Transportation in Buraydah

Transportation in Buraydah refers to the available options for commuting and shipping goods and equipment within the transportation system of Buraydah City, the administrative capital of Qassim Province in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, under the supervision of the Ministry of Transport and Logistic Services.

The transportation system in Buraydah comprises two main sectors: Land transportation and air transportation. Land transportation includes two types: Passenger transport and freight transport. The Ministry of Transport and Logistic Services is the entity responsible for transportation affairs in Saudi Arabia, including the study, design, implementation, and maintenance of roads, as well as the supervision of urban transport operations.

In the field of air transportation, the Ministry of Transport and Logistic Services, in cooperation with the General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA), oversees the development of the aviation sector. Buraydah City is home to Prince Naif Bin Abdulaziz International Airport, which was established in 1971 and has a capacity of approximately seven hundred thousand passengers annually. The airport serves around fourteen airlines, operating flights to sixteen domestic and international destinations.

Buraydah City includes a station for the Saudi Public Transport Company 'SAPTCO,' which operates intercity bus services connecting Buraydah City with other Saudi cities in Saudi Arabia. It also has a station for the SAR Train, one of the stations on the North Railway, along with stations in Riyadh, al-Majma'ah, Hail, and al-Jawf.

In 2018, Buraydah City witnessed the inauguration of several projects for developing roads and intersections under the supervision of the Ministry of Transport and Logistic Services, with a total cost of approximately SAR800 million. These projects included several roads connected to Buraydah City, totaling approximately seventy-two km in length, in addition to eight overpass intersections and one underpass.

Among the projects undertaken by the Ministry of Transport and Logistic Services in Buraydah City and Qassim Province, the inauguration of several projects was announced in 2020. These include the underpass of King Abdullah Road, Prince Naif Bin Abdulaziz Road, and Prince Faisal Bin Mishaal Road, as well as the overpass at the intersection of King Fahd Road with Imam Turki Bin Abdullah Road.

A decision by the Council of Ministers approved the operation of public bus networks in several cities in Saudi Arabia as part of the first phase, including Buraydah City in 2019. The approval required the Minister of Transport and Logistic Services and the Minister of Finance to agree on a financing mechanism for operating the networks. The Transport General Authority, the National Center for Privatization & PPP (NCP), and the Non-Oil Revenue Development Center set the terms, conditions, and targets for operating these networks.

The launch of the public transport project in Buraydah City and Unaizah Governorate was announced on January 9, 2022. The project consists of twelve routes and sixty-seven buses dedicated to providing public transport services in this project. It also includes 107 stops in Buraydah and Unaizah Cities and the areas in between.
The project aims to provide multiple mobility options for the residents of Qassim Province by offering a public bus service. It also contributes to enhancing safety, improving the quality of life in the region, facilitating urban mobility, and reducing traffic congestion on roads. Additionally, the project supports job creation for local residents and reduces carbon emissions and environmental pollution.