Riyadh’s KAFD To Launch Driverless Monorail By 2027

Following the construction of the Riyadh Metro, another ambitious transport project is on track for the capital. The King Abdullah Financial District (KAFD) is preparing to add a driverless monorail, designed to improve mobility within one of the city’s most modern business hubs.

Currently in its design stage, the 3.6 km network is expected to be started in late 2025. A consortium including CRRC, CRRC Nanjing Puzhen, and Hassan Allam is driving the project, which was first revealed in October 2023.

Trials are scheduled for early 2027, with public services set to follow later in the year. Once complete, the monorail will be able to move around 3,500 passengers per hour across a circular elevated track. The system will run six two-carriage trains, linking six stations throughout the financial district. Integration with the Riyadh Metro is also planned, making the new line part of a wider mobility ecosystem.

The design emphasizes sustainability and efficiency. Equipped with a fully autonomous driving system, the monorail will reduce congestion inside KAFD while offering quick access between the district’s landmark towers. For the King Abdullah Financial District Development and Management Company (KAFD DMC), the project is positioned as a core part of Vision 2030, supporting Riyadh’s transformation into a global financial and investment hub.

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The success of the Riyadh Metro underlines the importance of affordable, reliable public transport. Since launching in December 2024, the metro has already carried over 100 million riders in under nine months. With punctuality at nearly 99.8% and KAFD emerging as a key interchange, the metro has quickly become central to Riyadh’s new transport network.

The upcoming monorail builds on that momentum, promising a next-generation link that will make navigating the financial district faster, smarter, and more sustainable.