Riyadh is moving ahead with a major expansion of its transport infrastructure, as the Royal Commission for the City of Riyadh announced a new package of road development projects worth more than SR8bn ($2.13bn), aimed at easing traffic, improving connectivity and supporting the goals of Saudi Arabia Vision 2030.
This announcement marks the launch of Package 3 of the Riyadh and Ring Road Axes Development Plan, a flagship program designed to improve mobility throughout the Saudi capital and strengthen its position as a regional hub for sustainable transport and logistics services.
According to the Royal Commission of Riyadh City (RCRC), Package 3 consists of six major projects scheduled to be completed within three to four years.
Riyadh road projects
- Jeddah Road Development Project (29km): This project includes 14 bridges and five highways, widening road corridors to accommodate the increasing daily traffic volume. Once completed, the route will have a capacity of up to 353,000 vehicles per day
- Taif Road Development Project (15km): Designed to improve traffic flow between Riyadh’s southern and western districts and the city center, this project has four bridges, four highways and two tunnels, with the capacity to carry up to 200,000 vehicles per day.
- Thumamah Road Development Project – Eastern Section (8km): This section will include three bridges and three tunnels, connecting the main axes that cross the north and east of Riyadh and support a capacity of up to 200,000 vehicles per day.
- King Abdulaziz Road Development Project – Northern Section (4.7km): This project will increase the capacity of the network and improve efficiency with four bridges, four highways and one tunnel, facilitating the movement of up to 450,000 vehicles per day.
- Othman bin Affan Road Development Project – Northern Section (4.3km): With seven bridges and extensive improvements, the project will improve traffic flow in northern Riyadh and support up to 500,000 vehicles per day.
- Engineering Improvement of Congested Areas – Phase II: Targeting eight areas throughout Riyadh’s road network, this phase will use advanced engineering solutions to reduce congestion and improve road performance, increasing traffic volume by 40-60 percent.
Traffic plan
The RCRC said it has prepared a comprehensive traffic diversion plan, coordinated with the relevant city authorities, to minimize temporary impacts to traffic and surrounding communities and to ensure uninterrupted traffic during construction.
The program begins in February 2020, when Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Crown Prince, Prime Minister and Chairman of the Board of Directors of the RCRC, directs the development of Riyadh’s main road axes as part of the wider transformation of the capital.
Following that order, the RCRC launched Package 1 in August 2024, which includes four projects with a combined value of SR13bn ($3.46bn), and Package 2 in February 2025, which includes eight projects exceeding SR8bn ($2.13bn).
The commission said additional phases of the Riyadh and Ring Road Axes Development Plan will be announced later, as the city continues to increase infrastructure investment in line with Saudi Vision 2030.
