Editing Transport in Saudi Arabia (section)

== Public transit systems ==
[[File:Bus SAPTCO Koridor Saqifah Bani Sa'idah - Jalan Raya Tabuk.jpg|left|thumb|A SAPTCO bus in [[Saqifah|Saqifah Bani Sa'idah]], [[Medina]]|248x248px]]
The [[Saudi Public Transport Company (SAPTCO)]], known by its abbreviation SAPTCO, established in 1979 by a royal decree, operates a fleet of more than 4,500 vehicles<ref name=":3">{{Cite web|title=Company profile|url=https://www.saptco.com.sa/About-Us/Company-Profile.aspx|access-date=19 August 2020|website=SAPTCO, About Us|archive-date=25 August 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200825023816/https://saptco.com.sa/About-Us/Company-Profile.aspx|url-status=dead}}</ref> with multiple routes throughout the kingdom. It transports approximately 8 million people monthly between the major cities of the kingdom.<ref name=":3" /><ref>{{Cite web|date=27 June 2018|title=Eight (8) Million Passengers transported by SAPTCO during Ramadan 1439|url=https://www.saptco.com.sa/MediaCenter/News/news194.aspx|access-date=19 August 2020|website=SAPTCO Media Center}}{{Dead link|date=August 2020 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> In addition to the transnational routes, SAPTCO also operates 10 international routes which transport approximately 500,000 people between the kingdom and the neighbouring Gulf states. SAPTCO operates special bus services during the Hajj pilgrimage, which carry approximately 15,000 pilgrims between the holy sites.<ref name=":2" /> One of Saudi Arabia's most sophisticated bus networks is that of the city of [[Medina]], with 10 lines connecting different regions of the city. It serves approximately 20,000 passengers on a daily basis.<ref>{{Cite web|title=حافلات المدينة|url=https://madinabuses.mda.gov.sa/|access-date=2020-08-19|website=madinabuses.mda.gov.sa|archive-date=2021-06-03|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210603050406/https://madinabuses.mda.gov.sa/|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|date=2019-05-19|title=20 ألف مستفيد يوميا من النقل الترددي بالمدينة|url=https://makkahnewspaper.com/article/1103561/البلد/20-ألف-مستفيد-يوميا-من-النقل-الترددي-بالمدينة|access-date=2020-08-19|website=صحيفة مكة|language=ar}}</ref> 
SATPCO buses are gender-segregated.
[[File:Damman City2.JPG|thumb|Taxis in front of King Fahd Mosque in [[Dammam]], 2008]]
[[File:Green Taxi Riyadh 2024.jpg|thumb|Green Taxi in [[Riyadh]], 2024]]
[[Taxicab|Taxis]] are available in all major cities of the kingdom, in addition to the presence of private companies that offer vehicle hiring services, such as [[Uber]] and [[Careem]] (which is a subsidiary of Uber), and ChaCha Taxi, a locally known provider focused on accessible and reliable transport.<ref name="ChaCha Taxi">{{cite web |url=https://chachataxi.com/ |title=Online Taxi Service in Saudi Arabia |access-date=4 November 2024}}</ref> A reflection of gender inequality, men travelling solo may sit in the passenger seat, but women are expected to sit in the rear seat.<ref name="taxi_exp">{{cite web |url=https://www.expatica.com/sa/living/transportation/public-transportation-in-saudi-arabia-74944/#taxis |title=Taxis and ride-hailing services in Saudi Arabia |access-date=2021-09-02}}</ref> Before the reform in early 2020,<ref name="taxi_exp" /> Saudi cabs did not have meters; the price was agreed to up front and trips had to be booked in advance because of a 2012 "no hailing" regulation.<ref name="just_landed">{{cite web| url = https://www.justlanded.com/english/Saudi-Arabia/Saudi-Arabia-Guide/Travel-Leisure/Public-transport-in-Saudi-Arabia| title = Public transport in Saudi Arabia}}</ref> Women had also been required to be accompanied by a male relative or another woman.<ref name="just_landed" />

The Makkah Mass Rail Transit, also known as [[Mecca Metro]], became the first [[rapid transit]] system to enter operation in Saudi Arabia after the completion of the [[Al Mashaaer Al Mugaddassah Metro line|Al Mashaaer Al Muqaddassah]] (S) line in 2010. Other rapid transit systems currently in operation and development in the kingdom include:
* The [[Riyadh Metro]], consisting of six lines serve the capital city of [[Riyadh]], which is started its operations on 1 December 2024.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Riyadh metro mega-project to be fully operational by 2021|url=https://www.thenational.ae/business/travel-and-tourism/riyadh-metro-mega-project-to-be-fully-operational-by-2021-1.711522|access-date=2020-08-19|website=The National|date=8 March 2018 |language=en}}</ref>
* A three-line [[Medina Metro|metro]] project in extension to the public transportation master plan in [[Medina]], announced by the [[Al Madinah Region Development Authority|MMDA]] in 2015.<ref>{{Cite web|title=هيئة تطوير المدينة المنورة تطرح تنفيذ 3 خطوط مترو و200 محطة للحافلات|url=https://aawsat.com/home/article/326216/%D9%87%D9%8A%D8%A6%D8%A9-%D8%AA%D8%B7%D9%88%D9%8A%D8%B1-%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%85%D8%AF%D9%8A%D9%86%D8%A9-%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%85%D9%86%D9%88%D8%B1%D8%A9-%D8%AA%D8%B7%D8%B1%D8%AD-%D8%AA%D9%86%D9%81%D9%8A%D8%B0-3-%D8%AE%D8%B7%D9%88%D8%B7-%D9%85%D8%AA%D8%B1%D9%88-%D9%88200-%D9%85%D8%AD%D8%B7%D8%A9-%D9%84%D9%84%D8%AD%D8%A7%D9%81%D9%84%D8%A7%D8%AA|access-date=2020-08-19|website=الشرق الأوسط|language=ar}}</ref>
* The [[Jeddah Metro]], under construction with projected completion in 2025, as of 2018.