黑料社区

Riyadh Metro surpasses 100m passengers in under 9 months

Special Riyadh Metro surpasses 100m passengers in under 9 months
A view from inside a Riyadh Metro green line train as it approaches King Abdullah Financial District Station in Riyadh, 黑料社区, Jan. 28, 2025. (Reuters)
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Updated 26 August 2025

Riyadh Metro surpasses 100m passengers in under 9 months

Riyadh Metro surpasses 100m passengers in under 9 months
  • Service has on-time performance rate of 99.7% and the blue line is the busiest route, with 46.5m riders
  • 100 millionth passenger Masaad Al-Obaid says Metro 鈥榤ade my life so much easier. It saves time, no stress, no traffic problem 鈥 such a huge time saver鈥

RIYADH: The Riyadh Metro has reached a major milestone by carrying more than 100 million passengers since its launch in December 2024.

Operated by the Royal Commission for Riyadh City, the metro has maintained an on-time performance rate of 99.7 percent, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Tuesday.

The service鈥檚 blue line recorded the highest usage, with 46.5 million riders. The red line ranked second with 17 million, followed by the orange line with 12 million.

Qasr Al-Hokm, KAFDA, stc, and the National Museum were among the busiest stations, together accounting for more than 29 percent of total passenger numbers.

In a message posted by Riyadh Transport on social media platform X, the 100 millionth passenger, Masaad Al-Obaid, said he had no idea his routine journey would turn out to be an extraordinary milestone in the story of the Metro until a member of staff informed him. To mark the momentous occasion he was presented with a travel card providing him with free trips.

Al-Obaid was full of praise for the new Metro and the difference it has made to travel in the city: 鈥淚t made my life so much easier. It saves time, no stress, no traffic problem, making it a smooth experience and such a huge time saver. It made things easier for me.鈥

Other regular users also welcomed the Metro鈥檚 milestone. Commuter Tausief Ahmed told Arab News: 鈥淕lad to know that in just nine months, Riyadh Metro has recorded its 100 millionth passenger.

鈥淭he service began last year in December, marking a new era of smart mobility in the Saudi capital. It certainly has made commuting easier and smarter.鈥

The metro is the world鈥檚 longest driverless network, extending 176 km across the capital. The system aims to enhance mobility, expand travel choices and reinforce public transport as a solution for the capital.

The metro aligns with the goals of 黑料社区鈥檚 Vision 2030 plan for national development and diversification, in particular its aims to modernize the transport sector. There are plans to expand the railway network by more than 50 percent to connect major cities and help boost trade.


黑料社区 to host 2027 IASP World Conference

黑料社区 to host 2027 IASP World Conference
Updated 5 sec ago

黑料社区 to host 2027 IASP World Conference

黑料社区 to host 2027 IASP World Conference
  • Successful bid to host the 2027 World Conference of the International Association of Science Parks and Areas of Innovation
  • Dhahran Techno Valley saw off competition from science parks in Norrkoping in Sweden and Chiang Mai in Thailand

DHAHRAN: 黑料社区, represented by Dhahran Techno Valley at King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals, has won its bid to host the 2027 World Conference of the International Association of Science Parks and Areas of Innovation.

The decision was announced during the IASP General Assembly Beijing, with the Kingdom beating off competition from science parks in Norrkoping in Sweden and Chiang Mai in Thailand.

The conference will underline 黑料社区鈥檚 position as a leader on the global innovation map and reflects its growing capabilities in the areas of energy, sustainability and future technologies.

It also highlights the Kingdom鈥檚 attractive and supportive environment for innovation and investment, with the event expected to draw more than 1,000 attendees including academics, investors and entrepreneurs.

Dhahran Techno Valley secured 87 votes out of 118 participating members, surpassing the 59 votes required to win in the final round.

The 2026 IASP World Conference will be held in Sophia Antipolis, France, before the spotlight turns to Dhahran.


黑料社区, OIC officials discuss labor issues in Baku

黑料社区, OIC officials discuss labor issues in Baku
Updated 25 September 2025

黑料社区, OIC officials discuss labor issues in Baku

黑料社区, OIC officials discuss labor issues in Baku
  • OIC plays a critical role in promoting sustainable development
  • Abdullah Abuthnain, Saudi鈥檚 vice minister, attended the meeting

RIYADH: Abdullah Abuthnain, 黑料社区鈥檚 vice minister of human resources and social development for labor, led the Kingdom鈥檚 delegation to the executive council meeting of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation鈥檚 Labour Centre in Baku, Azerbaijan, on Sep. 23 and 24.

The meeting included ministers and senior officials from OIC member states and addressed issues including employment and social protection, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Thursday.

It also examined the major challenges facing labor markets across the Islamic world and explored opportunities for growth and sustainable employment.

In his remarks, the minister highlighted the pivotal role of the OIC鈥檚 Labour Centre in coordinating efforts and facilitating the exchange of expertise among member states.

He underscored the need to sustain this cooperation to overcome labor market challenges, strengthen social protection, and promote sustainable development across the Islamic world.

