Saudi Public Bus Ridership Rises 23.2% in Q2 2026

Public bus use across Saudi Arabia continued its upward climb in the second quarter of 2026, with urban services inside cities and governorates carrying more than 26.34 million passengers — a 23.2% increase compared with the same period in 2025. The figures reflect a steady shift toward mass transit as networks expand and services mature.

Riyadh led by a wide margin with 20.07 million riders, followed by Makkah at 2.97 million and Jeddah at 1.19 million. The Dammam–Qatif area recorded 835,000 passengers, while Madinah reached about 490,000. Other cities also posted notable numbers: Qassim (273,000), Taif (194,000), Al-Ahsa (135,000), Jazan (120,000) and Tabuk (56,000).

Intercity buses moved more than 892,000 passengers over the quarter. Makkah topped departures with 242,857 travellers, ahead of Riyadh (206,527) and the Eastern Province (134,696). They were followed by Madinah (59,346), Asir (58,761), Tabuk (43,092), Jazan (36,355), the Northern Borders (26,424), Qassim (24,486), Hail (20,274), Najran (16,708), Al-Jouf (14,421) and Al-Baha (8,055).

The data is drawn from the quarterly statistical bulletin of the Transport General Authority (TGA), which supervises and licenses urban bus services. The growth trend has been consistent: urban ridership exceeded 30.6 million passengers in the first quarter of 2026, underscoring the rising role of buses in daily travel.

For residents and commuters, the numbers point to expanding options for affordable, everyday travel. Importantly, there have been no changes to ticket prices, fee structures or validity periods for public bus services this quarter, and no new digital requirements have been introduced for riders.

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