Taking the metro is usually little more than a means to an end while moving around cities, but Saudi Arabia’s brand new Riyadh Metro is turning this notion on its head.

Launched in December 2024, the automated rapid transit system brings new meaning to the phrase, “It’s not the destination, it’s the journey.”

Spanning over 176 kilometers, or about 110 miles, across six different lines, the long-awaited network — the world’s longest driverless metro system — links key points across the capital, including King Khalid International Airport and the King Abdullah Financial District, or KAFD.

Standout stations

Riyadh's stunning King Abdullah Financial District Metro Station (KAFD) was designed by Zaha Hadid Architects. Royal Commission for Riyadh City

Built at a cost of $22.5-billion, the

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