Transportation in Dammam City
Transportation in Dammam City is the transportation ecosystem and roads to, from, and within Dammam City in the Eastern Province of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, according to the population activity there and the movement of trade and economic exchanges with it by land, sea, and air. The city, through its location and its status as the headquarters of the Eastern Province Emirate, provides local, regional, and international means of connection. It has an international airport, an international causeway, a port, a railway line, and bus services.
Public transportation in Dammam City
Following the expansion of Dammam City, the Council of Ministers approved the Public Transport Project in Dammam metropolitan area and Al-Qatif in 2014. On January 23, 2022, the agreement for the Public Bus Transport Project in Dammam metropolitan area and Al-Qatif Governorate was signed. The project consists of eight frequency routes with a total distance of 453 km, 212 stations, and eighty-five passenger buses.
On October 10, 2022, the project's trial trips began, serving a network of different lines within the cities of (Dammam, Al-Khobar, Dhahran, and Al-Qatif) through eighty-five buses, with a passenger capacity of eighty-one passengers per bus, and it will operate for eighteen hours a day, from 5:30 a.m. to 11:30 p.m.
Air Transportation in Dammam City
The transportation ecosystem in Dammam City includes King Fahd International Airport, which connects residential areas via two main roads. The northern exit connects the airport to Al-Qatif via a four-lane highway, while the southern exit connects the airport to Dammam via a six-lane highway on King Fahd Road, which is now the airport's main road.
King Fahd International Airport is located twenty-two km northwest of Dammam City. It is one of the international airports in Saudi Arabia. It is connected via the Dammam–Riyadh Highway and Abu Hadriyah Highway. The Saudi Public Transport Company (SAPTCO) provides bus services from the airport to its main stations in Dammam, Al-Khobar, and Al-Jubail.
Railway Network in Dammam City
Saudi Arabia Railways (SAR) operates a railway network with a total length of approximately 1,380 km, linking King Abdulaziz Port in Dammam and Dammam City to the capital, Riyadh, via the cities of Abqaiq, Al-Hufuf, Harad, and Al-Kharj. Branch lines extend from the main lines, connecting some industrial and agricultural areas and military sites to export ports and residential areas.
Railways play a major role in the transportation process that links Dammam with its surroundings, whether within the Eastern Province or to the capital, Riyadh. The 449-km-long passenger transport line connects Riyadh City to Dammam through Al-Ahsa and Abqaiq.
The 556-km-long cargo shipping line starts from King Abdulaziz Port in Dammam and ends at Riyadh Dry Port. The 373-km branch lines connect industrial and agricultural production sites to export ports and some residential areas.
Maritime Transportation in Dammam City
In the field of maritime transport, King Abdulaziz Port is a major hub for the export of petroleum products and a main distribution center for major non-coastal cities. It is one of the ports that serve importers and exporters in handling goods, providing logistics, and the maritime transport industry.
Land Transportation in Dammam City
Dammam City is connected to other cities via a network of various highways. It connects to the cities of Abqaiq, Dhahran, Al-Hufuf, and Al-Jubail via the Dhahran-Al-Jubail Highway, to Al-Khafji and Al-Khobar via the Dammam-Al-Khobar Highway, to Ras Tanura, Saihat, and Al-Qatif via the Gulf Road, and to other cities via eight-lane highways. It is also connected to the Kingdom of Bahrain via the twenty-eight km King Fahd Causeway. Dammam is connected to King Fahd International Airport via two roads, and SAPTCO is the entity responsible for operating intercity bus services to and from Dammam.
Plan of Dammam City
The relevant authorities in the Eastern Province, in coordination with the Ministry of Transport and Logistic Services, have developed a plan for Dammam City. The plan includes the establishment of an integrated public transportation network to create a city that is easy to navigate. It has fifty km of tram lines, 110 km of buses and bus rapid transit (BRT) routes, and 350 km of feeder buses routes, all aimed at connecting the city from south to north.
Proposed tram line in Dammam City
The proposed tram line in Dammam City, in its first phase, will provide easy access to approximately 17 percent of Dammam's total population, living within a ten-minute walk of a tram station. As for the second phase, Line Two of the tram line will provide easy access to about 27 percent of the total population, living within a ten-minute walk of a tram station.
Bus and BRT transportation in Dammam City
For the proposed bus and BRT network, it will serve 37 percent of the city's total population living within a ten-minute walk of the first line. Upon completion of the second bus and BRT line, the entire public transport ecosystem will provide overall ease of movement for approximately 47 percent of the total population of the Dammam metropolitan area, in addition to providing access to King Fahd International Airport.
Sources
Ministry of Transport and Logistic Services.
General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA).
Ministry of Municipalities and Housing.
Saudi Ports Authority (Mawani).
General Authority for Statistics.