Riyadh has opened the tendering process for a new metro station on the Yellow Line that will serve the future Expo 2030 site, marking a significant step in the capital’s transport expansion ahead of the global event. The planned station forms part of a broader strategy to strengthen public transport links to the exhibition grounds and manage the surge in passenger flows expected during the six-month showcase.Authorities have invited qualified contractors to submit bids for the design and construction of the station, which will integrate with the existing Riyadh Metro network. The Yellow Line, also known as Line 4, connects King Khalid International Airport with key districts across the city. The additional stop is intended to provide direct, high-capacity access to the Expo site, located to the north of the capital near the airport zone earmarked for major urban expansion.
Officials overseeing the project say the station will be designed to handle heavy daily ridership during Expo 2030, when millions of visitors are projected to attend. Riyadh won the right to host the World Expo after securing a decisive majority in the vote of member states of the Bureau International des Expositions, positioning the kingdom as the first country in the Middle East to stage the event since Dubai hosted Expo 2020.
Transport planners have stressed that seamless connectivity will be central to the event’s success. The Riyadh Metro, developed as part of a multi-billion-dollar public transport programme, spans six lines and more than 170 kilometres. The Yellow Line runs east–west, linking the airport with the financial district and residential areas. The proposed Expo station will enhance capacity along this corridor, connecting visitors to hotels, business hubs and cultural venues across the capital.
Project documents indicate that the station will incorporate advanced crowd-management systems, climate-controlled platforms and digital wayfinding tailored for international visitors. Sustainability considerations are also expected to play a central role, reflecting the broader Expo theme centred on future urban development, environmental stewardship and technological innovation.
Urban development specialists note that the station is not merely a temporary addition for the duration of Expo 2030. Instead, it forms part of a long-term transformation of Riyadh under Vision 2030, the national reform programme aimed at diversifying the economy and reducing dependence on oil revenues. Investments in public transport, green spaces and mixed-use districts are intended to accommodate a population projected to exceed 15 million by the end of the decade.
Construction timelines have not been publicly finalised, but tender documents suggest work must be completed well before the opening of Expo 2030 to allow for testing and operational readiness. Contractors bidding for the project are expected to demonstrate experience in complex metro infrastructure, systems integration and high-volume passenger operations.
Analysts say the tender reflects an acceleration of infrastructure delivery in the run-up to 2030. Large-scale projects across the capital, including the King Salman International Airport expansion and new residential developments, are reshaping the northern corridor of Riyadh. The Expo site itself is planned as a mixed-use district that will transition into a permanent urban quarter after the event, incorporating housing, commercial facilities and cultural institutions.
Public transport has been identified as critical to avoiding congestion and maintaining environmental standards during the Expo period. Previous world expos have underscored the strain such events can place on host cities. Planners in Riyadh appear intent on leveraging lessons from other global gatherings, prioritising rail-based transport over private vehicles to reduce emissions and improve visitor experience.
Financial details of the Yellow Line station project have not been disclosed, but industry estimates suggest that metro station construction in the region can range from hundreds of millions to over a billion riyals, depending on complexity, land acquisition and systems requirements. Funding is expected to align with broader state-backed infrastructure budgets, supported by public investment funds and partnerships with international contractors.
Economic observers point out that the Expo is projected to generate significant investment inflows, tourism revenue and job creation over the next decade. The addition of a dedicated metro station is seen as a tangible signal of readiness, reinforcing the capital’s ambition to present itself as a global business and cultural destination.
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Saudi Arabia