Saudi Arabia
Jeddah
UMR Index Rank
#58
(-5)
Score: 34%
Sustainable Mobility
#69
(-1)
Score: 25.9%
Public Transit
#68
(-1)
Score: 24.8%
Technology Adoption
#52
Score: 24.5%
| Population | 4.7 million |
| Surface area (km2) | 1,261 |
| Population-density (people/km2) | 3,724 |
| GDP per capita ($) | 22,747 |
UMR Index Rank
#58
(-5)
Score: 34%
Sustainable Mobility
#69
(-1)
Score: 25.9%
Public Transit
#68
(-1)
Score: 24.8%
Technology Adoption
#52
Score: 24.5%
What Jeddah Does Well In Urban Mobility
The Red Sea coastal city has well-connected road infrastructure with relatively fluid traffic conditions. Connectivity with neighboring cities improved in 2024 following the inauguration of 24 new kilometers (15 miles) of road between Jeddah and Mecca, a project that cost SAR341 ($91 million). Saudi Arabia has plans to improve road quality that will benefit Jeddah. Residents also can use a mobile app to submit requests for pothole repairs, which are usually resolved in two to four days.
Unlike similarly ranked cities, Jeddah has autonomous shuttles. Since 2020 the King Abdulaziz International Airport has operated the Innovia Automated People Mover (APM), which provides free transport inside the airport terminal. In 2024 the Jeddah Airport Company announced plans to increase the APM’s current capacity by 90% by 2030.
Urban Mobility Readiness Index, Sustainable Mobility, Public Transit, and Technology Adoption scores
Source: Oliver Wyman Forum and University of California, Berkeley
Challenges And Opportunities For Jeddah’s Transportation System
Saudi Arabia reduced traffic fatalities by 35% between 2016 and 2021 thanks to efforts in recent years, but road safety remains an issue in Jeddah. The Saudi government has made road safety an important part of its Vision 2030 plan, aiming to reduce road deaths to fewer than five per 100,000 people. The Saudi Road Code includes measures to control speeds on urban roads, improve tunnel safety, and implement requirements for transporting hazardous materials.
As in much of the region, many of Jeddah’s residents prefer to use private cars over more active modes of mobility, such as cycling. While the hot climate acts as a cycling deterrent, the lack of suitable infrastructure further discourages adoption. Jeddah has introduced cycling paths along the Jeddah Corniche Circuit, a racing track usually reserved for Formula 1, to incentivize cycling. Other cities in Saudi Arabia have invested in bike-sharing, notably Medina, where the government began building 165 stations for a cycle- and scooter-share service in 2023. However, such investments have not materialized in Jeddah as of 2024.
Dimensions of the Urban Mobility Readiness Index score
Source: Oliver Wyman Forum and University of California, Berkeley
How Jeddah Can Improve Its Urban Mobility Performance
Jeddah lags in its multimodal network, with an underutilized public transit system that lacks diversity. Distances to transit stations are often long and operating hours are short, which can discourage ridership. Jeddah can expand public transport modes beyond buses. The metro, which was originally planned to be completed by 2020, is still under construction as of 2024.
Other measures proposed by the Jeddah Public Transport Program, such as three lines of light rail, one tram, one waterbus network, and one commuter rail line, can enhance multimodality and utilization once completed. In the meantime, Jeddah can add more bus routes and stops to reduce distances to public transit and can extend operating hours to encourage ridership.
Like Riyadh, Jeddah lags behind in zero-emission bus use. The city didn't launch its first electric bus service until 2023. Jeddah can invest to acquire more electric buses. This is also important to achieve the objectives set in Vision 2030, which calls for Saudi Arabia to reduce carbon emissions by 278 million tons per year by 2030.
Urban Mobility Readiness Index relative ranking evolution (2020-2024)
Source: Oliver Wyman Forum and University of California, Berkeley