Kingdom Speeds Up Road Upgrades to Mecca, East

National road and infrastructure authorities have stepped up maintenance and upgrade programs on key routes serving Mecca and the eastern industrial hubs, aiming to ease traffic pressure and strengthen connectivity across the Kingdom. The work is led by the Roads General Authority under the Ministry of Transport and Logistics Services, alongside the Ministry of Municipal and Rural Affairs and Housing for municipal roads and tunnels in Mecca and the holy sites.

more than 900 km of new roads were opened in the first half of the year, backed by 40 projects across Mecca, Madinah, Asir, the Eastern Province and Qassim to boost connectivity, logistics and industrial access. Around 11 million linear meters of roads were implemented, while some 74 million square meters of road surfaces were maintained and developed in Mecca and the holy sites ahead of the 2026 Hajj season.

Additional work included about 1.2 million square meters of new asphalt, improved readiness for 123 bridges and 44 pedestrian and vehicle tunnels on key Mecca routes, and the preparation of roughly 4,000 km of roads linked to Mecca. More than 7,400 km of roads leading to the holy sites in the Madinah region also received safety and maintenance measures, including asphalt repairs, repainting, barriers and intersection upgrades.

In Mecca, around 491 km of roads leading to the city were maintained, covering lighting, bridge expansion, fence repair, resurfacing and signage. The Mecca Municipality also released a tender in July 2026 for the ongoing engineering operation of the road maintenance management system in the city and the holy sites.

For the Eastern Province, new road projects launched in early 2026 as part of the 40-project package are designed to improve links for logistics, commerce and industrial areas, supporting freight and worker movement under Saudi Vision 2030. Authorities have also activated a large AI-powered road inspection fleet of 18 advanced vehicles using surface scanners and roughness units to speed up maintenance decisions.

For residents and commuters, the upgrades mean smoother, safer journeys on major highways and better access to industrial and economic zones across the Kingdom.

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