Riyadh Metro Tests New Segments as Expansion Advances

Riyadh Metro is carrying out new system tests on additional segments and future extensions as part of a long-term expansion and reliability program overseen by the Royal Commission for Riyadh City. The network is already in full commercial service across the capital.

The network operates 6 lines, 85 stations and 176 km, running fully driverless. Full service arrived in phases: Line 1 (Blue), Line 4 (Yellow) and Line 6 (Purple) opened on 1 December 2024; Line 2 (Red) and Line 5 (Green) followed on 15 December 2024; and Line 3 (Orange) began on 5 January 2025, completing the network. Trains run daily from 06:00 to midnight across all six lines.

Fares and how to pay

Fares use the Darb card and app with time-based passes valid on all lines: SAR 4 for a 2-hour pass, SAR 20 for a 3-day ticket, SAR 40 for a 1-week ticket, and SAR 140 for a 30-day pass, all offering unlimited rides during their period.

Riders can buy tickets through the official Darb app (Arabic and English), cashless station machines, or staffed counters at major stations. Payment is by contactless credit and debit cards, mobile wallets, or bank transfer via the app. The unified call center is 19933. Metro ticketing runs on its own Darb system and does not use other government apps.

The completed network passed its network-wide final testing before full 2025 operation, so current tests focus on optimization and integration rather than basic commissioning. Work is also under way on the Red Line western extension linking King Saud University to Diriyah Gate: 8.4 km with 5 new stations, with a dedicated tunnel boring machine already factory-tested and tunneling begun. Completion is targeted for around the early 2030s, promising wider coverage for residents across the capital.

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