Riyadh Metro: Transforming the City’s Smart Transportation Landscape

This case explores the strategic transformation of Riyadh’s urban mobility landscape through the development of the Riyadh Metro, one of the most ambitious public transportation projects globally. Anchored in Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030, the metro aims to reduce car dependency, enhance quality of life, and position Riyadh as a globally competitive, livable city. The initiative serves as a test bed for orchestrating large-scale behavioral change in a car-centric society, leveraging behavioral economics, urban planning, and public-private collaboration. The case delves into the complexities of executing a $22.5 billion infrastructure project amid rapid urban growth, evolving public expectations, and national diversification goals. It highlights the strategic interplay between infrastructure, policy, and culture, while raising broader questions around how governments can design systems that not only build physical assets but also reshape social norms and economic trajectories.