Riyadh Metro’s Qasr Al Hokm Downtown Station has officially started operations, providing a key link between the metro’s Orange and Blue Lines and the bus network in Riyadh.
Qasr Al Hokm is one of 22 stations built on the Orange Line (Line 3), which is the longest line in the city’s driverless metro network, inaugurated in November last year.
The station spans 22,500m2 with 88,000m2 of built-up space and reaches a depth of 40m, contains seven floors and is equipped with 17 elevators, and 46 escalators.
It was built by Webuild, an Italian industrial group specialising in construction and civil engineering, on behalf of the Royal Commission for Riyadh City (RCRC).
Webuild said the construction involved tunnel two boring machines operating at different levels, without disrupting other construction activities in the city.
Located in the Qasr Al Hokm district, the station enhances access to administrative offices, historic markets, commercial centres, palaces, and key tourist sites in Riyadh.
RCRC, in its statement, said: “Qasr Al Hokm Station features a design that blends tradition and modernity, inspired by the principles of Salmani architecture.
“It includes a striking stainless-steel canopy that visually connects the station’s multiple levels with its external surroundings, allowing daylight to illuminate the interior while providing shade to the surrounding open areas.
“The station also boasts an innovative garden, offering passengers a place to sit and relax while waiting for their train. This space enhances the station’s multifunctional role, fostering interaction among residents and visitors.”
The new Qasr Al Hokm station features a 70m diameter stainless steel cone-shaped roof which serves as a periscope, reflecting images of the district above into the interior.
The modern station has a large conical wall inside, which references traditional Arabian architecture, connecting the design to local cultural heritage.
It features LED lighting and advanced ventilation systems to optimise energy usage and ramps, elevators, and tactile signage to ensure accessibility for passengers with disabilities.
Riyadh Metro spans 176km of railway lines and is designed to handle up to 3.6 million passengers daily.
The Orange Line is the city’s longest and fully driverless metro line with fourteen stations currently operational, including Qasr Al Hokm Downtown Station.
Webuild, in its statement, said: “Webuild is currently involved in other key projects in the Kingdom, including the high-speed Connector rail line and a system of three dams along with a freshwater lake for the city of Trojena, part of the NEOM development program.
“In Riyadh, Webuild is constructing a massive underground parking facility with 10,500 spaces, as well as the Sang Villas Urbanization Plan.
“Among its completed projects are the Riyadh Kingdom Center, which won the ‘Emporis Skyscraper Award’ in 2002 as the best skyscraper in the world for design, over 70 healthcare facilities, and the Shuaibah-3 desalination plant, built by Fisia Italimpianti, the Group’s subsidiary specialised in water treatment and desalination.”
