In preparation for the Hajj season, the General Authority for Roads issues a comprehensive guide for the year 1447 AH

As part of its extensive preparations to welcome pilgrims, the General Authority for Roads in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has announced the release of the “Roads Guide for the Hajj Season 1447 AH.” This comprehensive guide, available in both Arabic and English, aims to serve pilgrims arriving by land from within the Kingdom and abroad, ensuring their safe and easy arrival in Mecca and the holy sites.

The importance of the guide in the context of serving pilgrims

The Hajj season presents a tremendous logistical challenge, requiring the combined efforts of all sectors of the state to serve millions of pilgrims. Historically, the Hajj journey was fraught with hardship, as pilgrims traversed rugged desert routes for months. Today, however, the Kingdom has developed a sophisticated infrastructure of roads, bridges, and tunnels to facilitate this spiritual journey. This guide serves as a modern technological tool reflecting the continuous development of the services provided, offering pilgrims a clear road map, thus reducing the likelihood of getting lost and enhancing traffic safety on the busy roads during the season.

Local and regional impact of road initiatives

Locally, the guide helps regulate traffic flow and distribute traffic density across the various routes leading to Mecca, positively impacting the experience of pilgrims, citizens, and residents alike. Regionally, the guide is particularly important for pilgrims from neighboring countries, providing them with accurate information on border crossings and designated routes within Saudi Arabia, thus strengthening regional integration and facilitating movement between the Gulf Cooperation Council countries and neighboring Arab states.

Details of routes and paths in the Hajj 1447 guide

The guide provides a detailed overview of the road network connecting the Kingdom to neighboring countries, as well as the main internal roads. The guide can be downloaded directly from the following links:

• To download the guide in Arabic: Click here
• To download the guide in English: Click here

First: International land routes

The guide includes routes coming from 8 neighboring countries, which are:

• From the Sultanate of Oman: via the Empty Quarter road (Umm Al-Zamoul - Al-Batha - Salwa - Al-Hofuf - Mecca) over a distance of 2150 km.
• From the United Arab Emirates: via the Al-Batha border crossing (Al-Batha - Salwa - Al-Hofuf - Riyadh - Mecca) with a distance of 1514 km.
• From Qatar: via the Salwa border crossing (Salwa - Al-Hofuf - Riyadh - Mecca) with a distance of 1385 km.
• From Bahrain: via King Fahd Causeway (Al-Khobar - Riyadh - Mecca) a distance of 1320 km.
• From Kuwait: via two routes, the first from Khafji (1473 km) and the second from Al-Ruqai (1277 km).
• From Iraq: via the new Arar border crossing (Arar - Sakaka - Medina - Mecca) with a distance of 1579 km.
• From Jordan: via two routes, the first from Halat Ammar (1219 km) and the second from Al-Haditha (1545 km).
• From Yemen: via the Al-Wadi’ah border crossing (Al-Wadi’ah – Najran – Abha – Mecca) a distance of 1372 km.

Second: Main internal roads

The guide also highlights the most vital routes within the Kingdom used by pilgrims, including:

• The Hijra Road: It connects Medina and Mecca, with a length of 420 km.
• Al-Sail Al-Kabeer Road: Connects Riyadh, Taif and Mecca with a length of 80 km (the last part).
• Prince Mohammed bin Salman Road: Connects Jeddah and Mecca, with a length of 70 km.

Innovative roadside services

The Authority’s role is not limited to providing information, but extends to providing innovative field services to ensure the comfort of pilgrims, such as the “road tent” which provides a comfortable place to rest, initiatives to supply vehicles with fuel when they run out, and providing vehicles equipped to transport pilgrims in case their buses break down.

Safety guidelines and emergency numbers

The guide contains a section on safe driving guidelines, meanings of directional and warning signs, as well as a list of the most important emergency numbers for relevant authorities such as road security, civil defense, and the Red Crescent, to ensure a rapid response in emergency situations.