The Ministry of Transport allows roads to be named after citizens in exchange for their construction

In a move aimed at strengthening community partnerships and accelerating infrastructure development, the Ministry of Transport and Logistics a new regulation allowing individuals and legal entities (companies and non-profit organizations) to construct or expand paved and unpaved roads at their own expense. This initiative comes with significant incentives, most notably the possibility of naming completed roads after the donors upon handover to the relevant authorities, subject to strict engineering and legal standards.

Context of the decision and its developmental dimensions

This decision comes within the context of the strategic transformations taking place in the Kingdom's transport and logistics sector, and is in line with the objectives of Vision 2030, which encourages empowering the private and non-profit sectors to contribute to national development. This step represents a qualitative leap in the management of road projects, moving from a completely centralized government approach to a participatory model that allows the community to actively contribute to improving the quality of life, particularly in areas that may require rapid solutions to connect residential areas or farms to the main road network.

Technical controls and safety requirements

To ensure quality implementation and adherence to engineering standards, the ministry has established precise conditions for approving applications, including:

• Provide detailed plans: The plans must show the route and type of road (dirt or paved) with extreme precision.
• Engineering supervision: Obliging applicants to contract with licensed engineering offices to prepare designs, and assigning implementation to classified and accredited contractors in the field of roads.
• Determining the supervisory scope: The responsible party is determined based on the location; the Ministry of Municipalities and Housing supervises the urban scope, while the General Authority for Roads takes charge of the external areas.

Legal and financial aspects

The regulations were careful to protect public and private rights by requiring official certification from the regional emirate confirming that the proposed road route is free of any property disputes or encroachments. The regulations also clearly stipulated that the applicant bears all construction and supervision costs and must provide a written undertaking not to claim any future financial compensation from the state. In return, the responsibility for the road's maintenance and full operation transfers to the relevant government agency upon its final handover, at which point it becomes part of the national road network.

Expected impact: Enhancing social responsibility

This regulation is expected to encourage business leaders and large corporations to adopt road projects as part of their corporate social responsibility programs, thereby easing the financial burden on the state budget allocated to secondary roads and accelerating the delivery of services to remote areas. Furthermore, naming the road after the donor serves as a significant symbolic incentive, commemorating those who contribute to national development.

Integration with relevant parties

To ensure the sustainability of projects and prevent conflicts with other national interests, the regulations mandate obtaining prior approvals from multiple entities, such as the Ministry of Industry and Mineral Resources to ensure there are no conflicts with mining sites, and the National Center for Environmental Compliance to preserve vegetation and the natural environment. These regulations will officially come into effect 30 days after their publication, establishing a new phase of partnership in the transportation sector.