884,000 bus passengers traveled between Saudi cities in the fourth quarter of 2025
The Public Transport Authority in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia revealed remarkable figures reflecting the increasing growth in the land transport sector, as it announced through its official statistical bulletin that the number of passengers who used buses to travel between the Kingdom's cities and governorates exceeded 884,000 passengers during the fourth quarter of 2025. These figures confirm the success of the operational and regulatory plans supervised by the Authority to enhance the efficiency of this vital sector.
Details of trips and most active areas
The authority explained in its report that the total number of trips carried out in intercity bus transport during the same period exceeded 43,200 , covering a wide network of roads connecting various regions of the Kingdom. This large volume of trips indicates the increasing reliance of citizens, residents, and visitors on buses as a safe, reliable, and economical means of transportation.
the Makkah region topped the list as the most popular destination, registering approximately 259,600 passengers . This high number is attributed to the region's religious significance and the continuous influx of pilgrims and visitors. The Riyadh region in second with 198,400 passengers , given its status as the capital and major economic center, followed by the Eastern Province with 132,600 passengers .
Statistics also showed that Madinah 61,500 passengers , while the Asir region , which is a major tourist destination, recorded about 55,400 passengers , and the rest of the numbers were distributed among the various other governorates and regions of the Kingdom.
Context of the National Transport and Logistics Strategy
These figures cannot be viewed in isolation from the broader context of the development underway in Saudi Arabia's transportation sector, which aligns with the goals of Vision 2030 and the National Transport and Logistics Strategy. This strategy aims to enhance the efficiency of the public transport network, improve connectivity between cities, and provide diverse transportation options that contribute to a higher quality of life.
Over the past years, the Public Transport Authority has worked to liberalize the intercity bus transport market, which has opened the door to competition among operating companies, and in turn has led to an improvement in the quality of services provided, and the modernization of bus fleets to be more comfortable and safe, in addition to providing electronic booking and trip tracking technologies.
Economic and tourism impact
The bus transport sector plays a pivotal role in supporting domestic tourism, providing an accessible means of transportation to tourist and religious destinations at competitive prices compared to other modes of transport. This sector also contributes to reducing reliance on private cars for long-distance travel, which positively impacts traffic congestion and carbon emissions, aligning with Saudi Arabia's green initiatives.
The fact that Makkah, Madinah and Asir top the lists reflects the close link between the transport system and the growth of the Hajj, Umrah and leisure tourism sectors, making the development of the bus network a fundamental pillar in the infrastructure supporting the national economy.
