Riyadh Metro Line 1 (Blue Line): The Best Complete 2026 Guide
Dear All, here we will find the details about the Riyadh Metro Line 1 (Blue Line) known as Line 1, the Blue Line, is the backbone of the Riyadh Metro. It runs 38 km from SAB Bank in the north of the city down to Ad Dar Al Baida in the south, calling at 25 stations along the way – more than any other line in the six-line network. If you only learn one Riyadh Metro line before you travel, this is the one: it meets every other line except Line 2 at some point in your journey, which makes it the line most visitors end up using to change trains.
This guide covers every station on Line 1 in order, how long the ride takes between each one, where to change for the other five lines, the fare and operating hours, and practical tips for using it as a tourist or a daily commuter.
Line 1 at a Glance
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Line | Line 1 – Blue Line |
| Route | SAB Bank ↔ Ad Dar Al Baida |
| Length | 38 km (24 miles) |
| Stations | 25 |
| Opened | Royal inauguration 27 November 2024; first day of public passenger service 1 December 2024 |
| Interchanges | KAFD (Lines 4 & 6) · stc (Line 2) · National Museum (Line 5) · Qasr Al Hokm (Line 3) |
| Alignment | Elevated at the northern end (around KAFD) and southern end (after Al Owd); deep bored tunnel through Olaya and the city centre |
| End-to-end journey time | About 54 minutes, not including platform waiting time |
| Fare | SAR 4 for a 2-hour Regular ticket (SAR 10 First Class), covering unlimited transfers across the whole metro and bus network within the ticket’s validity |
| Operating hours | Saturday–Thursday 5:30 AM–midnight; Friday 10:00 AM–midnight |
| Train frequency | Every 3–5 minutes at peak times; every 5–10 minutes off-peak |
| Trains | Fully automated and driverless |
| Operator | Royal Commission for Riyadh City (RCRC) |
| Customer service | 19933 (Riyadh public transport) |
Why Line 1 Matters for Visitors and Commuters
Line 1 traces Olaya Road and King Abdulaziz Road, the corridor Riyadh has grown along for decades, so a single ride along it strings together the King Abdullah Financial District (KAFD), the Olaya office and shopping district, King Fahad District, King Fahad Library, the Ministry of Interior and Al Muorabba, before dropping into historic Riyadh at National Museum, Al Bat’ha and Qasr Al Hokm, and finishing among the dense southern districts of Manfouhah, Al Aziziah and Ad Dar Al Baida.
Because it crosses four other lines, Line 1 is usually the line you use to change trains on a longer trip: King Khalid International Airport is one change away via Line 4 at KAFD, the government ministries quarter is one change away via Line 5 at National Museum, and eastern Riyadh is reachable via Line 3 at Qasr Al Hokm.
Full Station List: Riyadh Metro Line 1 (Blue Line)
All 25 stations on Line 1, in order from north to south. Interchange stations are marked.
- SAB Bank – northern terminus
- Dr Sulaiman Al Habib
- KAFD – interchange with Line 4 (Yellow) and Line 6 (Purple)
- Al Murooj
- King Fahad District
- King Fahad District 2
- stc – interchange with Line 2 (Red)
- Al Wurud 2
- Al Urubah
- Alinma Bank
- Bank Albilad
- King Fahad Library
- Ministry of Interior
- Al Muorabba
- Passport Department
- National Museum – interchange with Line 5 (Green)
- Al Bat’ha
- Qasr Al Hokm – interchange with Line 3 (Orange)
- Al Owd
- Skirinah
- Manfouhah
- Al Iman Hospital
- Transportation Center – connects to Riyadh’s darb bus network
- Al Aziziah
- Ad Dar Al Baida – southern terminus
Journey Time Between Stations
Approximate travel time between each pair of adjacent stations in normal service. This does not include time spent waiting on the platform.
| From | To | Time |
|---|---|---|
| SAB Bank | Dr Sulaiman Al Habib | 3 min |
| Dr Sulaiman Al Habib | KAFD | 8 min |
| KAFD | Al Murooj | 3 min |
| Al Murooj | King Fahad District | 2 min |
| King Fahad District | King Fahad District 2 | 2 min |
| King Fahad District 2 | stc | 2 min |
| stc | Al Wurud 2 | 1 min |
| Al Wurud 2 | Al Urubah | 2 min |
| Al Urubah | Alinma Bank | 2 min |
| Alinma Bank | Bank Albilad | 1 min |
| Bank Albilad | King Fahad Library | 1 min |
| King Fahad Library | Ministry of Interior | 3 min |
| Ministry of Interior | Al Muorabba | 2 min |
| Al Muorabba | Passport Department | 1 min |
| Passport Department | National Museum | 3 min |
| National Museum | Al Bat’ha | 1 min |
| Al Bat’ha | Qasr Al Hokm | 2 min |
| Qasr Al Hokm | Al Owd | 1 min |
| Al Owd | Skirinah | 1 min |
| Skirinah | Manfouhah | 1 min |
| Manfouhah | Al Iman Hospital | 2 min |
| Al Iman Hospital | Transportation Center | 2 min |
| Transportation Center | Al Aziziah | 3 min |
| Al Aziziah | Ad Dar Al Baida | 5 min |
Interchanges: Where to Change Trains on Line 1
KAFD – change for Line 4 (Yellow) and Line 6 (Purple)
One station shared by three lines. Line 4 departs from here toward King Khalid International Airport, and Line 6 toward eastern Riyadh; the two lines actually run together over a four-station shared trunk before splitting off.
stc – change for Line 2 (Red)
In the middle of Olaya, where Line 1’s north–south route crosses the King Abdullah Road corridor that Line 2 follows west to King Saud University and east to King Fahad Sport City.
