If someone asks me what is the business project that you would like to see in Saudi Arabia before you die! Although I have some projects in mind, I would say that I would like to see and use a metro or underground system in our cities! (If, by any chance, there is someone reading this post from London, Paris, or even Cairo, please stop laughing 
)
Today, it has been announced that the constructions of ‘Riyadh metro’ has just begun. A 36 stations light transit railway project is on the way as reported by Arab News. Although some specific details about the project have been provided in this press release (e.g. distances between stations, stations number on each route, passenger capacity, etc …), there is no mentioning whatsoever about the project time plan (no comment!!)
Anyway, if this project is really coming (God only knows when??) I would not really brag about it a lot because it is coming too, and I mean tooooooo, late. Our main cities (Jeddah and Riyadh in particular) are suffocating for many years now under huge car traffic and lack of organized public transportation in its simplest forms (bus system, or even controlled taxi cars.) I always wonder how is it possible for our cities to reach this miserable level of public transportation given that they have been constructed, as modren cities, in the last 40 years or so. Just put in your mind that the first underground system has been built in London in 1863 (yes, you read right, it is 1863!!)
Moreover, I always find it intriguing to the mind to imagine what will happen if we finally got ourselves a metro? How Saudis will react to this entirely new concept in their lives (again, London, Paris, and Cairo people; stop laughing once and for all!!) Will Saudis abandon their cars in exchange for public transportation system? I know a lot of Saudis who do not use underground systems when visiting big cities in Europe or America and they still prefer to rent a car or use expensive taxies instead.
I believe this issue would be a very interesting marketing case to study. We, Saudis, tend to developed a certain mix of specialties about the way we look at our society and the way we evaluate new products and services entering our country. We have a mental association between public transportation and low class workers. We do not pay much respect to time in our daily lives, so how are we going to deal with a system entirely based on timing and accuracy. The car in Saudi Arabia is not only a mean of transportation, it is more of a mirror to our social ranking (this is a global view to cars but it is certainly more emphasized in Saudi.) In addition to that, the social barriers will start to come into play; shall we have separate trains for women? May be separate stations? If not, how are we going to sit in these trains? You are not suggesting my daughter will be standing next to a strange teenager in there now, are you? What about our VIPs, can we have VIP metro trains as well? Will the trains be operating during the pray time?
Now all these are normal and expected barriers; normal in the sense that the cultural background of a market is always the most difficult barrier to address in marketing. The solution will lay in the strategy used by the government to promote such public transportation project and how it will brand it. Anyway, this could be a future post when we really have such a system.
well well well this is my favorite topic to talk about. We’ve to wait for this system so long because anything in Saudi Arabia progresses very slowly. Except for KAUST
. Yesterday, I was discussing with my father about the transportaion in Saudi Arabia. Why don’t we have a train which links Yanbu,Jeddah, Mecca and Al-Madina! They should have been thinking about this project since many years. I don’t know what is the use of packing my luggage and wait at the airport to get my things done (That’s If I could find available seat) to fly only for 20 mins. I mean can’t we be so normal and have trains and metro sysytems like others. Oh and please don’t ask about the project time plan. Even If its mentioned don’t believe it. You have to add weeks,months or maybe some years 
Saudis’ reaction is last thing I’ll think about in this case.This development in transportion in saudi Arabia will dismiss all thoughts of women driving cars,which made controversy in our society. So, this might be a choice for them or a solution not a big fuss. Who knows!
Thanks for this great topic
Hi Female Symphony … I really hope KAUST will not always be our example of the ‘exception’ not the ‘rule.’ As we were able to efficiently make KAUST, we are, supposedly, able to make more than that. How is this for a high spirit
I really hope I can share your optimism about how public transportation will solve some of women problems; I do not know … but this new situation when finally happens might face some difficulties at least in the beginning. Let’s wait and see.
[...] information about the project, but one little, important detail was missing from the story: when can we expect this new metro to start [...]
Several comments…. I would not rule out that institution of a metro would further limit forward movement (insha’allah) on women driving…perhaps it would make it easier with anticipation of cars and people off the roads and using the metro?
I wonder whether the metro would be shut down during prayer times?
And in regards to some of your comments Saad, I’ll share an incident when my Saudi spouse and I were living in the Washington, DC area. He discovered and loved taking the metro to work since it was so convenient, easy and faster than driving. However when his Saudi colleagues learned he was using the metro the typical response was “What are you doing? No respectable Saudi would use a metro!” I’m glad to say that their response had no effect on my spouse and he continued to enjoy the use of the metro.
