A Bahraini delegation learns about Saudi Arabia's experience in road management in Asir

In the context of strengthening joint cooperation and exchanging experiences among the Gulf Cooperation Council countries, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia received a high-level delegation from the sisterly Kingdom of Bahrain, in order to learn about the pioneering Saudi experience in the transport and logistics sector, specifically in the field of managing and maintaining road networks.

The Bahraini delegation visited the headquarters of the General Authority for Roads in the Asir region. This visit coincided with the Authority's implementation of the "Distinguished and Safe Roads" campaign. The field visit aimed to gain firsthand insight into the mechanisms used to survey and evaluate the road network outside urban areas, a step that reflects the Kingdom's commitment to raising safety and quality standards in its infrastructure.

Dimensions of the visit and its strategic importance

This visit is of particular importance given the rapid development of the roads sector in Saudi Arabia, which is a key pillar of the Kingdom's Vision 2030. Through its National Transport and Logistics Strategy, the Kingdom seeks to solidify its position as a global logistics hub connecting three continents, which necessitates world-class infrastructure.

During the visit, the Bahraini delegation was briefed on several key topics, including:

• Learn about modern field survey and evaluation methodologies to ensure road efficiency.
• Review of the technologies and innovations used in managing road network assets.
• Reviewing the preventive and corrective maintenance mechanisms that ensure the sustainability of roads and the safety of their users.

The Asir region experience: A model of engineering challenge

Choosing the Asir region as a model for studying the Saudi experience is a strategic decision, given the region's unique geography and rugged mountainous terrain. Road management in such terrain offers valuable engineering and technical lessons in addressing natural challenges and implementing safety standards on mountain roads and slopes, providing Bahrain with a rich experience to learn from in its infrastructure development.

Ambitious targets for the roads sector in the Kingdom

The General Authority for Roads explained to the visiting delegation that these efforts contribute to achieving ambitious strategic goals for the roads sector in the Kingdom, which include:

• To reach sixth place globally in the road quality index by 2030.
• Reduce the road fatality rate to less than 5 deaths per 100,000 people .
• Covering the road network with traffic safety factors according to the International Road Assessment Programme (IRAP) classification.
• Maintaining an advanced level of services to meet the network's capacity and keep pace with economic and population growth.

This visit comes to confirm the depth of the historical relations between the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the Kingdom of Bahrain, and the keenness of both sides to integrate efforts in developing the Gulf infrastructure, which will positively reflect on the quality of life and contribute to enhancing traffic safety in the region as a whole.