961 Bus Route Riyadh: The Ash Shifa Local Line
Same route, opposite direction. Fare and frequency are the same as the outbound trip above.
961 Bus Route Riyadh: The Ash Shifa Local Line
Dear All, here are the details about the 961 Bus Route Riyadh | Route 961 is a local line in the Ash-Shifa area of south Riyadh. KSA Expats’ January 2025 list gives Ash-Shifa at both ends: Ash-Shifa to Ash-Shifa.
The Royal Commission’s 2024 data holds 35 stations in thirteen groups, so it is a many-streets line: Ibn Taymeeyah (7), Ibn Tulun (6), Bishr Bin Safwan (4), Abdullatif Bin Mubarak (3), Al Nabegha Al Jaadi (3), Ash-Shifa (3), and single or paired stations in seven other groups.
Because the two ends carry the same name and only one direction is listed, the sources cannot show the route’s shape. This guide says only what the dataset supports.
Route 961 Details
| Detail | Info |
|---|---|
| Bus number | 961 |
| Route type | One direction listed in the RCRC station dataset (it does not say whether the route also runs the other way or as a loop) |
| Main starting point | Ash-Shifa (per KSA Expats, Jan 2025) |
| Main destination | Ash-Shifa (per KSA Expats, Jan 2025) |
| Stations in RCRC dataset | 35, all in direction 1 |
| Station groups | Ibn Taymeeyah (7), Ibn Tulun (6), Bishr Bin Safwan (4), Abdullatif Bin Mubarak (3), Al Nabegha Al Jaadi (3), Ash-Shifa (3), Abdullah Al Ameri (2), Abi Salma (2), and one each at Dhafar, Dirab, Siraj Bin Abdulmalik, Shagra and Shiba Bin Nassah |
| Station types | 34 feeder poles, 1 air-conditioned shelter |
| Operating hours | Sources differ: 5:00 am to 12:00 am (Life in Saudi Arabia, Jan 2025) versus 5:30 am to 11:30 pm (Edarabia, described as historical); confirm in the Riyadh Bus app |
| Fare | SAR 4 for a 2-hour pass per KSA Expats (Jan 2025) |
| Frequency | Not published in the sources reviewed; check the app |
| Best for | Residents of the Ash-Shifa area making short local trips |
| Operator | Riyadh Bus (Royal Commission for Riyadh City) |
Stations and Stop Order on the 961
The groups sit within a box 2.8 km north-south by 2.7 km east-west and do not fall on a single line. The stops field lists the groups as an approximate grouping and not a stop order.
The single air-conditioned shelter is Dirab 314. Ibn Taymeeyah has stations numbered 301 to 303 and 401 to 404, and Ibn Tulun 101 to 103 and 201 to 203. Route 960 also has an Ibn Taymeeyah group. RCRC’s sequence numbers do not form a chain.
Stage tags are 21 at stage 5, 10 at stage 2, 3 at stage 1 and 1 at stage 3. The dataset describes the network as planned once fully developed, so a listed station is not proof that it is open.
Fare and Payment
KSA Expats lists a 2-hour pass at SAR 4. On a local line like this the pass matters mainly for a connection to Route 960 or another route. No source gives a route-specific fare, so confirm the price in the Riyadh Bus app.
How to Ride the 961 Bus
- Look for an Ibn Taymeeyah, Ibn Tulun or Ash-Shifa station on the RCRC list, since those are the largest groups.
- Open the Riyadh Bus app and check the direction and next departure for Route 961.
- Pay with your pass or the payment option shown in the app.
- Alight at the station nearest you, checking in the app where the route turns round.
Frequently Asked Questions About Route 961
Where does the 961 bus go?
KSA Expats lists Route 961 as Ash-Shifa to Ash-Shifa. The RCRC data has 35 stations in thirteen groups around the Ash-Shifa area, so it is a local line.
Why does Route 961 have the same start and end?
KSA Expats lists Ash-Shifa at both ends, and the sources do not explain it. The dataset lists one direction only, so check the stops in the app.
Why does the RCRC data list only one direction?
The dataset shows 35 stations, all in direction 1, and does not say whether the route runs a loop or returns the same way. Confirm the return stops in the Riyadh Bus app.
Which areas does Route 961 pass through?
The dataset groups include Ibn Taymeeyah, Ibn Tulun, Bishr Bin Safwan, Abdullatif Bin Mubarak, Al Nabegha Al Jaadi, Ash-Shifa, Abdullah Al Ameri and Abi Salma, with single stations elsewhere.
Is Route 961 still running?
KSA Expats’ January 2025 list of operating routes includes Route 961. That list is not an official timetable, so confirm current service in the Riyadh Bus app.
How often does the 961 bus run?
None of the sources reviewed publishes an interval for Route 961. Check the Riyadh Bus app for departure times.
Riyadh Public Transport FAQs
Can I track a Riyadh bus in real time?
The Royal Commission for Riyadh City says the Riyadh Bus app lets you plan a journey and track your route in real time. Use it to see whether your bus is running before you walk to a stop.
What passes are available for Riyadh buses?
KSA Expats lists a 2-hour pass at SAR 4, a 3-day pass at SAR 20, a 7-day pass at SAR 40 and a 30-day pass at SAR 140 (January 2025). The 2-hour pass is described as covering bus and metro rides. Prices can change, so confirm them in the Riyadh Bus app before you buy.
Nearby Routes and Connections
Route 960 also serves Ash-Shifa; see 960 Bus Route Riyadh. Route 12 has a Dirab group on its BRT line; see 12 Bus Route Riyadh. See the Riyadh bus routes hub for the full list. For live service details, check the Riyadh Bus official website or the Riyadh Bus app. 961 Bus Route Riyadh: The Ash Shifa Local Line
Comparing Gulf city networks? The Kuwait bus routes directory covers Kuwait route by route, and KuwaitBusRoute.Blogspot.com keeps a companion blog on Kuwait city buses. 961 Bus Route Riyadh: The Ash Shifa Local Line
Data notes: station lists from the RCRC Open Data Portal (2024 dataset describing the network as planned once fully developed); route names and older stop patterns from Edarabia, KSA Expats (January 2025) and Life in Saudi Arabia (January 2025).
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خط الحافلة رقم 961 في الرياض — خط محلي في الشفا. 961 Bus Route Riyadh: The Ash Shifa Local Line