1001 Smart Cities

Permanent project revision

Riyadh Bus Network & darb App

Revision 2026-10-13-deep-run · effective 2026-10-13

Current revision. This is the snapshot used by the live entity page.

unreviewed

Deep Run 2026-10-11: every source re-read and dated, present-tense statements dated, claim array completed; impact: The regulator counts passengers, not trips; 'trips' can be read as vehicle runs.; lesson: In December 2023 the app was the Riyadh Bus app, not darb (the darb metro-and-bus app experience shipped in December 2024); what verifiably existed a year ahead was the shared Darb Card, sold at metro-station machines. 'Journey-planning integration on the metro's first day' is not carried by any source.

sha256:e8c7ac76107866f38cd73b15116d28d2cce692605bdce1f053ed6b1b08c29c73
All revisions → Current entity page →

Change set

  • replace /snapshot/projectFingerprint — Updated projectFingerprint to the current sourced project record.
  • replace /snapshot/asOf — Updated asOf to the current sourced project record.
  • replace /snapshot/claims — Updated claims to the current sourced project record.
  • replace /snapshot/sources — Updated sources to the current sourced project record.
15
of 15 claims mapped
13
source dossiers
7
publication dates recorded
0
archives linked
0
exact locators
0
content captures hashed

Claims, one by one

The text below is copied verbatim from the published record. Each claim names the source dossiers that carry it; caveats stay attached to the claim they qualify.

Claim 1 clm-3f0d3fc6685d324c quantitative
launched in March 2023 and completed its phased rollout in December 2023 — 54 routes, 672 buses and 2,145 stops and stations
Published field
snippet · verbatim
Mapping
mapped · no interpretation or interpolation added by this file
What the mapping says
The operating consortium's project page dates the launch phases from March 2023 and states the December 2023 completion brought the network to 54 routes, 672 buses and 2,145 stations and stops.
Caveat
Figures are the operator's own; the network owner's parallel announcement differs slightly on the fleet count.

Sources carrying this claim

  1. SAPTCO — Riyadh Bus project page
Claim 2 clm-b6367abfb8186615 quantitative
RCRC's own completion announcement puts the fleet at 679
Published field
snippet · verbatim
Mapping
mapped · no interpretation or interpolation added by this file
What the mapping says
RCRC's completion release counts a fleet of 679 buses for the finished main network — seven more than the consortium's page.
Caveat
The owner's fleet count is seven higher than the consortium's 672; neither source explains the difference.

Sources carrying this claim

  1. RCRC — completion of the main Riyadh Bus network
Claim 3 clm-6b3e016af56a7e99 descriptive
The Royal Commission for Riyadh City owns the network as part of the King Abdulaziz Project for Riyadh Public Transport
Published field
snippet · verbatim
Mapping
mapped · no interpretation or interpolation added by this file
What the mapping says
The RCRC announces the network's completion as its own achievement within the King Abdulaziz Project for Riyadh Public Transport; the operator's page says the Royal Commission launched the Riyadh Bus Service.
Caveat
No claim-specific caveat recorded

Sources carrying this claim

  1. RCRC — completion of the main Riyadh Bus network
  2. SAPTCO — Riyadh Bus project page
Claim 4 clm-8c473c38100b37eb quantitative
a joint venture of SAPTCO (80%) and RATP Dev (20%)
Published field
snippet · verbatim
Mapping
mapped · no interpretation or interpolation added by this file
What the mapping says
SAPTCO's corporate page describes the Public Transportation Company as jointly owned by SAPTCO (80%) and RATP Dev (20%), established to run the Riyadh bus network.
Caveat
No claim-specific caveat recorded

Sources carrying this claim

  1. SAPTCO — Public Transportation Company (PTC)
Claim 5 clm-a4ab6557499a7f4f quantitative
twelve-year, $2.1 billion contract
Published field
snippet · verbatim
Mapping
mapped · no interpretation or interpolation added by this file
What the mapping says
AFP reports a twelve-year contract signed in November 2014 — two years of set-up followed by ten years of operation and maintenance; at the May 2014 award SAPTCO put the value at about US$2.09 billion.
Caveat
Coverage of the May 2014 award calls it a ten-year deal, counting only the operating period; AFP's twelve years include the set-up phase and give the value in euros (€1.675 billion).

