. Terminal 5 handles international flights by foreign airlines. Check your airline’s terminal before heading to the metro station.

Metro Station Mapping:

• Terminal 1 and 2: Station 20 on Line 4
• Terminal 3 and 4: Station 19 on Line 4
• Terminal 5: Station 18 on Line 4

Capacity Upgrades: Terminals 1 and 2 capacity was boosted 130% from 6 million to 14 million passengers per year. Terminals 3 and 4 capacity is rising from 16 million to 25 million. Total airport capacity is projected at 56 million by end of 2026. The airport currently serves 28.5 million-plus passengers annually, ranked third globally as best airport in 2025 and first as the world’s most punctual airport three consecutive times. The airport features 114 check-in counters, 43 immigration counters, 20 e-passport gates, 75 arrival counters, and 22 e-gates.

Luggage: Trains accommodate standard luggage — rolling suitcases and backpacks are common on the airport line. The carriages are designed with luggage space, making the airport connection practical for travelers with suitcases.

Metro vs. Other Transportation Options

Metro vs. Ride-Hailing: The metro is cheaper (SAR 4 vs. SAR 25-60) and eliminates traffic uncertainty. However, ride-hailing offers door-to-door convenience and is necessary for destinations not near metro stations. The optimal strategy for most visitors: use the metro as your primary transport and supplement with Uber or Careem for last-mile connections.

Metro vs. Car Rental: For visitors planning desert excursions to the Edge of the World or day trips outside the city, a rental car is essential — the metro serves only the metropolitan area. A 4x4 vehicle is recommended for desert destinations. For city-only visits, the metro combined with occasional ride-hailing eliminates the need for a car entirely, and you avoid Riyadh’s considerable peak-hour traffic congestion.

Metro vs. Bus: The bus network covers more routes (80 routes, 2,900 stops) but is slower and can be less intuitive for visitors unfamiliar with the system. The metro is the better option for most tourist itineraries, with buses useful for specific connections beyond the rail network.

Practical Tips

• Plan your route using the Riyadh Metro app or Google Maps, both of which include metro routing with real-time information
• Carry your pass — fare inspections occur and fines apply for traveling without a valid ticket
• Mind prayer times — the metro continues to operate during prayer times, but some station facilities and nearby businesses may temporarily close
• Air conditioning — trains and stations are fully air-conditioned, providing welcome relief from Riyadh’s heat. Carry a light layer if you are sensitive to cold air conditioning. See our weather guide for seasonal temperature information
• Luggage — trains accommodate standard luggage, making the airport connection practical
• Safety — the system is modern, clean, and well-monitored with security cameras and staff throughout. The metro is one of the safest ways to travel in Riyadh
• Wi-Fi — stations offer connectivity for navigation and communication
• Photography — photography is generally permitted in stations and on platforms. The KAFD station is a popular photography destination. See our Photography Guide
• Accessibility — stations and trains are designed for wheelchair access, with elevators and designated spaces on trains

Future Expansion

The proposed Line 7 would extend the network to link the airport terminals to Qiddiya City — the massive entertainment destination being built southwest of Riyadh — passing through MiSK City, New Murabba, Diriyah, and King Abdullah Gardens. This expansion would transform the metro from a city-centre system into a metropolitan network connecting Riyadh’s major giga-projects. Construction timelines have not been confirmed, but the line would serve future developments that are central to Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 plans.

Saudi Arabia’s broader aviation strategy targets tripling national passenger traffic to 330 million and expanding connectivity to 250-plus destinations by 2030. King Salman International Airport — the planned expansion of KKIA — will grow to 57 square km with 3-4 large terminals and 6 runways, accommodating 120 million passengers annually. The metro’s airport connection will become increasingly important as passenger volumes grow.

The metro’s role in Riyadh’s tourism infrastructure will continue to expand as the city prepares for Expo 2030, FIFA World Cup 2034, and the ongoing growth that has seen Saudi Arabia welcome 122 million visitors nationally in 2025, with revised Vision 2030 targets aiming for 150 million annual tourists.

For questions about using the Riyadh Metro or getting around Riyadh, contact us at info@discoverriyadh.ai.

Sources: Royal Commission for Riyadh City, Saudi Press Agency, Visit Saudi, Wikipedia.