By the tiswa editorial team, from the official sources listed at the end of this guide. How we write our guides
A two-hour ticket on the Riyadh metro costs SAR 4, so a student riding to campus and back pays SAR 8 a day. The student pass changes the sum: SAR 260 for 120 days,1 about SAR 2.17 a day, with unlimited trips on the train and the buses for the whole period.
How much are Riyadh metro student fares?
The student pass is SAR 260 for 120 days in standard class, according to the tickets page of Riyadh Public Transport.1 The FAQ adds that university students get a 50% discount.2 Here are the regular fares to compare against:
| Period | Standard class | First class |
|---|---|---|
| 2 hours | SAR 4 | SAR 10 |
| 3 days | SAR 20 | SAR 50 |
| 7 days | SAR 40 | SAR 100 |
| 30 days | SAR 140 | SAR 350 |
| 1 year | SAR 1,260 | SAR 3,150 |
| 120 days, students | SAR 260 | Not offered |
Prices are from the official tickets page,1 and the FAQ calls them introductory-phase fares,2 so check before you buy. A first class ticket does not guarantee a seat in the first class car at peak times.2
Who is eligible for the student pass?
Eligible school and university students, after their eligibility is verified.1 Expat students qualify on the same terms as Saudis, since the requirement is a national ID or an iqama. That covers students at Princess Nourah University and at private universities too, as long as the card is issued by a university in the Kingdom.2
What documents do you need for the student discount?
- Your national ID or iqama.2
- A valid student ID card issued by a Saudi university or school, or a letter from it.2
- A darb card, ideally registered in your name.
- Your mobile number, which the agent asks for when registering the card.2
If your university card has no date on it, an enrolment letter from the portal fixes that. We cover when the card is enough in the student card guide.
How to get the student pass, step by step
- Buy a darb card
SAR 10 at any ticket machine or ticket office in a station.2
- Register it in your name
With an agent at a ticket vending station, who checks your ID and mobile number.2
- Ask for the student discount
At the ticket office, showing your university card or enrolment letter.2
- Load the student pass
SAR 260 for 120 days in standard class.1
- Note the expiry date
Count 120 days from purchase and renew a few days before.
The terms and conditions say the discount is applied at a ticket vending station, and that the 50% goes to eligible groups on the first issue of a registered darb card.3 So do not try to set it up at a self-service machine on your own.
What does the student pass cover?
The train and the buses together, with unlimited trips for 120 days, in standard class.1 That matters if you live away from a station: ride a Riyadh bus to the nearest stop, then the train to campus, both on the same pass.
First class has its own car on the train, and the student pass does not cover it.1 If you need it one day, buy a SAR 10 first class two-hour ticket for that trip alone.1 The regular two-hour ticket also allows more than one trip inside the two hours,1 so a short errand near campus does not cost you twice.
Is the student pass worth it?
Yes, if you take the metro or bus to campus four or more days a week. Four regular 30-day passes cost SAR 560, and the student pass covers roughly the same stretch for SAR 260,1 about 54% less. If you go once or twice a week, two-hour tickets are enough.
Driving part of the way? Park and Ride lets you park free for up to 12 hours, as long as the same darb card is used on the bus or metro.4
How do I get to Princess Nourah University by metro?
The network map published by the Royal Commission for Riyadh City labels stations PNU 1, PNU 2 and Princess Nourah.8 The whole network is six lines, 176 km and 85 stations.5 Check the official map or the trip planner on the Riyadh Public Transport site before your first day and note which line serves your stop, because changing lines adds time.
Does the metro reach King Saud University?
Yes. The Red Line runs along King Abdullah Road and links King Fahd Sports City and King Saud University.6 The Royal Commission is building an 8.4 km Red Line extension with two stations inside KSU: one for the medical city and health colleges, one for the university concourse.7 Health sciences students will be closer to their buildings once it opens. For campus-linked offers, see King Saud University student discounts.
What if the student discount is refused?
Usually the problem is the document, not your eligibility. The cases we hear about most:
- An expired or undated university card: print a recent enrolment letter from the portal and go back, since the FAQ accepts a letter in place of the card.2
- No national ID or iqama with you: the university card alone is not enough; you need both.2
- An unregistered darb card: register it with the agent using your ID and mobile number, then ask for the discount.2
- A certificate from a training institute rather than a Saudi university or school: the rule names universities and schools.2
If it still fails, try the ticket office at a larger station, or contact customer care through the Riyadh Public Transport site, with photos of your documents on your phone.
What do students get wrong with metro tickets?
- Buying a SAR 140 regular monthly pass every month while the student pass waits at the ticket office.1
- Asking a self-service machine for the discount, when it is applied by an agent.3
- Leaving the darb card unregistered, then losing it with the pass on it.
- Expecting first class at the student price. The student pass is standard class only.1
If the darb card itself gives you trouble, the ticket offices in the stations sort it out.2 For transport outside Riyadh, from the Haramain train to flights, see student transport discounts.
