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Riyadh Seeks to Ease Traffic Congestion by Launching Metro Project

The Riyadh Metro project covers six main lines with a total length of 176 kilometers and 84 stations. (King Abdulaziz Project for Public Transport)
The Riyadh Metro project covers six main lines with a total length of 176 kilometers and 84 stations. (King Abdulaziz Project for Public Transport)
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Riyadh Seeks to Ease Traffic Congestion by Launching Metro Project

The Riyadh Metro project covers six main lines with a total length of 176 kilometers and 84 stations. (King Abdulaziz Project for Public Transport)
The Riyadh Metro project covers six main lines with a total length of 176 kilometers and 84 stations. (King Abdulaziz Project for Public Transport)

Saudi Arabia is preparing to launch the “Riyadh Metro” project, one of the largest public transportation projects in the region, which promises to improve the quality of life for residents by reducing traffic congestion and air pollution.

Minister of Transport and Logistics Eng. Saleh Al-Jasser recently announced that the landmark Riyadh Metro is in its final stages and nearing completion.

In 2013, the government awarded contracts worth $22.5 billion to three international consortia led by some of the world’s largest railway manufacturers to design and build Riyadh’s first metro network. The main network for the Riyadh Bus system was completed in Sept. 2023, serving as a crucial feeder to the metro system through 54 routes and 2,145 stations and stops spread across the capital.

The Riyadh Metro consists of a network of six main lines spanning the city, aiming to connect vital areas and facilitate daily commutes for the city’s 7.5 million residents. As the capital aims to double its population by 2030, the government recently allocated SAR 6 billion ($1.6 billion) to improve the city’s infrastructure, a figure four times higher than previous contracts, according to the Riyadh Municipality.

The Riyadh Metro project covers six main lines with a total length of 176 kilometers and 84 stations. The metro network is also connected to King Khalid International Airport, the King Abdullah Financial District, major universities, downtown Riyadh, and the public transport center, according to the Royal Commission for Riyadh City.

The six routes of the Riyadh Metro network are:

1. Line 1 (Blue Line): Al-Olaya - Batha - Al-Ha’ir axis, 38 km long.

2. Line 2 (Red Line): King Abdullah Road, 25.3 km long.

3. Line 3 (Orange Line): Madinah Road - Prince Saad bin Abdulrahman Al-Awal axis, 40.7 km long.

4. Line 4 (Yellow Line): King Khalid International Airport axis, 29.6 km long.

5. Line 5 (Green Line): King Abdulaziz Road axis, 12.9 km long.

6. Line 6 (Purple Line): Abdulrahman bin Awf Road - Sheikh Hassan bin Hussein bin Ali Road axis, 30 km long.

Ticket prices

The cost of a ticket for the Riyadh Bus, the main feeder for the Riyadh Metro, is 4 riyals ($1.07) and is valid for two hours, starting from the first check-in on a bus or by activating the ticket through the app.

The same ticket can be used to transfer to another bus within this time. Children up to six years old can ride for free, while metro ticket prices have not yet been announced.

Infrastructure

The public transport project includes 21 public parking areas, each accommodating between 200 and 600 cars, to facilitate the use of the metro network. These parking spots are distributed to make transfers easier.

In September, the Riyadh Municipality signed five contracts worth SAR 6 billion to improve road quality, representing four times the value of previous contracts. Additionally, SAR 70 billion ($18.6 billion) has been allocated to improve the road network in Riyadh, as previously announced by Minister Al-Jasser during the Smart Cities Conference in May.

Eco-friendly

Environmentally, Riyadh’s buses use low-sulfur fuel, making them among the most eco-friendly vehicles, contributing significantly to reducing carbon emissions and improving air quality, according to the Royal Commission for Riyadh City.

The metro network will also play an active role in reducing harmful greenhouse gases and mitigating rising temperatures in the city by providing sustainable transportation options. This effort aligns with broader goals to improve the quality of life for residents and visitors and create a healthy environment for all.

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Business

World Food Prices Dip in October, but Remain Higher Than a Year Ago

A worker carries loaves of bread for sale at a bakery in the capital city of Cairo, Egypt November 4, 2026. (Reuters)
A worker carries loaves of bread for sale at a bakery in the capital city of Cairo, Egypt November 4, 2026. (Reuters)
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World Food Prices Dip in October, but Remain Higher Than a Year Ago

A worker carries loaves of bread for sale at a bakery in the capital city of Cairo, Egypt November 4, 2026. (Reuters)
A worker carries loaves of bread for sale at a bakery in the capital city of Cairo, Egypt November 4, 2026. (Reuters)

World food prices edged lower in October as weaker import demand contributed to monthly declines in cereal, dairy and meat prices, but were still nearly 6% higher than a year earlier, the United Nations' Food and Agriculture Organization said on Friday.

The FAO Food Price Index, which tracks monthly changes in international prices for a basket of food commodities, ‌averaged 133.9 points ‌in October, down from a revised ‌135.6 ⁠in September.

The index ⁠was 5.9% higher than a year earlier, but remained 16.4% below its March 2022 peak.

FAO's cereal price index fell 4.5% from September and was 12.6% lower than a year ago, as wheat and maize quotations declined. Wheat prices eased on weak import demand ⁠and improved production prospects, especially in Argentina.

"Expectations of ‌easing constraints on Black ‌Sea export flows added to the downward pressure on prices, ‌although continued disruptions to Black Sea logistics limited the decline," ‌FAO said in a statement.

Maize prices also eased after reaching a three-year high in September, pressured by the US harvest, expectations of ample supplies in South America and renewed ‌prospects of easing tensions in the Black Sea region.