Sources carrying this claim

  1. Construction Week — SAPTCO/RATP Dev win $2bn Riyadh bus contract
  2. AFP via WebManagerCenter — RATP and SAPTCO sign Riyadh bus contract (20 Nov 2014)
  3. Technical Review Middle East — Saptco/RATP Dev win Riyadh bus deal (2 May 2014)
Claim 6 clm-1c361665eccf022b descriptive
journey planning, live bus tracking and QR ticketing across bus and metro
Published field
snippet · verbatim
Mapping
mapped · no interpretation or interpolation added by this file
What the mapping says
The darb listing, published by the Royal Commission for Riyadh City, describes trip planning and pass purchase across metro and bus and live bus tracking; rider reviews on the same listing describe the in-app QR ticket shown at entry gates.
Caveat
The app-store description is the operator's own wording; the QR ticket is described by riders rather than in the description itself.

Sources carrying this claim

  1. Apple App Store — darb (RCRC)
Claim 7 clm-be2ead82d13d9598 quantitative
extended in 2025 with app-booked on-demand minibus zones that feed metro stations
Published field
snippet · verbatim
Mapping
mapped · no interpretation or interpolation added by this file
What the mapping says
The darb release notes of 25 March 2025 introduce Bus on Demand, a shared demand-responsive service taking riders from their neighbourhoods to designated metro and BRT stations; press coverage the same month describes seven zones booked through the app.
Caveat
The sources describe a shared demand-responsive service; the vehicle size is not stated.

Sources carrying this claim

  1. Time Out Riyadh — Bus on Demand
  2. Apple App Store — darb (RCRC)
  3. LIST Magazine — Riyadh Metro Bus On Demand launched (19 Mar 2025)
Claim 8 clm-ad41cb9e2a8276b7 quantitative
around 80 routes and 2,860 stops
Published field
snippet · verbatim
Mapping
mapped · no interpretation or interpolation added by this file
What the mapping says
The municipality's transport page gives the King Abdulaziz Project's full design as 80 bus routes and 2,860 bus stations and stops.
Caveat
The owner's own 2023 completion announcement gives a different full design — 87 routes and 2,900 stops.

Sources carrying this claim

  1. Riyadh Municipality — Transport overview
Claim 9 clm-3aa50c8748926f41 quantitative
above 15 million passengers in the first quarter of 2025
Published field
impact · verbatim
Mapping
mapped · no interpretation or interpolation added by this file
What the mapping says
The Transport General Authority's quarterly data, as reported, put Riyadh's bus ridership above 15 million in Q1 2025.
Caveat
Regulator-published totals; no methodology or route-level breakdown is public.

Sources carrying this claim

  1. Saudi Gazette — TGA Q1 2025 city-bus ridership (11 May 2025)
Claim 10 clm-dfd9fb42446e74e2 quantitative
23 million city-bus passengers recorded across 15 Saudi cities
Published field
impact · verbatim
Mapping
mapped · no interpretation or interpolation added by this file
What the mapping says
The same quarterly data count more than 23 million bus passengers across 15 Saudi cities in Q1 2025.
Caveat
No claim-specific caveat recorded

Sources carrying this claim

  1. Saudi Gazette — TGA Q1 2025 city-bus ridership (11 May 2025)
Claim 11 clm-874fc4e1ad956fe0 quantitative
By the first quarter of 2026 the authority counted 19.55 million Riyadh bus passengers in the quarter, out of 30.65 million across Saudi cities
Published field
impact · verbatim
Mapping
mapped · no interpretation or interpolation added by this file
What the mapping says
Transport General Authority data for Q1 2026 give 30.65 million bus passengers within Saudi cities, with Riyadh accounting for 19.55 million.
Caveat
Regulator totals as reported by the press; quarters are not seasonally comparable (Ramadan fell in different quarters).

Sources carrying this claim

  1. Argaam — TGA Q1 2026 city-bus ridership (24 Apr 2026)
Claim 12 clm-56b20961afe788cd descriptive
the network, its ticketing app and the Darb fare card
Published field
lesson · verbatim
Mapping
mapped · no interpretation or interpolation added by this file
What the mapping says
The owner's December 2023 completion announcement presents the bus app (journey planning, live tracking, ticket purchase) and the Darb Card, sold at ticket offices and vending machines at Riyadh Metro stations.
Caveat
No claim-specific caveat recorded

Sources carrying this claim

  1. RCRC — completion of the main Riyadh Bus network
Claim 13 clm-98a935f556fbaf93 quantitative
complete a year before the driverless metro opened in December 2024
Published field
lesson · verbatim
Mapping
mapped · no interpretation or interpolation added by this file
What the mapping says
The bus rollout finished in December 2023 per the operator's and the owner's records; press coverage dates the Riyadh Metro's launch to December 2024.
Caveat
In December 2023 the app was presented as the Riyadh Bus app; it now appears under the darb name.

