Driverless monorail planned for Riyadh’s financial district

Alamy/Hasan Zaidi via Reuters

• Project to link main KAFD towers
• Six trains on elevated track
• 3,500 passengers per hour

An agreement to launch a driverless monorail project has been signed by King Abdullah Financial District (KAFD) in the Saudi capital Riyadh.

The 3.6-kilometre system will have six trains travelling on an elevated circular track that will wind between the main towers of the district. 

The system will have six stations across the district, connecting office buildings, retail spaces and leisure facilities.

The monorail is expected to handle up to 3,500 passengers an hour during peak times. 

The rail line will also connect with the Riyadh Metro, aligning KAFD’s plan for a “ten-minute city”. 

King Abdullah Financial District Development & Management Company signed the agreement with CRRC (Hong Kong) and CRRC Nanjing Puzhen, subsidiaries of the Chinese railway rolling stock manufacturer CRRC, alongside Hassan Allam Construction Saudi.

No date was given as to when the monorail was expected to be operational, but the Arabic daily newspaper Al Eqtisadiah reported in March that the line was due to be ready by 2026.

The $10 billion KAFD, which spans 1.6 million square metres, is home to 95 buildings across five asset classes, featuring office spaces, residences, commercial and retail areas, hospitality and entertainment venues, all interconnected and walkable within 10 minutes.

Stephen Thomas, chief operations officer of KAFD DMC, said the project will contribute to the long-term sustainability of Riyadh. 

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Saudi Arabia has slowly been building its railway network, as it attempts to reduce the amount of traffic, improve safety and reduce carbon emissions from car usage.

Saudi Arabia Railways (SAR) said in August that 5.1 million passengers used its trains in the first half of this year, a 17 percent increase over the same period last year.

Cargo carried by rail exceeded 13.26 million tonnes in the first six months, up 9 percent from 2023. 

In February, SAR signed a $690 million contract with Stadler, a Swiss rail infrastructure and train manufacturer, for 10 “next-generation” passenger trains, with an option for ten more in the future. 

Riyadh Metro is due to open this year, but operations have been postponed to 2025, the Arabic daily Aleqtisadia said two weeks ago, citing sources. Lines have been conducting train test runs over the past year. 

Metro projects are also planned for the holy city of Mecca and the eastern port city of Dammam.