Riyadh’s bus service has entered an exciting new phase, presenting residents and visitors with an extended array of transportation choices within the city.
The Royal Commission for Riyadh City has recently unveiled Stage 4 of the Riyadh Bus service, a key component of the King Abdulaziz Project for Riyadh Public Transport (KAPT) network. This ambitious project seeks to deliver world-class public transportation solutions, ensuring seamless connectivity between Riyadh’s neighborhoods and commercial hubs for both residents and visitors.
Since its inception earlier this year, the city bus service has successfully executed around 631,000 trips, facilitating the travel of over 6 million passengers.
Stage 4 of the Riyadh Bus service marks a significant expansion, introducing 40 new routes served by 614 buses, covering a total of 1,632 bus stations and stops. This network now encompasses 70 percent of the extensive 1,900km transportation grid.
In this latest phase, seven new routes have been added to the roster, strategically connecting various localities and neighborhoods within the city:
1. Route 932: Al Rabea district to Al Yasmeen station
2. Route 933: Al Nuzha to Al Taawoun station
3. Route 942: Gulf district to Al Rawda station
4. Route 944: Al Andalus Station to Gulf station
5. Route 945: Gulf district to Al Nahda station
6. Route 947: Al Shuhada station to Al Munsiah station
7. Route 948: Al Yarmouk district to Al Yarmouk station
These additional routes are anticipated to curb private vehicle usage, encouraging more residents and visitors to opt for public transportation.
The Riyadh Bus service is complemented by a user-friendly online portal offering a wealth of information about the service, including bus routes and ticketing options. Passengers can conveniently plan their trips using the “choose your destination” feature, track their journey through an interactive map, and even purchase tickets through the Riyadh Bus app, available for download from both Apple and Google stores.
To cater to the diverse needs of city residents and visitors, the public transport service offers a range of ticketing options. Commuters can make payments using contactless bank debit/credit cards or smartphone devices, utilize a “Darb” card functioning as a digital wallet, or procure tickets from vending machines at select bus stations. A standard single ticket is priced at SR4 and remains valid for 120 minutes from activation. The service also extends the choice of purchasing passes for three, seven, and 30 days, providing greater flexibility for regular commuters.