Hi American Bedu, I believe that this new concept of public transportation and how it will affect our life style in general and women movement in particular is subject to a lot of issues; may be the most important one of them is how it will be regulated and operated!! (it is really strange how we approach simple things in life with a very complicated views, don’t you think??)
So ‘No respectable Saudi would use a metro!’ and we are talking about where … the states!! Imagine what will happen in here!
@ the comment above me, my dad rides the metro and he gets the same responses! LOL actually I recall a time where one person offered my dad his driver because he thought my dad didn’t have a car
Honestly, Saad, Saudis are too spoiled to ride a metro :S
Immaturely Mature, I really hope your summary to this whole post won’t turn out to be true … ‘Saudis are too spoiled to ride a metro’ …
Well Saad for me its not a solution but what I mean is,that development in transportation might be a solution for those who are against women driving and hopefully,they will accept it without making alot of argumentation,as usual.
Oh and for KAUST sorry Saad but for me it will be always an “exception” and It might be followed by another “exception” but will never be a normal case
Hi again … I certainly hope they will accept it without much argument (It will be weird though!) …
And come on … let’s be optimistic for a second! Maybe the other companies and public agencies will be jealous of ARAMCO and beat them in more successful projects
For this project to be done right! let’s give it to ARAMCO!! actually we should let ARAMCO run the government, as it seems it does things closer to right!!
Metro system should go hand in hand with BUS system! as metro doesn’t stop is short distances! Moreover, bus system should go hand in hand with pedestrian routes. It’s not logical for a bus to drop someone off in one side of the road while he/she can’t move to other side. And finally pedestrian routes can’t work efficiently if cars drivers’ do not respect them (meaning; educated and responsible traffic police to apply the rules). Civilization is not a project to done! it’s a whole systems integrated together which is respected and honored by PEOPLE!
Finally, I’m a guy filled with anger on “respectable Saudi’s who shouldn’t use the metro” and I would say to them: no respectable metro should allow Saudi’s inside. Yet, you are not civilized enough!
Hi Mohsen …
Yes indeed … civilization is not a project; it is more of a culture.
And I also tend to agree with you that Metro is not the ultimate solution for all our transportation problems, but it is certainly a major step on the road.
hi there
you are talking and discussing about let’s say very sensitive topics. transportation in saudi arabia especially the biggest cities riyadh and jeddah makes government has something like a headache. to be honest with you people, me and many others suffer from traffic and crowded of all main roads. these days, the moving from place to other takes about half hour or more when normally it takes less than 15 mins. let’s talk an example, alharamain highway, i take about 20 mins to reach kau whereas there is only less than 15 km between home and kau. if someone or somebody from outside the country might lough when heared about starting metro system in saudi now becuase its obvouis for each country to has metro system or even underground sysystem.
in saudi, only cars and buses ara avialable for people to move from place to another and that might be the main cuase of crowded and traffic problems.
in jeddah, nowadays they start develop city by constructing a new highway and bridges, also a tunnel if possible but really it comes to late.
let’s hope this project will help people but no comments about deadline of ending date.
at least they should tell us when we can use this metro system, in emirate they published all details about dubai metro system even the fantastic operation date 09/09/09
i think its one of our rights as people here in the kingdom
i wish my idea reaches to you clearly and we can discuss in the future
eng.ahmed
Hi Ahmed,
You are right in most of your comment except that I have to disagree with you on the bus option in Saudi. I am not sure buses are on our choice list when we think about moving from a point to another. It is our cars, if not available, and then one of our family/friends cars, if not available, then it is a taxi.
Unfortunately, our bus system is not reliable enough to be one of our choices.
The social rejection, which have been creating many problems, is gonna be the biggest obstacle facing any new project. As you have mentioned, there are many questions waiting to be answered before being able to discuss how successful this project will be.
What worries me is the fact that these list of problems are still there and they don’t seem to be resolved in the foreseen future. And as a result, there won’t be any hope for successful projects in the country (and when I’m saying “successful,” I’m referring to success in developed countries).
Hi Ayman,
It seems social studies should precede any new project in Saudi!!
Hi If the metro express will run in the country KSA it would be great … Wish this for furture..
The express is like my country which you put on this blog. !! thanks if it is so…
The society is strict but I am enjoying to know Saudi society …thanks Keep it going. I wanna know more about KSA !!
Hi Aisha …
Welcome to the blog and believe me, we all wish it will be a successful project.
InshaAllah..thanks for replying me …
BTW, To read your blog, I woud like to add to my blog..Let me know if you dont mind..cheers..
You are always welcom
There is an urgent need for Metro system to connect Khobar-Dammam-Qateef and in future Jubail. Eastern Provoice need the metro system to solve the daily traffic jams in Dammam and Khobar.