Riyadh’s Transition Toward Sustainable Mobility: Evaluating Transit-Oriented Development (TOD) Under Vision 2030

Riyadh’s rapid urban growth and reliance on private vehicles have created mobility, spatial organization, and sustainability challenges. This study examines the potential benefits of transit-oriented development (TOD) as a tool for strategic planning for urban transformation under Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030. The paper evaluates Riyadh’s organizational and geographic readiness for TOD via a comparative case study approach. Eleven established TOD indicators are applied across six cities: Tokyo, Singapore, Copenhagen, Dubai, Doha, and Riyadh to examine governance frameworks, walkability, transportation accessibility, zoning flexibility, and density. These 6 capitals are chosen as reference, similar in importance or geographical proximity, but which stand out for having already developed an urban planning conscience aligned, at various levels, with the TOD principle and which Riyadh could take as an example for future development. The results show that Riyadh lags far compared with regional and international cases in some important TOD indicators, especially in the areas of green infrastructure, pedestrian connectivity, and zoning flexibility. The city’s TOD maturity is still in its earliest stages with major investments in transit infrastructure laying a strong foundation for future growth. The study concludes that Riyadh will benefit in adopting a context-specific TOD framework that integrates zoning reform, institutional coordination, walkability improvements, and climate-responsive urban design. Strategic recommendations include targeted planning around priority metro stations, enhanced governance integration, and phased implementation to support a gradual shift toward sustainable, transit-oriented urban development in the Gulf context.