1. Public Transport in Saudi Arabia
Abdulaziz Al-Ohaly
President Of
Public Transport Authority
Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
27 January 2015

2. Contents Transport Sector Organisation Chart
Government Support to Public Transport
Role of PTA
Public Transport Projects
Economic Impact of Public Transport Projects
Investment Opportunities in Public Transport Projects

3. Transport Sector Organisation Chart
Minister of Transport
General Authority
of Civil Aviation (GACA)
Ministry of Transport
(MOT)
Roads
Transport
Public Transport Authority
(PTA)
Saudi Railways Organisation
(SRO)
Saudi Railways Commission
(SRC)
Saudi Ports Authority
(SPA)
Development Authorities
Municipalities

4. Major Transport Companies
Makkah and Holy Shrines Development Authority
Madinah Development Authority
Ar-Riyadh Development Authority (ADA)
Saudi Rail Company (SAR)
Saudi Public Transport Company (SAPTCO)
School Bus Management Company (Tatweer)
Metro Companies (Makkah, Jeddah and Dammam)

5. Government Support to Public Transport
Cabinet resolution No. (174) on 23/4/2012:
Approves implementation of Riyadh PT network as well as other high density cities PT networks
Guarantees financing for building, operating and maintaining public transport projects.
Instructs to develop guidelines for demand management.
Instructs to develop mechanism for integration between urban planning and transport planning.
Allocation of 200 Billion Saudi Riyals for public transport projects (Dec 2012)
Establishment of Public Transport Authority (PTA) (Oct. 2012)
Approval of Public Transport networks in high density cities

6. Role of PTA
Regulate and supervise public transport services for passengers within cities and between cities.
Provide quality services at reasonable cost with consideration to environment, and the integration with air transport and rail transport between cities.
Encourage investment in the sector.
Knowledge transfer and capacity building.

7. Public Transport Networks Approvals
Riyadh Public Transport Network (Apr. 2012)
Makkah Public Transport Network (Aug. 2012)
Jeddah Public Transport Network (Mar. 2013)
Madinah Public Transport Network (Nov. 2013)
Dammam Public Transport Network (May 2014)

8. Public Transport Networks in the Large Five Cities
Lengths of Standard Buses Routes (Km)
Lengths of BRT Routes (Km)
Number & Lengths of LRT Routes (Km)
Population
(million)
City
765 95
(# 4) 182
1.53
Makkah
360
145
(# 5) 61
1.10
Madinah
1133 85
(# 6) 176
5.18
Riyadh
750 -
(# 3) 108
3.43
Jeddah
354 70
(# 2) 86
1.30
Dammam

9. Trains in Some International Cities*
Population (Million)
Start of Service
Network Length (Km)
No. of Routes
No. of Stations
London*
8.3
1863
402 11
270
Moscow*
13.3
1935
321 12
192
Tokyo*
34.4
1927
310 13
290
Montreal*
1966 69 4 68
San Diego*
1975
103
108
Cairo*
16.8
1987 70 3 57
Dubai*
2.2
2009 76 2 47
Makkah
1.5
2013**
182 64
Madinah
1.1
2014** 61 5
N/A
Riyadh
5.2
176 6 85
Jeddah
3.4 72
Dammam
1.3 86 54
* Source: Paper by Dr. Mohammad Saad Al-Muqarri “Comparison of King Abdulaziz Transport Project in Riyadh with Similar Projects in Large International Cities”.
** Approval to implement project

10. Public Transport in Riyadh

11. Sample of Terminals in Riyadh

12. Status of Public Transport Projects
Executed Stage
Stage
Tabuk
Hail
Hufof
Abha
Taif
Jazan
Buraydeh
Dammam
Jeddah
Riyadh
Madina
Makkah * 
Preparation
Development of Master Plan 
Design Public Transport System
Prepare Tender Documents
Tendering
Implementation
Operation
Performance Follow-up
: Completed
* : Under Process
 : In Preparation Phase

13. The Economic Impact of Public Transport Projects
Development of areas served by public transport
Mobility and accessibility to education, work, shopping and entertainment revives the economy
Employment opportunities
Savings in energy consumption and reducing environmental impact of private vehicles
Cut spending on road construction and land acquisition

14. The Economic Impact of Public Transport Projects (Cont’d)
Trip time saving and stress reduction from traffic jams
Optimization of infrastructure
Reduction of no. of accidents and their impacts
Investment opportunities in the public transport projects (manufacture and services)
Social inclusion
Capacity building and experience in public transport

17. Challenges Comprehensive networks in crowded cities
Short duration for implementation
Shortage of local experience
International competition on international experties
Local competition on local contractors and sub-contractors
Social acceptance of new modes
Overcome the wide spread of private cars
Sustainability
Financial
Level of Service
Coverage (expansion horizontally and vertically(
Increase in public transport ridership
Economic

18. Investment Opportunities in Public Transport Projects
Contracting in construction and maintenance of public transport networks
Construction and operation of public transport terminals
Operation and maintenance of public transport services (buses, trains, parking, etc.)
Information technology (tickets - information)
Advertising (on facilities, vehicles and publications ex. Tickets, cards, etc..)
Real estate and development investment (the possibility of investing in public transport or in the surrounding areas, such as hotels, offices and shops)

19. Investment Opportunities in Public Transport Projects (Cont’d)
Consulting services (engineering – administrative – economic – marketing programs)
Support Services (catering, housing, hygiene and guarding contracts.....)
The supply of vehicles and equipment
Maintenance, spare parts and after-sale services
Refueling and oils
Recruitment and training services
Manufacturing and industry

20. Thank you