Sources carrying this claim

  1. SAPTCO — Riyadh Bus project page
  2. RCRC — completion of the main Riyadh Bus network
  3. Arab News — new bus routes to the Diplomatic Quarter (16 Mar 2025)
Claim 14 clm-7250d10606fafa33 quantitative
the operating contract was signed in November 2014 for a network to enter service in three phases after two years of set-up
Published field
lesson · verbatim
Mapping
mapped · no interpretation or interpolation added by this file
What the mapping says
AFP reported on 20 November 2014 that RATP and SAPTCO had signed the contract that Thursday, for a network to be put into service in three phases after two years of set-up.
Caveat
The 2014 plan described a larger network than the one opened in 2023: about a hundred lines and nearly 4,000 stops.

Sources carrying this claim

  1. AFP via WebManagerCenter — RATP and SAPTCO sign Riyadh bus contract (20 Nov 2014)
Claim 15 clm-6891cbe59af2cba9 quantitative
the first phase reached riders in March 2023
Published field
lesson · verbatim
Mapping
mapped · no interpretation or interpolation added by this file
What the mapping says
The operator's project page dates the first launch phase to March 2023.
Caveat
No claim-specific caveat recorded

Sources carrying this claim

  1. SAPTCO — Riyadh Bus project page

Source dossiers and revision state

This layer records what is known about each source, what is still missing, and the exact snapshot this page is rendering. A missing date, archive or hash stays visible as missing.

unreviewed Revision 2026-10-13-deep-run effective 2026-10-13 · created 2026-10-13

Awaiting operator and domain-expert review; publication of this revision implies neither.

sha256:e8c7ac76107866f38cd73b15116d28d2cce692605bdce1f053ed6b1b08c29c73
Revision history → Permanent version link → Machine-readable record → Evidence Constitution →
15
of 15 claims mapped
13
source dossiers
7
publication dates recorded
0
archives linked
0
exact locators
0
content captures hashed

Governance facts carried by the record

Operator
Public Transport Company (SAPTCO/RATP Dev joint venture), under the Royal Commission for Riyadh City (RCRC)
Actor types
city-government, private
Funding model
public
Funding description
Saudi state budget via RCRC; twelve-year $2.1B operate-and-maintain contract
Cost
$2.1B (12-year O&M contract)
Ownership
Not recorded
Decision rights
Not recorded
Exit conditions
Not recorded

13 source dossiers

SAPTCO — Riyadh Bus project page saptco.com.sa · 4 linked claims

Open original source ↗

Stable source ID
src-8e4d04cd22ddb2ec
Publisher
Name not classified · saptco.com.sa
Type / language
web-page · language not classified
Published
Not recorded
Updated
Not recorded
Source last checked
No source-level check date
Record last verified
2026-10-13
Dossier created
2026-10-13
Retrieved copy
No local capture recorded
Archive
No archived copy linked
Content hash
No captured content hash
Locator
Open the recorded source note

Operating consortium's own page: launch phases from March 2023 and the December 2023 completion at 54 routes, 672 buses and 2,145 stations and stops.

Descriptive only — not page/paragraph exact
Claims linked
SAPTCO — Public Transportation Company (PTC) saptco.com.sa · 1 linked claim

Open original source ↗

Stable source ID
src-6b6a89db23d82e29
Publisher
Name not classified · saptco.com.sa
Type / language
web-page · language not classified
Published
Not recorded
Updated
Not recorded
Source last checked
No source-level check date
Record last verified
2026-10-13
Dossier created
2026-10-13
Retrieved copy
No local capture recorded
Archive
No archived copy linked
Content hash
No captured content hash
Locator
Open the recorded source note

Ownership of the operating joint venture: SAPTCO 80%, RATP Dev 20%, formed to supply, operate, manage and maintain the Riyadh bus network within the King Abdulaziz Project for Public Transport.

