Riyadh Metro project costs $25B: Minister

Ibrahim Al-Sultan, Minister of State, Member of the Council of Ministers, and CEO of the Royal Commission for Riyadh City (RCRC), said the total cost of the Riyadh Metro project amounted to $25 billion, Rotana Khalejia reported.

He added that the cost per kilometer of the project reached $166 million, making it the most cost-efficient globally for its scale.

The Riyadh Metro is also the largest driverless train project implemented in a single phase, Al-Sultan noted.

Regarding the economic impact, the official explained that every riyal spent would yield a return of SAR 3.5, both directly and indirectly, through fuel savings and operational activities.

He clarified that the project is a service-oriented initiative rather than profit-driven, expecting revenues to cover 40% of the operating costs.

Three Riyadh Metro lines started operations on Dec. 1, 2024. The remaining lines will be gradually launched until Jan. 5, 2025, according to Argaam data.