The Royal Commission for Riyadh City (RCRC) has awarded contracts worth SAR5.5 billion ($1.47 billion) to German industrial giant Siemens and French rolling stock manufacturer Alstom to purchase 94 new train sets for its Riyadh Metro network, thus marking the first phase of plans to expand the Riyadh Metro fleet.
The purchase is part of early preparations to accommodate future growth in mobility, keep pace with the capital's development and needs in the coming years, expand the network's destinations, and support its projects, including arrangements for major global events, foremost among them Expo 2030 Riyadh and the FIFA World Cup 2034, said RCRC in a statement.
With this buy, the metro fleet in the Saudi capital has now risen from 183 to 277, it stated.
As per the deal, Siemens and Alstom will carry out the fleet-expansion contracts with an integrated scope of project-related works and services, including train and system manufacturing and fitting out.
According to RCRC, these new trains will increase the Riyadh Metro network's overall capacity by 60%, with additional capacity allocated to each line according to ridership and expected demand.
Capacity will rise by 142% on the Red Line, 116% on the Yellow Line, 60% on the Blue Line, 27% on the Orange Line, and 16% on the Purple Line, it stated.
The Riyadh Metro network was designed from the outset to accommodate larger numbers of trains and to gradually expand its capacity as usage grows.
RCRC said the fleet expansion comes amid the Riyadh Metro network's continued growth, with passenger numbers surpassing 300 million since the start of operations. The average number of passengers from January to September rose by about 25% compared with the same period in 2025.
The trains will be delivered in line with the manufacturing stages, then undergo testing and operational trials before being gradually brought into service as each batch is ready.
This investment is part of RCRC's efforts to develop the capital's mobility system in an integrated manner, focusing on three areas: the road and intersection network, public transport, and traffic management, said the statement.
This keeps pace with the city's population and urban growth and enhances infrastructure readiness to meet Riyadh's future needs, it added.