Descriptive only — not page/paragraph exact
Claims linked
Construction Week — SAPTCO/RATP Dev win $2bn Riyadh bus contract constructionweekonline.com · 1 linked claim

Open original source ↗

Stable source ID
src-daf0d76df21493a0
Publisher
Name not classified · constructionweekonline.com
Type / language
web-page · language not classified
Published
Not recorded
Updated
Not recorded
Source last checked
No source-level check date
Record last verified
2026-10-13
Dossier created
2026-10-13
Retrieved copy
No local capture recorded
Archive
No archived copy linked
Content hash
No captured content hash
Locator
Open the recorded source note

Trade-press record of the roughly $2 billion operate-and-maintain contract awarded to SAPTCO and RATP Dev.

Descriptive only — not page/paragraph exact
Claims linked
Technical Review Middle East — Saptco/RATP Dev win Riyadh bus deal (2 May 2014) technicalreviewmiddleeast.com · 1 linked claim

Open original source ↗

Stable source ID
src-f86e75a7dc86796d
Publisher
Name not classified · technicalreviewmiddleeast.com
Type / language
web-page · language not classified
Published
2014-05-02
Updated
Not recorded
Source last checked
No source-level check date
Record last verified
2026-10-13
Dossier created
2026-10-13
Retrieved copy
No local capture recorded
Archive
No archived copy linked
Content hash
No captured content hash
Locator
Open the recorded source note

Reports SAPTCO's statement that its alliance with RATP Dev secured a US$2.09bn contract to procure, operate and maintain Riyadh's buses, described as a 10-year deal linked to the King Abdulaziz Project.

Descriptive only — not page/paragraph exact
Claims linked
AFP via WebManagerCenter — RATP and SAPTCO sign Riyadh bus contract (20 Nov 2014) webmanagercenter.com · 2 linked claims

Open original source ↗

Stable source ID
src-ef35562f0e6d7f44
Publisher
Name not classified · webmanagercenter.com
Type / language
web-page · language not classified
Published
2014-11-20
Updated
Not recorded
Source last checked
No source-level check date
Record last verified
2026-10-13
Dossier created
2026-10-13
Retrieved copy
No local capture recorded
Archive
No archived copy linked
Content hash
No captured content hash
Locator
Open the recorded source note

AFP dispatch (French): RATP and SAPTCO signed a €1.675 billion, twelve-year contract to build Riyadh's bus network, to enter service in three phases after two years of set-up, with ten years of operation and maintenance; the plan then foresaw about a hundred lines and nearly 4,000 stops.

Descriptive only — not page/paragraph exact
Claims linked
RCRC — completion of the main Riyadh Bus network rcrc.gov.sa · 4 linked claims

Open original source ↗

Stable source ID
src-ad0a793052f0570f
Publisher
Name not classified · rcrc.gov.sa
Type / language
web-page · language not classified
Published
2023-12-19
Updated
2023-12-28
Source last checked
No source-level check date
Record last verified
2026-10-13
Dossier created
2026-10-13
Retrieved copy
No local capture recorded
Archive
No archived copy linked
Content hash
No captured content hash
Locator
Open the recorded source note

Owner's completion announcement: 54 routes, 2,145 stations and stops, a fleet of 679 buses; describes the Riyadh Bus app (journey planning, live tracking, ticket purchase) and the Darb Card, sold at ticket offices and vending machines at Riyadh Metro stations; gives the full project as 87 routes, 2,900 stops and over 800 buses.

Descriptive only — not page/paragraph exact
Claims linked
Saudi Gazette — TGA Q1 2025 city-bus ridership (11 May 2025) saudigazette.com.sa · 2 linked claims

Open original source ↗

Stable source ID
src-62990f71229c3d03
Publisher
Name not classified · saudigazette.com.sa
Type / language
web-page · language not classified
Published
2025-05-11
Updated
Not recorded
Source last checked
No source-level check date
Record last verified
2026-10-13
Dossier created
2026-10-13
Retrieved copy
No local capture recorded
Archive
No archived copy linked
Content hash
No captured content hash
Locator
Open the recorded source note

Transport General Authority quarterly data: city-bus ridership above 23 million passengers in 15 cities in Q1 2025, with Riyadh above 15 million.

Descriptive only — not page/paragraph exact
Claims linked
Argaam — TGA Q1 2026 city-bus ridership (24 Apr 2026) argaam.com · 1 linked claim

Open original source ↗

Stable source ID
src-9a20b24c3f64dd32
Publisher
Name not classified · argaam.com
Type / language
web-page · language not classified
Published
2026-04-24
Updated
Not recorded
Source last checked
No source-level check date
Record last verified
2026-10-13
Dossier created
2026-10-13
Retrieved copy
No local capture recorded
Archive
No archived copy linked
Content hash
No captured content hash
Locator
Open the recorded source note

Transport General Authority data for Q1 2026: 30.65 million bus passengers within Saudi cities, of which Riyadh 19.55 million (63.78%).