National Museum – change for Line 5 (Green)
Opens directly onto Line 5, which serves Riyadh’s government ministries quarter.
Qasr Al Hokm – change for Line 3 (Orange)
In the heart of historic Riyadh; Line 3 continues from here to the western and eastern edges of the city.
Mangaluru – Madgaon Goa Vande Bharat Express | iiQ8 Train Timing, Stops
Transportation Center – connect to Riyadh’s bus network
An elevated station south of the centre where you can pick up the darb-ticketed bus routes run by the Riyadh Public Transport Authority, on the same ticket and within the same two-hour window as your metro fare.
Fares and Tickets Riyadh Metro Line 1
Line 1 uses the same network-wide fare as every other Riyadh Metro and bus route:
| Ticket | Regular | First Class |
|---|---|---|
| 2 hours | SAR 4 | SAR 10 |
| 3 days | SAR 20 | SAR 50 |
| 7 days | SAR 40 | SAR 100 |
| 30 days | SAR 140 | SAR 350 |
| Annual | SAR 1,260 | SAR 3,150 |
The 2-hour ticket is time-based, not per-journey: it covers unlimited transfers between metro lines and eligible bus routes within its two-hour validity window, so changing from Line 1 to Line 4 at KAFD, for example, does not require a second ticket. Children aged 6 and under travel free with an accompanying adult. Tickets can be bought through the darb app, at station ticket machines, or at station ticket offices, which can also issue and top up a reloadable darb card.
Operating Hours and Frequency Riyadh Metro 1
- Saturday to Thursday: 5:30 AM to midnight
- Friday: 10:00 AM to midnight
- Peak frequency: a train every 3–5 minutes
- Off-peak frequency: a train every 5–10 minutes
Hours can change during Ramadan, Eid and major public events, so check the current schedule before planning a late-night or early-Friday trip.
Riyadh Metro Line 1 (Blue Line): The Complete 2026 Guide
Three Things Worth Knowing About Line 1
- With 25 stations, Line 1 has more stops than any other line on the network, and it is the only line that meets four of the other five lines – which is why most cross-network journeys that need a change of train pass through it somewhere.
- Two of the network’s most architecturally notable stations sit on Line 1: KAFD, designed by Zaha Hadid Architects, and Qasr Al Hokm, designed by the Norwegian firm Snøhetta, in the heart of old Riyadh.
- Every Riyadh Metro train is driverless and fully automated – the Riyadh Metro holds the Guinness World Record for the longest fully automated driverless metro network, a record confirmed when the final line opened in January 2025.
Getting to King Khalid International Airport from Line 1
Ride Line 1 to KAFD, then change there to Line 4 (Yellow), which serves all three of the airport’s metro stations: Airport T5, Airport T3-4 and Airport T1-2. No second ticket is needed for the change, as long as you’re still within your ticket’s validity window.
Frequently Asked Questions About Riyadh Metro Line 1
How long does the journey take from SAB Bank to Ad Dar Al Baida?
About 54 minutes end to end across all 25 stations and 38 km, not including time spent waiting on the platform.
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What are the operating hours of Riyadh Metro Line 1?
Saturday to Thursday from 5:30 AM to midnight, and Friday from 10:00 AM to midnight. Trains run every 3–5 minutes at peak times and every 5–10 minutes off-peak.
Where does Riyadh Metro Line 1 start and end?
Riyadh Metro Line 1 runs between SAB Bank in northern Riyadh and Ad Dar Al Baida in the south, a distance of 38 km across 25 stations.
Where can I change from Riyadh Metro Line 1 to another line?
At four stations: KAFD for Line 4 and Line 6, stc for Line 2, National Museum for Line 5, and Qasr Al Hokm for Line 3. All four are shared stations, so the change happens inside the same station without needing a second ticket.
How do I get to King Khalid International Airport from Line 1?
Ride Line 1 to KAFD and change there to Line 4, which calls at all three of the airport’s stations.
Is Riyadh Metro Line 1 underground or elevated?
Both. It runs elevated at its northern end around KAFD and again at its southern end after Al Owd, while the middle section through Olaya and the city centre runs in deep tunnel.
How much does a ticket cost?
SAR 4 for a 2-hour Regular ticket, or SAR 10 for First Class, both valid for unlimited transfers across the metro and bus network within the two-hour window.
Does Riyadh Metro Line 1 connect to Riyadh’s bus network?
Yes, at Transportation Center station, where darb-ticketed Riyadh bus routes depart on the same fare system. Riyadh Metro Line 1 (Blue Line): The Best Complete 2026 Guide
More Gulf Public Transport Guides
Planning a trip that covers more than one Gulf city? Our sister guide at KuwaitBusRoute.blogspot.com covers Kuwait’s city bus network route by route, and indianinQ8.com’s Saudi bus routes directory covers the local bus networks that connect to this metro system, including Riyadh’s own bus routes. Riyadh Metro Line 1 (Blue Line): The Best Complete 2026 Guide
Sources: Station list, journey times, interchanges and line history from riyadhmetro.org’s Line 1 page; fares, ticket types and network facts from the official ticket information; network opening date and Guinness World Record confirmed via the Royal Commission for Riyadh City (RCRC) official announcements. Hours and fares can change – confirm current details in the darb app before travelling.