He also underlined key initiatives in the Kingdom鈥檚 labor market aimed at empowering youth, enhancing their economic participation, and advancing digital transformation in service delivery.

Abuthnain also took part in a roundtable titled 鈥淚nnovative Labor and Employment Strategies in a Changing World: Global Challenges 鈥 National Solutions鈥, which was attended by ministers and representatives from nearly 30 OIC member states.

The meeting concluded by stressing the importance of strengthening cooperation among member states and adopting innovative labor policies that foster the development of human capital across member states.


Saudi internal auditors share expertise at Japan conference

Saudi internal auditors share expertise at Japan conference
Updated 25 September 2025

Saudi internal auditors share expertise at Japan conference

Saudi internal auditors share expertise at Japan conference
  • Saudi Authority of Internal Auditors CEO Abdullah bin Saleh Al-Shebeili stressed the need for international cooperation in developing the profession
  • Al-Shebeili emphasized the importance of academic programs and partnerships with leading global universities

RIYADH: Representatives from the Saudi Authority of Internal Auditors joined other international leaders and experts in Japan for the National Internal Audit Conference.

One of their aims is to strengthen cooperation between the authority and its foreign counterparts, reaffirming the Kingdom鈥檚 role in leading change and professional leadership at the global level. It will also highlight the authority鈥檚 experience in areas such as oversight, governance, transparency and compliance.

The authority鈥檚 CEO, Abdullah bin Saleh Al-Shebeili, was one of the keynote speakers. He stressed the need for international cooperation in developing the profession and said 黑料社区 attached great importance to internal auditing as a crucial tool for progress as it improved performance quality and helped ensure high standards.

He added initiatives presented by the authority, such as 鈥淔rom Riyadh to the World,鈥 contributed greatly to the exchange of expertise and the building of professional networks that included China, Russia, Australia, Switzerland, Austria and the US. This in turn was reflected in developing methods of applying internal auditing in line with modern technological advances.

Al-Shebeili emphasized the importance of academic programs and partnerships with leading global universities, which the authority is currently undertaking with Harvard University in the US and Cambridge University in the UK.

These partnerships resulted in more than 200 professional leaders graduating from the Internal Audit Leadership program and 45 from Governance, Risk and Compliance.

He added the Kingdom had become a global hub for developing the profession by enhancing the quality of internal auditing, raising the efficiency of practitioners and building generations capable of leading the future.

The shared vision, he said, was to build an 鈥渁udit profession without borders鈥 based on knowledge, cooperation and innovation.


Saudi foreign minister participates in quadrilateral meeting on Sudan

Saudi foreign minister participates in quadrilateral meeting on Sudan
Updated 25 September 2025

Saudi foreign minister participates in quadrilateral meeting on Sudan

Saudi foreign minister participates in quadrilateral meeting on Sudan

RIYADH: Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan participated in a quadrilateral meeting on Sudan, which included the United Arab Emirates, Egypt, and the US on Wednesday.
The meeting took place on the sidelines of the 80th session of the UN General Assembly in New York.
The meeting addressed developments in the Sudanese crisis and the need to unify efforts to overcome humanitarian challenges.
It also tackled implementing the commitments outlined in the Jeddah Declaration regarding the protection of civilians, and ensuring Sudan鈥檚 stability, while preserving its sovereignty, unity, and territorial integrity.


Saudi firm signs deal with Syria to develop digital healthcare services

Saudi firm signs deal with Syria to develop digital healthcare services
Updated 24 September 2025

Saudi firm signs deal with Syria to develop digital healthcare services

Saudi firm signs deal with Syria to develop digital healthcare services
  • PIF-owned Lean Business Services will work with Syrian health ministry
  • Partnership will create 鈥榮ustainable digital foundations,鈥 CEO says

LONDON: A Saudi company that specializes in providing digital health solutions and e-services this week signed a deal with Syria to help develop its healthcare infrastructure.

Lean Business Services CEO Mohanned Al-Rasheed and Syria鈥檚 Minister of Health Musab Al-Ali oversaw the signing of a memorandum of understanding in the presence of Saudi Minister of Health Fahad Abdulrahman Al-Jalajel.

The deal will involve the use of innovative technologies developed by Lean, which is owned by the Kingdom鈥檚 Public Investment Fund.

The company will also provide technical support, consultations and staff training to help Syria鈥檚 Ministry of Health build digital health and record systems.

The partnership will create data management and analytics solutions to ensure data flow between health systems and support the establishment of national standards and policies.

Al-Rasheed described the deal as 鈥渁n important step toward building bridges of knowledge cooperation.鈥

鈥(This is) a strategic partnership to share the expertise we have built in the Kingdom, which has proven successful in achieving a qualitative leap in health services,鈥 he said.

鈥淥ur strategic vision is to empower the Syrian health sector by building sustainable digital foundations that support evidence-based decision-making and develop national capabilities.鈥

Lean鈥檚 teams would help Syrians digitize their health sector and pave the way for 鈥渁 modern and flexible health future,鈥 Al-Rasheed said.