Vegetable oil prices edged up 0.3%, ⁠as ⁠higher soybean and sunflower oil prices more than offset a fall in rapeseed oil prices.

Sugar prices rose 6.6%, their fourth straight monthly increase, to the highest level since December 2024, after rainfall disrupted harvesting in Brazil. They were now 28.8% above a year ago.

The dairy index fell 1.1%, as lower butter and cheese prices linked to ample supplies and subdued demand outweighed gains in milk powder.

The meat index declined 1.2%, while still slightly above its year-earlier level, as ovine and bovine meat prices fell.

Business

Copper Falls, Set for Worst Week Since March on AI Rout

Copper at the Aurubis copper smelting and refining plant in Hamburg, Germany. (Reuters)
Copper at the Aurubis copper smelting and refining plant in Hamburg, Germany. (Reuters)
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Copper Falls, Set for Worst Week Since March on AI Rout

Copper at the Aurubis copper smelting and refining plant in Hamburg, Germany. (Reuters)
Copper at the Aurubis copper smelting and refining plant in Hamburg, Germany. (Reuters)

Copper dropped on Friday and was set for its biggest weekly drop in London since March, as a rout in technology stocks battered markets.

Benchmark three-month copper on the London Metal Exchange was down 1.3% at $13,663 a metric ton by 0700 GMT. That placed it on track to fall 3.44% in the week, Reuters said.

The most-traded copper contract on the Shanghai Futures Exchange fell 1.08% to 106,830 yuan ($16,018.17) a ton.

The weakness reflects worries over AI investment, ‌with copper increasingly ‌influenced by "sentiment towards data center expansion," said ‌Craig ⁠Lang, principal analyst ⁠at CRU.

Technology shares were battered after Democratic wins in the US midterms fueled concerns that new regulatory oversight could cap the AI buildout.

On the other hand, supply constraints cushioned copper's decline.

"I would be cautious about calling this a sustained correction, given ongoing mine supply challenges and exceptionally tight ⁠metal availability outside the US," Lang said.

Copper stocks ‌in SHFE-monitored warehouses <CU-STX-SGH> fell by ‌over 24% this week to just 33,848 tons — the lowest ‌in almost three years. The closely watched Yangshan copper ‌premium <SMM-CUYP-CN>, a gauge of appetite for imports into key consumer China, increased to $210 a ton on Thursday, matching its record high.

Smelters in the country are facing a double squeeze of negative treatment ‌charges and lower sulfuric acid prices.

Meanwhile, warehouse inventories outside the US have been drawn ⁠down as ⁠material was pulled into the country ahead of a potential tariff on imports of refined copper.

"These physical constraints should provide some support against weaker investor sentiment," Lang said.

Among LME metals, aluminium lost 0.54%, zinc lost 1.42%, lead lost 0.45%, nickel dipped 0.23% and tin gained 0.83%.

On the SHFE, aluminium nudged down only 0.04%, zinc lost 1.35%, lead was little changed, down only 0.03%, nickel rose 2.14% and tin dropped 3.45%.

SHFE inventories were down across the board this week, led by sharp drops in aluminium <AL-STX-SGH> and lead <PB-STX-SGH>.

Business

Emerging Economies Set to Match Advanced Nations’ Renewable Capacity Additions, IEA Says

Workers walk at Kalyon Karapinar solar power plant in Karapinar, Konya province, Türkiye, Oct. 14, 2026. (AP)
Workers walk at Kalyon Karapinar solar power plant in Karapinar, Konya province, Türkiye, Oct. 14, 2026. (AP)
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Emerging Economies Set to Match Advanced Nations’ Renewable Capacity Additions, IEA Says

Workers walk at Kalyon Karapinar solar power plant in Karapinar, Konya province, Türkiye, Oct. 14, 2026. (AP)
Workers walk at Kalyon Karapinar solar power plant in Karapinar, Konya province, Türkiye, Oct. 14, 2026. (AP)

Emerging ‌and developing economies outside China are expected to add as much new renewable energy capacity as advanced economies for the first time over the next five years, driven by the current energy crisis, the International Energy Agency said on Friday.

Gas and oil prices have soared this year as the US-Iran war disrupts traffic through the Strait of Hormuz, a key route for global oil and gas trade.

Global renewable energy ‌capacity is forecast ‌to increase by almost 4,800 gigawatts ‌between ⁠2026 and 2031, ⁠the IEA said in its annual outlook.

Emerging and developing economies are expected to add about 1,100 GW, roughly the same as advanced economies, with China adding around 2,550 GW, the agency said.

Capacity growth in Southeast Asia, Africa and the Middle East is ⁠expected to triple over the period, ‌led mainly by solar installations, ‌the IEA said.

China will remain the biggest contributor to ‌global renewable energy growth, although its share is ‌forecast to fall to 53% by 2031 from 60% in 2025.

India is emerging as the world's second-fastest deployer of renewables and is expected to more than double its contribution ‌to global growth by 2031 to nearly 8.5%.

Grid connection delays remain ⁠a major ⁠challenge, with projects awaiting connections worldwide rising 60% over the past year, equivalent to four times the wind and solar capacity connected to grids during the same period.

Grid constraints are expected to slow growth in advanced economies, with annual additions in Europe through 2031 forecast to remain broadly in line with 2025 levels.

Renewable energy is expected to meet 6% of global transport energy demand by 2031, while higher fuel-blending mandates prompted the IEA to raise its biofuels forecast by 40% from last year's report.