Saudi Arabia has completed a 564km highway across the Empty Quarter desert, linking the Kingdom directly with Oman. Costing around SR2 billion ($533m), the project is celebrated as both an engineering milestone and a vital new trade artery between the two neighbors.
The road begins at the Batha–Haradh intersection and stretches to the Oman border crossing, overcoming the extreme conditions of the world’s largest sand desert. Construction required more than 3.3 million man-hours and the removal of 150 million cubic meters of sand.
Delivered in two phases, the first covered 319km to the Shaybah oil field, while the second extended a further 246km to the border. Safety features include 140,000 reflectors and designated parking areas for vehicles.
Officials describe the road as a strategic transport corridor, aligned with the National Strategy for Transport and Logistics Services, which seeks to position Saudi Arabia as a global logistics hub. Beyond trade, the project also supports Hajj, Umrah, and tourism growth by easing pilgrim journeys and enhancing regional connectivity, in line with Saudi Vision 2030.
Source: arabianbusiness.com
