Transport in Saudi Arabia

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This page lists various methods of transportation in Saudi Arabia.

Contents

1 Railways

1.1 Railway links with adjacent countries

2 Highways
3 Pipelines
4 Ports and harbors

5 Merchant marine
6 Airports

6.1 Airports - with paved runways
6.2 Airports - with unpaved runways
6.3 Heliports

Railways

Main article: Rail transport in Saudi Arabia
total: 1,392 km
standard gauge: 1,392 km 1.435-m gauge (448 km double track) (2002)

In 2005, a Landbridge project was announced to build about 3,000 km of railways, to link mines and ports and towns within Saudi Arabia, and to do part of the work needed to link with adjacent countries.

While none of the new lines in the current project cross the border into adjacent states, several lines nearly reach these borders and in directions that head for useful destinations. Thus one line points towards Amman, the capital of Jordan.

Railway links with adjacent countries

From North, clockwise:

Jordan - no - defunct since WWI
Iraq - no - same gauge 1435mm
Kuwait - no - no railways
Qatar - no - no railways
Bahrain - no - no railways
United Arab Emirates - no - no railways yet
Oman - no - no railways
Yemen - no - no railways yet

Highways

total: 152,044 km
paved: 45,461 km
unpaved: 106,583 km (2000)

Some highways in Saudi Arabia are considered in poor condition compared to other oil-producing neighbor countries. But the city highways are well maintained such as the roads in Riyadh which are considered some of the best roads in the world. The roads are created in a way so it does not reflect the strong sun and resist the summer's high heat. 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.

Pipelines

condensate 212 km; gas 837 km; liquid petroleum gas 1,187 km; oil 5,062 km; refined products 69 km (2003). (See: Aramco)

Ports and harbors

Ad Dammam
Al Jubayl
Ras Tanura

Jiddah
Yanbu' al Bahr

Duba, Jizan, Rabigh, Ra's al Khafji, Mishab, Madinat Yanbu' al Sinaiyah

Merchant marine

total: 66 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 1,306,706 GRT/1,963,191 DWT
ships by type: cargo 5, chemical tanker 11, container 4, livestock carrier 2, passenger 1, petroleum tanker 23, refrigerated cargo 4, roll on/roll off 10, short-sea/passenger 6 (2003)

Airports

204 (2003 est.)

Also see: List of airports in Saudi Arabia

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.)

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)

Heliports

5 (2003 est.)

Saudi Arabia

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