Riyadh unveils $2.1bn road expansion with six major projects

Riyadh is pressing ahead with a major expansion of its transport infrastructure, as the Royal Commission for Riyadh City announced a new package of road development projects worth more than SR8bn ($2.13bn), aimed at easing congestion, improving connectivity and supporting Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 goals.

The announcement marks the launch of Package 3 of the Riyadh Main and Ring Road Axes Development Program, a flagship initiative designed to enhance mobility across the Saudi capital and strengthen its position as a regional hub for sustainable transport and logistics services.

According to the Royal Commission for Riyadh City (RCRC), Package 3 comprises six major projects scheduled for completion within three to four years.

Riyadh road projects

• Jeddah Road Development Project (29km): The scheme includes 14 bridges and five main lanes, expanding road corridors to accommodate rising daily traffic volumes. 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 centre, the project features four bridges, four main lanes and two tunnels, with capacity for up to 200,000 vehicles per day
• Thumamah Road Development Project – Eastern Section (8km): This section will include three bridges and three tunnels, linking key mobility axes across northern and eastern Riyadh and supporting traffic volumes of up to 200,000 vehicles per day
• King Abdulaziz Road Development Project – Northern Section (4.7km): The project will expand network capacity and improve efficiency through four bridges, four main lanes and one tunnel, enabling traffic capacity of up to 450,000 vehicles per day
• Othman bin Affan Road Development Project – Northern Section (4.3km): With seven bridges and extensive upgrades, the project will enhance traffic flow across northern Riyadh and support up to 500,000 vehicles per day
• Engineering Enhancements for Congested Areas – Phase II: Targeting eight locations across Riyadh’s road network, this phase will apply advanced engineering solutions to reduce congestion and improve intersection performance, increasing traffic capacity by 40–60 per cent

Traffic plan

RCRC said it has prepared a comprehensive traffic diversion plan, coordinated with relevant city authorities, to minimise temporary impacts on traffic flow and surrounding communities and ensure uninterrupted mobility during construction.

The programme traces back to February 2020, when Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Crown Prince, Prime Minister and Chairman of the RCRC Board of Directors, directed the development of Riyadh’s major road axes as part of a wider transformation of the capital.

Following that directive, RCRC launched Package 1 in August 2024, comprising four projects with a combined value of SR13bn ($3.46bn), and Package 2 in February 2025, which included eight projects exceeding SR8bn ($2.13bn).

The commission said additional phases of the Riyadh Main and Ring Road Axes Development Program will be announced in due course, as the city continues to scale up infrastructure investment in line with Saudi Vision 2030.