The Guinness Book of World Records Welcomes Riyadh Metro as the world's longest driverless network
Can you imagine a driverless metro network, even the longest one? The Riyadh Metro, this incredible engineering project in the heart of the Saudi capital, has officially entered the Guinness World Records as the world's longest fully driverless metro network. This monumental achievement represents a quantum leap in urban mobility and sets a new global standard for sustainable, technology-driven public transport in the Gulf region. Which is very important factor to grow the business worldwide.
A Record-Breaking Engineering Feat
The Riyadh Metro, in January 2025 secured its place in the record books with an impressive 176 kilometers of fully automated track . This massive network forms the core of the King Abdulaziz Project for Riyadh Public Transport and is designed to transform how people move through the city.
Key features of this landmark project include:
Grade of Automation 4 (GoA4) technology, enabling complete driverless operation managed from advanced control centers
A fleet of nearly 190 fully automated metro trains supplied by industry leaders including Siemens, Bombardier, and Alstom
A combination of elevated, underground, and at-grade corridors connecting key commercial, residential, and administrative zones
The Gulf's Transportation Revolution: A Regional Catalyst
The success of the Riyadh Metro is accelerating a transportation revolution across the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) region, where nations are actively reimagining urban mobility.
Setting New Standards for Regional Projects
The Riyadh Metro's scale and technological sophistication establish a new benchmark for regional infrastructure. Its fully automated operations demonstrate the feasibility of implementing cutting-edge transportation solutions in demanding desert climates, paving the way for similar advancements across the region .
Integration with Regional Rail Networks
The metro represents a crucial component in a much larger regional transportation web. It will eventually connect with the GCC Railway—a transformative 2,177-kilometer network linking all six GCC member states (Saudi Arabia, UAE, Oman, Qatar, Kuwait, and Bahrain) .
Scheduled for completion by 2030, this $240 billion investment will create seamless passenger and freight corridors across the Gulf . The interoperability between metro systems like Riyadh's and this cross-border network will be essential for creating a truly integrated regional transportation system.
Advancing Smart Mobility Ecosystems
Across the Gulf, cities are embracing smart mobility solutions that extend beyond rail:
Dubai continues to expand the world's longest fully automated metro, which carried 370 million riders in 2023
Abu Dhabi is developing a high-speed rail connection to Dubai that will reduce travel time between the two cities to just 30 minutes
Electric mobility infrastructure is expanding rapidly, with governments rolling out charging networks and electric taxi services
On-demand transport services are being deployed to solve the "first and last mile" problem, using smart buses that adapt routes to passenger demand
Economic Implications: Fueling Growth and Diversification
The ripple effects of the Riyadh Metro and similar projects extend deep into the Gulf's economic future, directly supporting ambitious national diversification agendas.
Driving Economic Diversification
By enhancing urban mobility and connectivity, the metro directly supports Saudi Arabia's Vision 2030—a strategic framework to reduce the kingdom's dependence on oil, diversify its economy, and develop public service sectors . Efficient transportation infrastructure makes cities more attractive for investment across multiple sectors, including technology, finance, and tourism.
Unlocking Trade and Logistics Potential
The GCC Railway network, which will connect with metro systems like Riyadh's, is projected to move over 95 million tons of freight annually once operational . This will dramatically improve supply chain efficiency across the region, unlocking new opportunities in logistics, manufacturing, and export-oriented industries.
Creating New Industries and Jobs
The massive investment in rail infrastructure is spurring job creation not only in construction but also in technology, manufacturing, and transportation services. As Fabrice Toulouse, Director of Smart Mobility at Alstom, notes: "Automation can significantly reduce traffic congestion, costs, and pollution. It can increase travel speeds and rapidly boost the country's urban economic growth" .
The Road Ahead: A Connected, Sustainable Future
The recognition of the Riyadh Metro by Guinness World Records represents more than an engineering achievement—it signals the Gulf region's arrival as a global leader in future-ready transportation. As these networks expand and integrate, they promise to reshape how people and goods move across the region.
The coming years will see increased focus on digital integration, with initiatives like Mobility as a Service (MaaS) platforms that combine metro, bus, and micro-mobility options into seamless journeys . The continued adoption of account-based ticketing and contactless payments will make these systems more accessible to residents and international visitors alike .
With clear goals set under national development visions and sustained investment in smart infrastructure, Gulf nations are firmly on track to become global leaders in transportation innovation. The Riyadh Metro stands as a powerful testament to this transformation—not just as a record-breaking infrastructure project, but as a catalyst for regional connectivity, economic growth, and sustainable urban living.
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