Saudi Arabia achieves Vision 2030 goal with opening of Riyadh metro

On December 1, after more than a decade of construction, Saudi Arabia celebrated the completion of the first phase King Abdullah Financial District (KAFD) metro station..

Developed Zaha Hadid Architects Inspired by the local heritage, the station is an important milestone in the development of the country’s infrastructure.

The metro system, one of the largest in the world, has six lines with a length of 176 kilometers and 85 stations, with an estimated cost of about 25 billion dollars. Although modern driverless automated trains are not yet fully operational, they will eventually be carries up to 3.6 million passengers after completing all lines.

Conceived as a major transportation hub with access to three different lines and expected to be a busy stop for travelers, the station presented a stark contrast on Dec. 1, with Saudis standing in awe of the new building and taking photos and videos of it. interior.

As the first station of the Riyadh Metro caused much excitement, New Arab looks at what this new station means for the people of Saudi Arabia.

An alternative transport is desperately needed

Currently, the population of Riyadh is growing from 7.8 million expected to be 9.6 million by 2030.

Rapid population growth combined with lifting the ban on women driving in 2018has led to a significant increase in traffic in the capital, with drivers often spending hours in daily traffic jams.

To address this problem, Saudi authorities have outlined an ambition to reduce commuting times as part of a long-term strategy. The station is a key element of this plan to reduce the number of cars on the roads and improve air quality in the metropolis.

The subway’s time-saving potential was a key point for commuters who spoke New Arab on the day of its opening.

One man, making his second trip to the subway, shared: “I came with my daughter, who is studying at KAFD. We live in the south of Riyadh, so the journey by car usually takes an hour and a half in the morning traffic. It only took 40 minutes from the subway.”

In the same way, 28-year-old bank assistant Sherin planned her trip. “23 minutes,” she said, showing the timer on her phone. “It takes 50 minutes by car from my house in Al Morud.” She added that in addition to saving time, she expects the subway to save her a significant amount of money.

Despite these time-saving advantages, there is recognition that the transition of passengers from cars to subways will not happen overnight.

A subway employee said New Arab: “We expect that passengers will initially use the metro more for leisure and exploration before it becomes part of their daily routine. We expect the highest number of passengers in the evenings and on weekends in the initial phase.”

A cornerstone of Vision 2030

According to Tourism Minister Ahmed Al-Khatib, the project is not only an infrastructure upgrade, but also in line with The vision of Saudi Arabia until 2030.

First announced in 2016, the vision aims to diversify the economy and reduce dependence on oil by stimulating private sector growth, with the metro playing a critical role in achieving this goal.

For Ahmed, the project also supports Saudi Arabia’s tourism goals by making it easier for visitors to travel between the city’s many attractions. For example, with a connection to the subway King Khalid International Airportthis is expected to boost tourism and make travel easier for foreign visitors.

However, Saudi Arabia is days away from being awarded 2034 FIFA World Cupwhile Riyadh will also host World Expo 2030 — events that are expected to attract millions of visitors.

In addition to tourism and major events, the subway is expected to promote economic mobility by connecting suburbs and commercial districts. It is closely related to Program of the regional headquarterswhich aims to encourage multinational companies to establish regional operations in Saudi Arabia.

Finally, the construction of the subway had a significant economic effect. About 65 thousand were employed. persons at the construction stage, making the project an important economic engine.

Project failures

The project, like many other large-scale projects, faced significant challenges such as reported earlier by New Arab.

It was originally planned to open in 2019, but the project was delayed several times due to various problems.

For context, three international consortia consisting of companies from 13 countries in North America, Europe and Asia are behind the multibillion-dollar project.

During the entire period of construction, reports appeared financial disputes between Saudi authorities and foreign contractors, with sources indicating that several international companies struggled to settle their contracts on time, affecting both budgets and schedules.

The issue later escalated into a diplomatic one, with the embassies of the US, France and Spain stepping in to raise concerns about unpaid contributions to Saudi officials.

The project also faced delays in the supply chainand logistical problems during the pandemic caused many construction workers to be overseas, contributing to the opening of the metro five years later than expected.

The biggest challenge, however, has been financial and reflects a wider trend in Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 megaprojects such as a high-profile NEOM initiative.

Like the metro, NEOM has faced delays and changes, with officials admitting that some projects like Lineare reduced due to financial and logistical problems.

So far, repeated delays and financial problems in Vision 2030 projects have raised concerns about Saudi Arabia’s ability to meet ambitious deadlines, fulfill contracts and maintain investor confidence.

On that note it was too reported that in November 2024, David Grover, the former CEO of PIF-backed real estate company Roshn, filed a lawsuit against the company, seeking $100 million in unpaid bonuses and breach of contract.

While these challenges create uncertainty about Saudi Arabia’s future plans, the Riyadh Metro appears to be moving forward and is scheduled to be fully operational beginning on January 5, 2025.

Tilda Asmussen is a freelance journalist based in Riyadh, working in the Arabian Peninsula, particularly in Yemen and Saudi Arabia.

Follow her on X: @thildeasmussen