Dubai: A new road connecting Saudi Arabia and Oman will be opened soon, a top Omani official said.
The announcement was made by Salem Mohammed Al Nuaimi, undersecretary at Oman’s Ministry of Transport, Communications and Information Technology, during an interview with Oman TV.
“Travelling by land between Saudi Arabia and Oman is about to get a lot easier as the highway linking the two countries is set to open soon. The road is almost complete and work is now in full swing to establish the necessary facilities to provide utility services for users,” Al Nuaimi said.
The 800km road project, which has been delayed for years, will reduce travel time significantly.
Describing the road’s layout, Al Nuaimi said: “The road stretches through some of the toughest terrains in the world”. This includes the Rub Al Khali desert, which is widely known as the Empty Quarter. The road extends approximately 580km in Saudi Arabia and 160km in Oman, he added.
The new road extends from the town of Ibri in the southwest of Oman to Al Ahsa city in east Saudi Arabia. It is expected to save travel time betrween the two countires by 16 hours.
Al Nuaimi highlighted the importance of the construction of the vital road in linking the two GCC countries and encouraging citizens and expatriate residents to travel by land.
