Riyadh Metro Guide: Lines, Fares & Rider Tips

Riyadh's driverless metro has transformed how people move around the capital. With six colour-coded lines, roughly 83–85 stations and about 176 km of track, the network reaches business districts, universities, government hubs, museums and even the airport. All six lines have been in full public service since 5 January 2025, so whether you're a long-time resident or newly arrived, it's now a genuinely practical way to skip Riyadh traffic. This guide from سعودي ليفنج walks you through the lines, fares, hours and the small tips that make every trip smoother.

The six lines at a glance

Each line has its own colour, which makes navigation easy even if you don't read the station signs closely:

• Line 1 – Blue: Runs SAB Bank ↔ Ad Dar Al Baida, the central north–south spine with 25 stations. This is the backbone most riders use.
• Line 2 – Red: King Saud University ↔ King Fahd Sports City, a major east–west corridor.
• Line 3 – Orange: Jeddah Road ↔ Khashm Al An, a long east–west and southwest–east axis crossing much of the city.
• Line 4 – Yellow: KAFD ↔ Airport T1–2, linking King Khalid International Airport to مركز الملك عبدالله المالي.
• Line 5 – Green: Ministry of Education ↔ National Museum, serving the central government and museum district.
• Line 6 – Purple: KAFD ↔ An Naseem, arcing through the eastern and southeastern districts.

Operating hours

Plan your trips around these times so you're not left waiting at a closed station:

• Saturday to Thursday: roughly 05:30 to midnight (00:00).
• Friday: roughly 10:00 to midnight (00:00), with a later start to accommodate Jumu'ah prayers.

If you're travelling early on a Friday morning, keep in mind that service begins later that day.

Tickets and fares

Fares are the same network-wide — there's no extra charge for particular lines. Here are the current options in ريال سعودي:

• Single / 2-hour ticket – SAR 4: valid for up to two hours from first validation, including transfers between lines.
• 3-day ticket – SAR 20: unlimited rides across three consecutive calendar days from activation.
• 1-week ticket – SAR 40: unlimited rides for seven consecutive days.
• 30-day pass – SAR 140: unlimited rides for 30 consecutive days.

If you ride even a few times a week, the multi-day passes quickly pay for themselves compared with buying single tickets each trip.

How to buy and use tickets

You have several convenient options, both physical and digital:

• Ticket machines: available at every station, selling paper tickets and rechargeable cards, and accepting both cash and card payments.
• Service counters: found at major hubs, handy for buying or renewing the 3-day, 1-week and 30-day passes.
• Contactless smart cards: reusable cards you tap at the entry gate and again at the exit gate.
• Mobile app / digital tickets: the metro's official app offers QR-code tickets and pass management; simply scan the QR code at the entry gate.

Good news for newcomers: you don't need to link the metro to any government account to buy or use a ticket — no أبشر, مقيم, قوى, ناجز or نفاذ registration is required just to ride.

Practical tips for a smoother ride

• Remember to tap out with smart cards, and keep your single or day-pass ticket until you exit.
• Note the colour of the line you need rather than just the station name — it's the fastest way to navigate transfers.
• For airport trips, the Yellow line (Line 4) connects directly to King Khalid International Airport terminals.
• The 2-hour single ticket already covers transfers, so you can switch lines without buying again within that window.
• Confirm the latest fares, hours and station details on the metro's official channels before travelling, as these can be updated.

With clear colour-coded lines, affordable fares and simple ticketing, the metro makes crossing الرياض faster and far less stressful than driving. Keep a rechargeable card or the app ready, and you're set to explore the capital on rails.

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