Saudi Arabia's railway network carried 156.4 million passengers in 2025, a sharp rise of 266.5% compared with 42.7 million passengers in 2024, with Riyadh Metro emerging as a key driver of the growth.
The biggest gains came from intracity services, where passenger numbers jumped 368% to reach 145.4 million in 2025, up from 31.1 million the previous year. Intercity rail travel moved in the opposite direction, slipping 5.6% to 10.9 million passengers over the same period.
Across the network, passenger trains operated around 1.4 million trips and covered 42.3 million kilometres during the year. Riyadh Metro alone accounted for 949,400 trips spanning 26.8 million kilometres.
Riyadh Metro gains momentum
Riyadh Metro began opening to passengers in phases on 1 December 2024, and its rapid uptake reshaped how many residents move around the capital. The network is projected to carry around 1.2 million passengers a day, with potential capacity rising to approximately 3.6 million passengers daily by 2035.
For residents and expats in Riyadh, the figures reflect a growing shift toward public transport as a practical daily option, offering an alternative to road congestion and reducing reliance on private cars. The strong momentum also points to further expansion of rail services as ridership continues to climb across the Kingdom.
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