1. The Guinness World Record
- The Title: The Riyadh Metro has officially entered the Guinness World Records as the “Longest Driverless Metro Network” in the world.
- Certification Date: Late November 2025.
- The Record Length: The network spans a massive 176 kilometres (approx. 109 miles).
- Previous Holder Context: It surpassed previous leaders in automated rail, like the Dubai Metro (UAE) and Vancouver SkyTrain (Canada).
2. Key Network Statistics (The “Must-Knows”)
- Total Lines: 6 (Colour-coded: Blue, Red, Orange, Yellow, Green, Purple).
- Total Stations: 85 (Includes 4 iconic stations: KAFD, STC, Qasr Al Hokm, and Western Station).
- Project Cost: Approximately $22.5 billion (One of the largest infrastructure projects worldwide).
- Construction Feature: It is also recognised as the largest metro project to be constructed in a single phase (simultaneous construction of all lines).
3. Comparison: The Global Top 3 (Driverless)
| Rank | Metro System | Country | Approx. Length (Driverless) |
| 1 | Riyadh Metro | Saudi Arabia | 176 km |
| 2 | Dubai Metro | UAE | ~100 km (post-expansion) |
| 3 | Vancouver SkyTrain | Canada | ~80 km |
(Note: While cities like Shanghai and Beijing have longer total metro networks, they are not fully driverless across all lines.)
4. Technology & Operations
- Automation Level: GoA4 (Grade of Automation 4). This means the trains are fully unattended with no driver in the cabin.
- Rolling Stock (Trains): The fleet was manufactured by three major global consortia:
- Siemens (Germany) – Blue & Red Lines.
- Alstom (France) – Yellow, Green, Purple Lines.
- Bombardier (now Alstom) – Orange Line.
- Capacity: Designed to carry 3.6 million passengers daily at full capacity.
5. Strategic Importance
- Vision 2030: The metro is a cornerstone of Saudi Vision 2030, aimed at reducing the country’s dependence on oil by modernising urban infrastructure and boosting the quality of life in Riyadh.
- Congestion: Before the metro, approx. 90% of trips in Riyadh were by private car. The network aims to drastically reduce traffic and pollution.
- Management: The project is overseen by the Royal Commission for Riyadh City (RCRC).
6. Static GK: Saudi Arabia
- Capital: Riyadh.
- Currency: Saudi Riyal (SAR).
- King: King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud.
- Crown Prince: Mohammed bin Salman (MBS).
Don’t confuse “World’s Longest Metro” with “World’s Longest Driverless Metro”.
- Longest Metro (Overall): Shanghai Metro or Beijing Subway (China) – 800+ km.
- Longest Driverless Metro: Riyadh Metro (Saudi Arabia) – 176 km.
