Riyadh is undoubtedly the most popular destination in Saudi Arabia. Discover, in this article, how to get around the city, whether to go to work or for leisure. If you're planning to settle in Riyadh, which is Saudi Arabia's capital city, you will most likely need to move around the city.
Be aware that the city is built around the idea that people have cars to go from one place to another. You can either drive your own vehicle, provided you have a valid driver's license or choose public transportation.
Public transportation in Saudi Arabia is still being developed and may be much more complicated than what it would take to drive. Today, Riyadh has a scope of modes of transportation suiting your requirements: public transport, taxis, railway, etc. The Riyadh Metro Project has been ongoing for over half a decade and should be ready to launch in 2025.
Regarding the public infrastructure, the city is well deserved by a vast network of highways. Keep in mind that those serving North to South, and East to West in particular, can be very congested, especially during rush hour. It is highly recommended to use an app, such as Google Maps, to get real-time traffic information.
Public transportation in Riyadh
You can pick between Riyadh Bus for bus rides within Riyadh or SAPTCO, which is a state-owned transport organization. There are also various private-owned transport businesses. In general, modest families in Riyadh prefer to use private-owned buses to commute to work and back.
Regarding SAPTCO, these spread over long distances to neighboring urban areas like Medina, Buraida, Taif, Makkah, Dammam and Hofuf. Some of them even cross Saudi borders to Jordan, Egypt, Türkiye and Syria.
Saudi Arabian Public Transport Company provides transportation service from one city to another with 2,000 vehicles. These go from Riyadh to Jeddah, Mecca, Medina, Taif, Dammam, Abha, Gaseem, Tabuk and Hael. However, there might be limitations for going close to Yemeni borders due to insecurity.
Taxi and ridesharing companies in Riyadh
Taxis can be found on main streets throughout the city. You can wave at them to ask the driver to stop or book one through their app. If you hail for one, charges can't be checked in advance as most cabs are fitted with a taxi meter. In general, rates start from 5 riyals. Note that most taxi drivers in Riyadh speak English.
As in most parts of the world, using ridesharing apps is now much more common than using taxis. There are many available options, but the main competitors are the American giant Uber and the Dubai-based Careem. As fares vary greatly for each ride, it can be a good idea to use both and compare the rates you can get at a certain time.
Taxis, Uber and Careem all have their own separate apps.
Train in Riyadh
Riyadh's railway system links the city to Damman and Hofuf, for example, within 4 hours.
The Saudi Arabian Railways Organization operates over 449 km, linking Dammam, Abqaiq, Hofuf and Riyadh. The 4-hour railway trip is a pleasant experience as you go through the desert ridges. In general, count around 135 SAR for the trip. A second Dammam-Riyadh line runs through Haradh.
Most trains are clean and comfortable. Note that advance booking is recommended no less than 24 hours before the expected travel date.
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