Riyadh Rolls Out Flexible Hours to Ease Congestion

Riyadh has announced new measures to ease weekend and peak-hour congestion, combining flexible working hours across six major business hubs with active traffic-diversion plans tied to ongoing road-development projects. The flexible-hours system takes effect on 2 June 2026.

The flexible working hours will apply across six business districts: مركز الملك عبدالله المالي (KAFD), Digital City, the Diplomatic Quarter, Laysen Valley, Granada Business, and ROSHN Front. Employers at these sites will be able to shift start and end times within a four-hour window for fixed-schedule administrative positions.

The arrangement is limited to office-based administrative roles. Sectors that require continuous operation or direct public service — including healthcare, education, and field-based roles — are excluded, ensuring essential services remain unaffected.

Roadworks and diversions

On the traffic-management side, the Royal Commission for Riyadh City has active diversion plans linked to major road projects, including works on Taif Road and Jeddah Road. Live diversion details are being pushed to digital maps and navigation platforms so drivers can plan routes in advance.

For questions about Riyadh road-development projects and traffic-management measures, a unified inquiry number, 19998, is available.

The changes matter for the many residents and expats who commute daily into central business areas. Spreading arrival and departure times across a wider window is intended to smooth traffic flow, cut peak-hour bottlenecks, and shorten commutes for workers across الرياض.

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