Saudi Arabia’s public bus network delivered a significant set of results for the opening quarter of 2026, with the Transport General Authority (TGA) confirming that more than 30.6 million passengers used urban bus services across the Kingdom’s cities and governorates between January and March. The figures point to a sustained and growing reliance on public transport as part of everyday life across the country.
Riyadh Leads the Nation in Bus Ridership
The capital dominated the national picture by a considerable distance, recording more than 19.55 million passengers during the first quarter — a figure that accounts for well over half of the total nationwide count. Makkah followed in second place with 4.87 million riders, while Madinah recorded 3.4 million and Jeddah posted 1.25 million. Dammam and Qatif together contributed approximately 840,000 passengers to the national total. Beyond the major urban centres, smaller cities also reflected steady demand: Qassim recorded 259,000 passengers, Taif 180,000, Al-Ahsa 134,000, Jazan 118,000, and Tabuk 52,000, with the remainder distributed across other regions of the Kingdom.
Intercity Bus Services Gain Ground
The growth in ridership extended beyond city limits. The TGA reported that over 936,000 passengers made use of intercity bus services during the first quarter of 2026, with more than 43,000 trips operated across all regions of the Kingdom. The authority described the uptake as a clear signal that intercity bus travel is becoming an increasingly preferred option for those moving between cities, offering a reliable and accessible alternative to private transport.
A National Transport Vision in Motion
The Q1 results align with the broader objectives of the National Transport and Logistics Strategy, which sets out to develop bus services, expand route coverage across districts and key destinations, and improve quality of life for residents throughout the Kingdom. The expansion of public bus infrastructure sits at the heart of Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 agenda, which envisions a more connected, efficient, and sustainable mobility landscape for its citizens. With more than 30 million journeys recorded in just three months, the data reflects a meaningful shift in how people across the Kingdom are choosing to move — and suggests that this transformation is well and truly underway.
