Saudi Arabia: Riyadh expands metro network with new Orange Line station

Dubai: The Public Transport Authority in Riyadh announced on Thursday the opening of a new station on the city’s Orange Line, further expanding Saudi Arabia’s largest urban transit network and reinforcing efforts to modernize public transportation in the capital.

The new stop, Hassan bin Thabet Street Station, aims to strengthen connectivity across the city and improve access for both residents and visitors. It is the latest addition to the Orange Line, one of six major lines comprising the Riyadh Metro system.

Stretching 41km from Jeddah Road in the west to the Second Eastern Ring Road near Khashm Al Aan in the east, the Orange Line, also known as Line 3, has become a vital east-west corridor in the capital’s public transit blueprint.

The Riyadh Metro, a flagship component of the city’s urban transformation plan, covers 176km and includes 85 stations, eight of which serve as major transfer hubs linking multiple lines.

Designed to reduce congestion, shorten travel times, and offer a sustainable alternative to private vehicles, the network is central to the capital’s vision for a modern, efficient, and accessible city.

The latest development follows the April opening of two other stations on the same line, Railway Station and Jarir District Station, by the Riyadh Public Transport Company. Officials say these additions have already begun easing commuter flows across key districts.

Huda Ata is an independent writer based in the UAE