Riyadh public transport nears 500 million users in under two years

Riyadh public transport nears 500 million users

Deputy Minister of Transport and Logistics Dr. Rumaih Al-Rumaih said on Tuesday at the 25th World Energy Congress 2026 in Riyadh, while attending a dialogue session titled “Reshaping transport and energy technologies”, that the city’s public transport network has recorded nearly 500 million users in less than two years since its launch.

Network composition and expansion plans

He noted that the Riyadh Metro comprises 85 stations and is supported by a bus network that runs on a mix of electricity and conventional fuels.

Dr. Al-Rumaih added that the Kingdom is moving ahead with expanding public transport networks across various cities, aiming for greater reliance on electric transport and a more diversified energy mix in the sector.

Carbon reduction and strategic initiatives

The deputy minister emphasized that Saudi Arabia is not only discussing carbon emission cuts but is actively implementing initiatives and projects to meet this goal.

He pointed out that the Riyadh Metro is the largest metro network ever built simultaneously, and that the strong demand in under two years signals a significant shift in mobility patterns, contrary to earlier expectations of continued reliance on private cars.

Al-Rumaih said the transport and logistics sector accounts for about 30 percent of global energy demand, stressing that reducing emissions in this sector is a long‑term effort requiring a variety of solutions and technologies suited to each transport mode.

He noted that the Saudi Green Initiative offers a comprehensive framework for reaching the Kingdom’s net‑zero emissions target by 2060, and he underscored the pivotal role of the transport and logistics sector in achieving this ambition through the National Transport and Logistics Strategy, which covers aviation, maritime, railway, road and land transport.