Riyadh Metro Guide: Lines, Fares & Smart Tips

The Riyadh Metro has transformed how residents and visitors move around the Saudi capital. With driverless trains, air-conditioned stations and easy links to city buses, it offers a fast and affordable alternative to sitting in traffic. If you're new to the network or simply want to travel smarter, this guide from سعودي ليفنج walks you through the lines, fares, cards, discounts and the practical tips that make each trip smoother.

The Network at a Glance

The system is made up of six driverless lines covering roughly 176 km across the city, with free transfers between lines. Each line is colour-coded and runs along a major corridor:

• Blue Line: Olaya–Batha
• Red Line: King Abdullah Road
• Orange Line: Al Madinah Al Munawrah Road
• Yellow Line: King Khalid International Airport Road
• Green Line: King Abdulaziz Road
• Purple Line: Abdulrahman Bin Auf Road–Sheikh Hassan Bin Hussein Bin Ali Road

Because transfers between lines are free, you can cross the city and switch corridors without buying a new ticket, as long as your time-based pass is still valid.

Fares and Passes

Fares are time-based rather than distance-based, so a short hop costs the same as a long journey within the same validity window. A single time ticket also covers unlimited metro and bus travel during that period.

Standard fares:

• 2 hours: SAR 4
• 3 days: SAR 20
• 7 days: SAR 40
• 30 days: SAR 140
• Annual: SAR 1,260

First Class fares:

• 2 hours: SAR 10
• 3 days: SAR 50
• 7 days: SAR 100
• 30 days: SAR 350
• Annual: SAR 3,150

There is also a student option priced at SAR 260 for 120 days, subject to eligibility verification. The annual and student passes became available from 1 January 2026.

The Darb Card and How to Pay

You have three main ways to pay: the Darb app, a physical Darb card, or the ticket machines at stations. The Darb card costs SAR 10 and can be purchased or topped up at station ticket machines and sales offices. Handily, the same card works for both the Riyadh Metro and Riyadh buses, so you only need one card for the whole public transport network.

• Buy or reload tickets through the Darb app.
• Pick up a Darb card at a machine or a sales office.
• Use ticket machines directly at any station.

Discounts and Free Travel

Several groups qualify for a 50% fare discount after their eligibility is validated and a registered Darb card is issued:

• Eligible students
• People aged 60 or over
• People with disabilities and one companion
• Cancer patients and one companion
• First-degree relatives of martyrs

In addition, children aged six and under travel free. If you think you qualify, complete the eligibility validation first, then request the discounted registered card.

Operating Hours

The metro runs from 05:30 to midnight (00:00) Saturday through Thursday. On Friday, service starts later, from 10:00 to midnight, to allow for Jumu'ah prayers. Plan Friday mornings accordingly, especially if you're heading to an early appointment.

Tips to Ride Like a Local

• Use the Darb app to plan your route, buy tickets and check your card balance before you set off.
• Remember to tap in and tap out at the gates for every journey.
• Keep the same ticket or Darb card when changing lines — you don't need a new one for transfers.
• Metro-to-bus transfers stay covered as long as your time-based ticket is still valid.
• Give yourself extra time on Friday mornings, since service begins later.
• For frequent commuters, a 30-day or annual pass usually works out far cheaper than buying short tickets repeatedly.

Whether you're commuting to work, heading to the airport road corridor, or exploring the city on a weekend, the Riyadh Metro makes getting around simpler and more predictable. Always confirm the latest fares, eligibility rules and timings on the official transport channels before you travel.

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