The land route connecting the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia with the Sultanate of Oman through the Empty Quarter represents a unique engineering achievement and a vital economic artery, contributing to strengthening the bonds of cooperation and partnership between the two brotherly countries across various fields.

This land border crossing is not only crucial for facilitating trade exchange and tourist movement but also plays a key role in easing the arrival of pilgrims to the holy sites, underscoring its strategic importance regionally and internationally.

The connecting road between the two countries extends for 564 km from the Al-Batha Haradh intersection to the Empty Quarter border crossing. It is considered an engineering marvel by all standards, with total project costs nearing two billion Saudi Riyals, reflecting the challenges faced due to the harsh terrain and extreme climatic conditions of the Empty Quarter.

Completing this massive project required over 3.3 million working hours and the use of 750 heavy machines carefully selected to suit the desert geography of the Empty Quarter. The volume of displaced sand reached 150 million cubic meters, sand protection materials 12 million cubic meters, and asphalt layers used amounted to one million cubic meters. The road was equipped with all necessary traffic safety measures, including lighting the last 30 km to facilitate users’ movement and ensure their safety.

The project was implemented in two main phases: the first phase extended 319 km from a point about 25 km from the Al-Batha border crossing to the Shaybah field, while the second phase covered 246 km from Shaybah field to the Empty Quarter border crossing on the Omani border.

To ensure the highest levels of traffic safety, all safety tools were provided along the road. Ground markings covered about 12 million cubic meters, and 140,000 cat’s eye reflectors were installed to provide ideal night visibility for travelers. Warning and guidance signs were placed along the road, pedestrian crossing safety measures were enhanced, and the project included side parking areas for trucks and cars on both sides of the road, designed to ensure safe and proper entry and exit. Eight side parking areas were provided, spaced 25 km apart on both the right and left sides of the road.

The road project leading to the border crossing between Saudi Arabia and the sister Sultanate of Oman is a strategic and vital project between the two countries. It will contribute to enhancing cooperation and partnership in several developmental and economic sectors, benefiting both the Kingdom and the Sultanate. This project aims to achieve the goals of the National Transport and Logistics Strategy, which seeks to establish the Kingdom as a global logistics hub. It will improve local, regional, and international connectivity of trade and transport networks and contribute to achieving the goals of several national sectors such as Hajj and Umrah and tourism, thereby enhancing the Kingdom’s position as a global destination in various fields.

It is worth mentioning that the General Authority for Roads supervises and regulates the road sector in the Kingdom by setting the necessary policies and legislation. The authority works to achieve the targets of the Roads Sector Program, which focuses on safety, quality, and traffic density, aiming to position the Kingdom sixth globally in road quality by 2030.