Riyadh Metro Guide: Lines, Fares & Smart Tips

The Riyadh Metro has quickly become the backbone of getting around the capital. As a fully driverless urban rail system with several color-coded lines, it connects major districts, business hubs and residential areas — and it works hand-in-hand with the city's public buses. If you're new to Riyadh or simply want to stop relying on your car for every trip, this guide from سعودي ليفنج walks you through the lines, the 2026 fares, and the practical tips that make riding easy.

How the network works

The metro is built around multiple color-coded lines that cross the city and intersect at key interchange stations, allowing you to switch lines without leaving the fare system. Because the trains are driverless and run on fixed schedules, service is frequent and predictable throughout the day.

The best part is integration: your metro ticket also covers Riyadh's public buses through the Darb ticketing system. This means a single time-based ticket lets you combine metro and bus travel seamlessly to reach destinations the rail lines don't directly serve.

Ticket classes

There are two travel classes on the metro:

• Standard (Regular) class — the everyday option most riders use.
• First Class — a premium option with the same validity rules but a higher price.

Importantly, the validity of each ticket type is the same across both classes; only the price changes depending on the class you choose.

Time-based fares in 2026

Most passengers buy simple time-based tickets that allow unlimited trips on both the metro and integrated buses during the ticket's time window. Here are the Standard class prices:

• 2-hour ticket: SAR 4
• 3-day ticket: SAR 20
• 7-day (weekly) ticket: SAR 40
• 30-day (monthly) ticket: SAR 140

The First Class equivalents are:

• 2-hour ticket: SAR 10
• 3-day ticket: SAR 50
• 7-day ticket: SAR 100
• 30-day ticket: SAR 350

For the 2-hour ticket, the clock starts from your first validation, and you can transfer between metro and buses freely as long as you stay within the validity window.

Student, annual and concession options

If you're studying in Riyadh, the student pass is excellent value: SAR 260 for Standard class, valid for 120 days (one academic term) with unlimited metro and bus travel. Note that the student pass is available in Standard class only — there is no First Class student option.

From 1 January 2026, annual passes are also available for regular commuters:

• Annual pass, Standard class: SAR 1,260
• Annual pass, First Class: SAR 3,150

Both are valid for 12 months from activation, with unlimited metro and integrated bus travel. On concessions, children under 6 travel free of charge. No separate senior fare is listed in the 2026 fare tables.

Buying and using your ticket

The main way to pay is the Darb card, which stores your chosen ticket and is tapped at station gates and on buses. Load the product that suits your travel pattern — a 2-hour ticket for the occasional trip, or a weekly, monthly or annual pass if you commute regularly. Behind the scenes the system uses a distance-band model (roughly SAR 2–8 depending on trip length), but as a passenger you'll normally just buy the flat time-based tickets above.

Practical tips for riders

• Pick the right product: if you ride most days, a monthly or annual pass costs far less than buying single tickets.
• Always validate on entry so your time-based ticket clock starts correctly.
• Use interchange stations to switch lines and combine metro with buses to reach your final stop.
• Keep your Darb card topped up to avoid delays at the gates.
• Traveling with young children? Under-6s ride free, making the metro a budget-friendly family option.

Fares and products can be updated over time, so before buying a longer pass it's worth confirming the latest prices and conditions through the official Riyadh public transport channels. Once you're set up with a Darb card, the metro is one of the fastest and most affordable ways to move around the capital.

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