More than 6 million passengers have used the public bus network in the Kingdom’s Eastern Province since its introduction in 2022.

Comprising 10 routes and 279 stops, the service operates 85 buses for 18 hours a day. During the recent Eid Al-Fitr holiday, it was used by about 12,500 passengers per day, the Saudi Press Agency reported.

According to the municipal government, a new phase will be introduced soon that will see a fleet of environmentally buses running on seven routes in Dammam, Alkhobar, Qatif and Al-Bayda. The expansion is part of a wider plan to improve urban infrastructure, promote sustainable transport and support tourism in the region, the report said.

With tickets priced from SR3.45 (92 US cents) more than 90 percent of passengers surveyed in the first quarter of this year said they were satisfied with the service.

The country’s public transport networks have been expanded significantly in recent years as part of the government’s efforts to reduce traffic congestion and improve quality of life for people living in cities.

The six-line Riyadh Metro, which opened in December and covers about 176 km, carried more than 18 million passengers in its first two months of operation.

A key component of the King Abdulaziz Project for Riyadh Public Transport and Saudi Vision 2030, the system is designed to carry up to 3.6 million passengers a day. It has driverless trains, air-conditioned cabins and designated seating for different passenger groups.

Riyadh also has an extensive bus network, which spans more than 1,900 km, has more than 2,860 stops and a daily capacity of 500,000 passengers.