Riyadh is set to introduce a driverless monorail in the King Abdullah Financial District (KAFD), with construction expected to begin before the end of the year, a senior executive has revealed.

Faddy Al Aql, Chief Asset Delivery Officer at KAFD, told Saudi daily Al Eqtisadiah that the elevated rail system will be capable of carrying up to 3,500 passengers per hour and will play a central role in the district’s “10-minute city” vision.

The concept is designed to ensure that every destination within KAFD is reachable on foot in 10 minutes or less, with pedestrian bridges suspended between towers to further enhance connectivity.

The 3.6km monorail will run on a circular elevated track connecting the district’s main towers. It will feature six stations and six driverless trains, directly linking to KAFD’s metro station to offer seamless transport for residents, workers, and visitors.

Currently in the design phase, the project is expected to begin trial operations in early 2027, with full commissioning and public launch planned for later that year.

The monorail forms part of the broader $10 billion financial hub development, which already encompasses 95 buildings, including office spaces, residential units, retail outlets, hotels, and entertainment venues.

The construction contract was signed in late 2023 with CRRC (Hong Kong) and CRRC Nanjing Puzhen—subsidiaries of Chinese railway manufacturer CRRC—alongside Hassan Allam Construction Saudi.

Al Aql highlighted that the project underscores Riyadh’s ambition to integrate modern mobility solutions with urban design, further cementing the district’s status as a global financial and business hub.