Saudi Arabia targets 100,000 railway jobs by 2030: TGA Chief

Logo of Transport General Authority (TAG)

Fawaz Al-Suhaili, President of the Transport General Authority (TAG), said Saudi Arabia aims to increase employment in the railway transport sector to around 100,000 jobs by 2030, from 13,000 currently, amid the sector’s ongoing expansion.

He added that the number of railway sector employees increased by more than 1.5x over the past four years.

Regarding the National Transport and Logistics Strategy, Al-Suhaili said it covers various transport sectors, including road, maritime and rail transport, highlighting increasing the share of public transportation as a key sector target.

Public transport projects are now underway in more than 17 Saudi cities, with the operation of the Riyadh Metro and bus networks, alongside the Jeddah bus network, providing key models for expanding the public transport system. Work is continuing with royal commissions, spatial authorities and city municipalities to develop and expand networks in line with the needs of residents and visitors.

The official pointed out that Saudi Arabia has been an early adopter of modern technologies, noting that autonomous vehicle trials began in Riyadh more than a year ago to establish an appropriate regulatory environment and test the vehicles’ readiness.

The trial produced positive results and attracted strong user interest, with no accidents recorded during the testing period. Regulations and legislation have since been updated to accommodate autonomous vehicles, paving the way for broader deployment and the issuance of relevant licenses.

He added that the use of autonomous vehicles is expected to expand widely across Saudi cities after the regulatory environment has been tested and its readiness confirmed.

Regarding preparations for upcoming global events, Al-Suhaili said public transport is a key pillar of Saudi Arabia’s expansion and development plans. The Kingdom is working to develop public transport networks across cities in coordination with royal commissions, spatial authorities and regional municipalities to accommodate the expected increase in residents and visitors during major events.

He emphasized that the success of the public transport system depends on service availability and increasing passenger usage, requiring coordinated efforts among relevant authorities to provide efficient and sustainable transport options that meet the needs of cities, residents and visitors.