The Royal Commission for Riyadh City (RCRC) has awarded a contract to design and construct an extension to the Red Line of the Riyadh Metro. The project will add 8.4 kilometres to the existing line and include the construction of five new stations.
The extension will run from King Saud University to the Diriyah Gate Development area. The project forms part of ongoing efforts to expand the capital’s public transport network and improve connections between residential districts, educational institutions, cultural sites and healthcare facilities.
The extension will add 8.4 kilometers and 5 new stations
© RCRC
The scope of the project includes approximately 7.1 kilometres of deep underground tunnels and 1.3 kilometres of elevated track. Two of the new stations will be located within King Saud University, one serving the medical city and health colleges and the other serving the main university concourse. Three additional stations will be built in Diriyah, including one designed as a future interchange with the planned Line 7.
RCRC has stated that construction of the Red Line extension is expected to take around six years to complete.
Diriyah Central station
© RCRC
The Red Line extension builds on the Riyadh Public Transport Project, which began operations in November 2024. The metro system serves as a central component of the city’s wider transport network, alongside buses and other modes of public transport.
Eng. Ibrahim Al-Sultan, Minister of State, Cabinet Member and Chief Executive Officer of RCRC noted that demand for metro services has increased since operations began, with cumulative ridership reported to have exceeded 173 million passenger journeys.