Descriptive only — not page/paragraph exact
Claims linked
Apple App Store — darb (RCRC) apps.apple.com · 2 linked claims

Open original source ↗

Stable source ID
src-245e60d0ece7aeeb
Publisher
Name not classified · apps.apple.com
Type / language
web-page · language not classified
Published
Not recorded
Updated
2026-10-10
Source last checked
No source-level check date
Record last verified
2026-10-13
Dossier created
2026-10-13
Retrieved copy
No local capture recorded
Archive
No archived copy linked
Content hash
No captured content hash
Locator
Open the recorded source note

Publisher is the Royal Commission for Riyadh City; describes trip planning, passes, real-time tracking across Metro, Bus, Bus on Demand and Park & Ride; version 5.0.0 (25 March 2025) introduced Bus on Demand; rider reviews describe QR tickets shown at entry gates.

Descriptive only — not page/paragraph exact
Claims linked
Time Out Riyadh — Bus on Demand timeoutriyadh.com · 1 linked claim

Open original source ↗

Stable source ID
src-485b2320e889f124
Publisher
Name not classified · timeoutriyadh.com
Type / language
web-page · language not classified
Published
Not recorded
Updated
Not recorded
Source last checked
No source-level check date
Record last verified
2026-10-13
Dossier created
2026-10-13
Retrieved copy
No local capture recorded
Archive
No archived copy linked
Content hash
No captured content hash
Locator
Open the recorded source note

Coverage of the 2025 demand-responsive zones feeding metro stations, booked and paid via the darb app.

Descriptive only — not page/paragraph exact
Claims linked
LIST Magazine — Riyadh Metro Bus On Demand launched (19 Mar 2025) listmag.com · 1 linked claim

Open original source ↗

Stable source ID
src-a36ef04a8b63d838
Publisher
Name not classified · listmag.com
Type / language
web-page · language not classified
Published
2025-03-19
Updated
Not recorded
Source last checked
No source-level check date
Record last verified
2026-10-13
Dossier created
2026-10-13
Retrieved copy
No local capture recorded
Archive
No archived copy linked
Content hash
No captured content hash
Locator
Open the recorded source note

Riyadh Transport's Bus On Demand: seven zones linking residential pick-up points to transport hubs, tickets bought through the Darb app.

Descriptive only — not page/paragraph exact
Claims linked
Arab News — new bus routes to the Diplomatic Quarter (16 Mar 2025) arabnews.com · 1 linked claim

Open original source ↗

Stable source ID
src-6f71a94fedbddcbd
Publisher
Name not classified · arabnews.com
Type / language
web-page · language not classified
Published
2025-03-16
Updated
Not recorded
Source last checked
No source-level check date
Record last verified
2026-10-13
Dossier created
2026-10-13
Retrieved copy
No local capture recorded
Archive
No archived copy linked
Content hash
No captured content hash
Locator
Open the recorded source note

New routes from King Saud University Station to the Diplomatic Quarter, timetabled in the Darb app; dates the Riyadh Metro launch to December 2024 and states more than 2,860 bus stops and stations over 1,905 km.

Descriptive only — not page/paragraph exact
Claims linked
Riyadh Municipality — Transport overview alriyadh.gov.sa · 1 linked claim

Open original source ↗

Stable source ID
src-15231e0cab26361e
Publisher
Name not classified · alriyadh.gov.sa
Type / language
web-page · language not classified
Published
Not recorded
Updated
Not recorded
Source last checked
No source-level check date
Record last verified
2026-10-13
Dossier created
2026-10-13
Retrieved copy
No local capture recorded
Archive
No archived copy linked
Content hash
No captured content hash
Locator
Open the recorded source note

Municipal page giving the King Abdulaziz Project design: 80 bus routes, 2,860 bus stations and 842 buses.

Descriptive only — not page/paragraph exact
Claims linked
Known limits of this file
  • Publisher names and source languages have not yet been classified; domains are recorded without guessing.
  • Existing source notes are descriptive locators, not page- or paragraph-exact citations.
  • A missing archive, publication date or content hash is shown as null rather than inferred.
  • The project-level evidence grade ranks the strongest source in the entry; it is not a truth score for every claim.