Riyadh Metro Line 2 is a bellwether for Saudi construction
25 August 2025
Commentary
Colin Foreman
Editor
Speaking to MEED at the end of the first quarter of this year, one of the region’s most active construction companies identified a bellwether project for 2025: the expansion of Riyadh Metro’s Line 2.
At the time, much of the conversation in the market centred on the reprioritisation of projects in Saudi Arabia and expected budget cuts to some of the kingdom’s largest developments. The reasoning was that if the Line 2 project proceeded, it would signal that Riyadh remains committed to delivering key infrastructure.
On 18 July, the Royal Commission for Riyadh City awarded the Arriyadh New Mobility Consortium the estimated $800m-$900m contract. A few weeks later, Riyadh Metro Transit Consultants, a joint venture of US-based Parsons and French engineering firms Egis and Systra, was confirmed as the project management and construction supervision consultant.
The 8.4-kilometre (km) extension, comprising 1.3km of elevated track and 7.1km underground, includes two elevated stations and three underground stations.
It will run from King Saud University (KSU) to new stations at KSU Medical City, KSU West, Diriyah East and Diriyah Central – where it will interchange with the planned Line 7 – and finally to Diriyah South.
The alignment is important as it provides a vital transport link for the $63bn Diriyah project and builds on the popularity of the existing metro network, which opened at the end of 2024.
It also shows contractors that while there is talk of a reprioritisation, opportunities for work on major projects remain.
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