Darb Card Guide: How to Buy, Top Up and Use the Riyadh Metro Card

The card comes in two forms. The physical Darb card is a standard-sized NFC card you tap at turnstile readers. The digital Darb card is a QR ticket generated through the Darb app on your phone. Both work at the same gates. Most regular users prefer the physical card for speed, while the app option is a practical backup when you are without your card.

The physical card costs a one-time deposit of SAR 10, which you pay when you first purchase it. This deposit is not a fare — it reserves the card itself. The card is valid for five years. When it expires, you can replace it at any station machine.

Ticket offices are also available at key stations, including Ali Bin Abi Taleb Street Station and the main interchange stations. Staff at these offices can help with card purchases, balance transfers, and any issues the machine cannot resolve.

If you prefer to travel without a physical card, download the Darb app from the App Store or Google Play. Sign in with your mobile number, add a payment method, and buy a digital QR ticket immediately — no machine, no queue, no waiting. The QR ticket is shown on your phone screen at the gate camera.

One important point: the physical Darb card is not available online for home delivery. It must be purchased at a station machine or ticket office. Plan to pick one up when you first arrive at the metro.

Standard class fares are as follows:

First class fares (front carriage, reserved seating) are:

For most visitors, the 2-hour pass at SAR 4 is the right starting point — it covers a single journey and any free transfers you make within that window. If you are staying for a week or commuting daily, the 7-day or 30-day pass saves significant money over buying individual passes each time.

Discount fares apply to registered student cardholders (50% off all fares — register your student ID in the Darb app), children under 6 (completely free, no card required), and seniors aged 60 and above with a valid ID (50% discount).

The machines accept cash, contactless bank cards, Apple Pay, and Mada Pay. The minimum top-up amount is SAR 5 and the maximum is SAR 200 per transaction. You can check your current balance on the TVM screen before deciding how much to add.

If you use the Darb app instead of a physical card, top-up works differently — the app lets you buy digital QR tickets directly using a saved payment method. There is no balance to manage. Each QR ticket is valid for its stated duration from the moment you activate it at the gate.

Free transfers between Riyadh Metro lines are included within your 2-hour pass window. You do not need to tap in again when you change lines at an interchange station — the system recognises your active pass automatically.

If you are using the Darb app instead of a physical card, open the app, navigate to your active QR ticket, and hold the QR code up to the gate camera. The camera scans the code and opens the gate. Make sure your screen brightness is turned up before you approach the gate — a dim screen can slow the scan.

For contactless payment with Apple Pay or Mada Pay, simply tap your iPhone, Apple Watch, or bank card at the same yellow NFC reader. The same time-based fares apply, and the system automatically selects the 2-hour pass.

Mada Pay is also accepted at all gates, covering Android users with compatible devices and Mada-linked bank accounts. Contactless bank cards with the Mada logo work at the NFC readers too.

The contactless option is particularly useful if you are a short-stay visitor who does not want to manage a physical card, or if you have left your Darb card behind. There is no setup required beyond having Apple Pay or Mada Pay configured on your device before you arrive at the station.

You can check your card balance at any TVM, at a ticket office, or through the Darb app if you have linked your digital account. Customer support is available by calling 19933 or by visiting the official transport authority site at rpt.sa.

If you are having trouble tapping in — a card that is not being read, a gate that will not open, or an unexplained error — try holding the card still and flat against the reader rather than swiping it. If the problem continues, use a different gate or speak to a staff member at the ticket office inside the station.

You can use the fare calculator tool to estimate costs for your specific journey and compare the 2-hour, 3-day, 7-day, and 30-day pass options. For line maps, individual station guides, and operating hours, see the Riyadh city overview page. If you are connecting to or from the airport on the Blue Line, the station guide for King Khalid International Airport station has specific arrival tips.

Metro services run from 06:00 to 00:00 on weekdays and from 06:00 to 02:00 on weekends and public holidays. The network is fully air-conditioned throughout, which makes it particularly practical during Riyadh's summer months when outdoor travel becomes demanding.