Transport in Saudi Arabia
This page describes various methods of transportation in Saudi Arabia.
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[edit] Railways
Saudi Arabia has several hundred route kilometres of standard gauge railways linking the capital Riyadh with the Arabian Gulf. The new 440 km Haramain High Speed Rail Project will link Makkah and Medina.[1]
The Al Mashaaer Al Mugaddassah Metro in the holy city of Makkah opened in November 2010.[2]
[edit] Highways
total: 152,044 km
paved: 45,461 km
unpaved: 106,583 km (2000)
Highways in Saudi Arabia vary from eight laned roads to small two laned roads in rural areas. The city highways and other major highways are well maintained such as the roads in Riyadh. The roads are constructed so they resist the summer's high heat and do not reflect the strong sun. The outer city highways such as the one linking from coast to coast are not as great as the inner-city highways but the government is now working on rebuilding those roads.
Automobile transport is encouraged by the fact that Saudi Arabia has the second lowest gas prices in the world, at $0.48 per gallon ($0.13 per liter).[3]
Some of the important inter-city highways include the following:[4]
[5]
- Dammam - Abu Hadriya - Ras Tanura Highway (257 km)
- Khaybar - Al Ola Highway (175 km)
- Makkah - Madinah Al Munawarah Highway (421 km)
- Riyadh - Dammam Highway (383 km)
- Riyadh - Sedir - Al Qasim Highway (317 km)
- Riyadh - Taif Highway (750 km)
- Taif - Abha - Gizan Highway (750 km)
- Medina - Tabuk Highway (680 km)
- Jeddah - Al Leith - Jizan Highway (775 km)
- Jeddah - Makkah Highway (80 km)
[edit] Pipelines
- Condensate 212 km; gas 837 km; liquid petroleum gas 1,187 km; oil 5,062 km; refined products 69 km (2003). (See: Aramco)
[edit] Ports and harbors
[edit] Arabian Gulf
- Dammam
- Jubail
- Ras Tanura
- Khafji
- Khobar
- Ras Al-Zour (under construction)
[edit] Red Sea
[edit] Airports
There are an estimated 204 airports in Saudi Arabia (2003 est.).
[edit] Airports - with paved runways
total: 71
over 3,047 m: 32
2,438 to 3,047 m: 13
1,524 to 2,437 m: 12
914 to 1,523 m: 2
under 914 m: 2 (2003 est.)
[edit] Airports - with unpaved runways
total: 133
over 3047 m: 1
2,438 to 3,047 m: 5
1,524 to 2,437 m: 75
914 to 1,523 m: 38
under 914 m: 14 (2003 est.) (Saudi Arabian Airlines is the nation's flag carrier)
[edit] Heliports
9 (2009 est.)
[edit] References
- ^ "Al Rajhi wins Makkah – Madinah civils contract". Railway Gazette International. 2009-02-09. http://www.railwaygazette.com/news/single-view/view/10/al-rajhi-wins-makkah-madinah-civils-contract.html.
- ^ "Hajj pilgrims take the metro to Makkah". Railway Gazette International. 15 November 2010. http://www.railwaygazette.com/nc/news/single-view/view/hajj-pilgrims-take-the-metro-to-makkah.html.
- ^ http://www.csmonitor.com/World/Americas/2011/0913/World-s-cheapest-gas-Top-5-countries/Saudi-Arabia-0.48-per-gallon-0.13-per-liter
- ^ Saoudi inter-city highways
- ^ http://www.saudia-online.com/newsnov01/news06.shtml
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