Saudi to build roads totalling 6,400km

Date: 21/1/2010

Saudi transport authorities have set out a plan to build 6,400km worth of roads over the coming year, with a total expenditure of 11.87 billion riyals (£1.96 billion).

Speaking to Arab News, transport minister Jebara Al-Seraisry confirmed: "With a total expenditure of SR11.87 billion, which includes surplus from the past years, 316 road projects have been approved. The approval also includes the completion of the projects that were launched in the past years."

Among the projects to receive approval were the Jeddah-Jazan coastal road and the third phase of the circular road in Jeddah, the kingdom's capital. Development of a ring-road in Madinah City will also go ahead, the transport minister confirmed.

Elsewhere, the transport authorities in Dubai have set out plans for a similarly ambitious transport infrastructure investment project, with around 11 billion dirhams (£1.85 billion) set to be allocated for improvement works in the emirate over the course of 2010.