KSA’s General Authority for Roads has inaugurated thethird phase of the Dhahran-Al Uqair-Salwa road project, according to a statement on X. The 66 km road serves as a shortcut between the industrial city in Jubail and trade points on the kingdom’s Eastern province, Al Arabiya reports.

The project is a boon for regional connectivity and trade: This phase is part of a larger SAR 199 mn project, 185 km project that aims to better connect the Eastern province with Qatar and the UAE, slashing the drive time to the border by as much as an hour, according to a separate statement.

It also falls in line with the kingdom’s goal to elevate its logistical performance index, aiming to secure a spot among the top 10 globally. It also aligns with the nation’s broader strategy to improve road quality and safety as it looks to achieve milestones by 2030, including reducing road-related fatalities and enhancing overall traffic efficiency. Saudi Arabia improved its Road Quality Index (RQI) by 10% y-o-y, achieving a score of 5.7 in 2023.

What’s next: RGA has been working to wrap up construction work on the fourth and last phase of the project, a 13 km stretch. It has yet to provide a construction update or say when it expects work to finish.

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