Makkah Opens New Lanes on Third Ring Road

Motorists in Makkah now have new road capacity after additional traffic lanes opened on the Third Ring Road and Prince Saud Al Faisal Road on 26 September 2026. The new sections are public roads open to all drivers with no fees or tolls.

On the Third Ring Road, an additional 1.5-kilometre section was opened, connecting Prince Mutab Intersection to the Grand Mosque Intersection via Prince Sultan Intersection. This link is expected to ease movement toward the central area of the city.

Along Prince Saud Al Faisal Road, the remaining section was opened for traffic, running from the Prince Mohammed bin Salman axis to Abdulqadir Koshak Street via Prince Naif bin Abdulaziz Intersection, completing the corridor along this route.

Why it matters

travel times along these routes are expected to decrease by more than 90%, offering significant relief for daily commuters, residents, and visitors moving across Makkah. The improvements are especially valuable given the high volume of traffic heading toward the Grand Mosque area.

Drivers do not need to complete any procedures or use any channels to access the new lanes, as they are permanent public roads now open to traffic. No temporary validity period was announced, meaning the added capacity is a lasting part of the city's road network.

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