Riyadh metro opens up to ease traffic jams, transform travel in Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia opened parts of Riyadh’s long-awaited metro system as the kingdom pushes ahead with plans to modernize the capital and ease the heavy traffic that has become a commonplace complaint in the city.
Three lines, including one to the main airport, started operations on Sunday, according to the Royal Commission for Riyadh City. Three more routes that will offer more connectivity in the heart of Riyadh are set to open gradually by Jan. 5.
The partial launch couldn’t come at a better time for Riyadh, where the difficulty of dealing with traffic often dominates conversations among those living, working and visiting. The capital has faced worsening road congestion in recent years, with vast construction underway at a time when more people are moving to Riyadh or traveling to the city for business or leisure.
The city, which is due to hold the World Expo in 2030 and may host games for the FIFA World Cup in 2034, is at the forefront of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s drive to diversify the Saudi economy away from oil.
