Riyadh Metro Updates Fares & Introduces Semester Tickets for 2026

Riyadh’s public transport network is entering 2026 with a fresh set of fare updates and service changes, as the Riyadh Public Transport Authority confirms new annual and student ticket prices for the Metro, effective immediately.

Annual Metro passes are now available at SAR 1,260 for the Regular category and SAR 3,150 for First Class, open to all passengers. Students are set to benefit from a newly introduced Semester Ticket, designed specifically for school and university users. Priced at SAR 260, the Regular category pass is valid for four months from activation and aligns with academic semesters. The passes are issued via the Darb card and can be used in both plastic and digital formats.

Operating hours across the network have also been adjusted in response to growing demand. From Saturday to Thursday, Metro services now run from 5.30 AM until midnight, while Friday operations begin at 10 AM and continue until midnight. Riyadh buses operate daily from 5 AM to midnight, ensuring consistent coverage for early-morning and late-evening journeys across the city.

These changes follow a steady rise in passenger volume, with the Metro reaching 100 million passengers in August, less than a year after opening in December, 2024. The expanded schedules are intended to accommodate students, employees and early commuters, while easing peak-hour pressure on the city’s roads.

Alongside annual and semester passes, riders can continue to choose from short-term options, including two-hour, three-day, seven-day and 30-day tickets, with free travel for children under six. Tickets are available via the Darb and Riyadh Bus apps, as well as through Mada and credit cards. The network also continues to expand, with the recent addition of Hassan bin Thabet Street Station on the Orange Line.