Jeddah Metro is Back on Track as City Revives Long-Paused Rail Project
Saudi authorities restart plans with Blue Line linking airport to key transport hubs
After years of waiting, Jeddah’s long-delayed metro project is officially moving forward again — and this time, it’s starting to feel real.
Saudi authorities have reopened work on the Jeddah Metro, beginning with the Blue Line. Design firms have been invited to submit proposals, marking the first clear step toward building a modern rail system that could seriously change how the city moves.
فيديو ذات صلة
This browser does not support the video element.
Blue Line Takes the Lead
The Blue Line will stretch 35 kilometres across Jeddah, connecting King Abdulaziz International Airport to the Haramain High-Speed Railway station. Along the way, it will stop at 15 major locations, making it a game-changer for commuters, travellers, and anyone tired of long drives.
The goal is simple: faster trips, less traffic stress, and smoother connections across the city.
More Than Just a Metro
This isn’t just about trains. The metro’s design takes cues from Jeddah’s historic Al Balad area, with compact layouts, shaded walkways, and mixed-use neighborhoods built around stations.
Each stop is planned as a mini hub — a place where cafés, daily errands, and social spots are just steps from public transport. The idea is to make walking easier, cut down car use, and bring city life closer together.
Designed for Easy City Living
The metro will also reshape Jeddah’s skyline. Elevated tracks and sculptural structures will run through the city, creating shaded spaces underneath for walking and urban activity.
Stations will offer smooth transfers between metro lines, buses, trams, high-speed rail, water taxis, and cycling routes. Design-wise, expect clean white arches and artistic shading elements created with Saudi artists Ahmed Angawi and Dana Awartani, blending function with local character.
The Bigger Jeddah Metro Plan
Plans for the Jeddah Metro first surfaced in the early 2010s and were later folded into a wider public transport strategy. Once complete, the full network is expected to cover more than 161 kilometres, with 81 stations and 197 trains across four lines:
-
Orange Line: 44.8km with 29 stations along Al-Madinah and Old Makkah roads
-
Blue Line: 35km from the airport to the Haramain station with 15 stops
-
Green Line: 17km through the city centre with nine stations
-
Red Line: 59.7km from King Abdullah Stadium to Old Makkah Street with 25 stops
For a city built around cars, Jeddah’s metro revival could finally signal a shift toward smarter, easier urban living.