The Kingdom ranked twentieth globally within the High quality Infrastructure for Sustainable Improvement Index (QI4SD) 2024
Saudi Arabia holds a number one place within the Arab area in addition to within the Center East and North Africa, rating twentieth globally within the High quality Infrastructure for Sustainable Improvement Index (QI4SD) 2024. This index is launched each two years by the United Nations Industrial Improvement Group (UNIDO). The Kingdom has made vital progress, climbing 25 spots in comparison with the 2022 index.
The index evaluates varied key elements of high quality infrastructure, which embody requirements, metrology, standardization, accreditation, conformity evaluation, and nationwide insurance policies. Dr. Saad bin Othman Al-Qasbi, governor of the Saudi Requirements, Metrology and High quality Authority (SASO), commented that the Kingdom’s rankings mirror the nationwide efforts spearheaded by SASO in partnership with the Saudi Accreditation Heart and related stakeholders from each the private and non-private sectors.
These accomplishments improve Saudi Arabia’s world standing and contribute to the event of a extra affluent and aggressive financial system. Al-Qasbi additionally lauded the progress of the Kingdom’s high quality system and its optimistic results on residing requirements, financial improvement, and enterprise practices, all of which have performed an important position in Saudi Arabia’s rise in world rankings.
The Kingdom’s place among the many high 20 international locations serves as a powerful indication of its dedication to bettering high quality infrastructure and refining its authorized frameworks and rules.
Formidable rail growth
Saudi Arabia is poised for exceptional growth in its rail infrastructure, with plans to increase its rail community to over 8,000 kilometers within the coming years. This announcement was made by Eng. Saleh Al-Jasser, Kingdom’s minister of Transport and Logistic Companies and chairman of Saudi Arabia Railways (SAR), throughout the inaugural Saudi Rail Convention and Exhibition. He remarked, “This growth will additional solidify Saudi Arabia’s place as a world logistics hub.”
Al-Jasser highlighted that these developments are in keeping with the Nationwide Transport and Logistics Technique, which is a basic a part of Saudi Imaginative and prescient 2030.
Learn extra | Highway High quality Index: Saudi Arabia surges to 4th place amongst G20 nations
Key rail networks in Saudi Arabia
Al-Jasser famous the numerous strides made in rail improvement, mentioning that the present community already exceeds 5,500 kilometers. He particularly talked about the North Community, which connects Riyadh to the Jordanian border, and the East Community, which hyperlinks Riyadh to the Arabian Gulf coast. He additionally underscored the significance of the Haramain Excessive-Velocity Railway (HHR), an revolutionary electrical rail service that connects the holy cities of Makkah and Madinah. Since its launch in 2018, the HHR has emerged as one of many quickest rail techniques globally, accommodating over 20 million passengers and assuaging highway freight congestion by eliminating multiple million truck journeys previously yr alone.
Transformations in Riyadh area’s roads
The highway infrastructure within the Riyadh area is present process a considerable overhaul. The entire highway size within the space is roughly 15,000 kilometers, with new highway and upkeep tasks presently being carried out throughout all governorates, amounting to a complete funding of round SAR3 billion (roughly $800 million).
These initiatives purpose to make sure that the highway community can successfully meet the rising demand for environment friendly transportation. Additionally they contribute to reaching the objectives outlined within the highway sector technique, which seeks to reinforce the Kingdom’s standing as a world logistics middle.
Highway tasks in progress
The Roads Common Authority (RGA) lately introduced the completion of 23 highway tasks within the Riyadh area. This contains 20 preventive upkeep tasks masking 215 kilometers at a price of SAR170 million, together with three visitors security enhancement tasks costing over SAR171 million. The highway sector performs an important position in supporting varied industries, equivalent to tourism, commerce, and logistics, and underscores the Kingdom’s management in world highway connectivity.
The RGA famous its dedication to utilizing cutting-edge applied sciences for highway undertaking implementation throughout Riyadh. It boasts the most important fleet of AI-driven equipment on the planet and employs specialised groups within the highway building sector.
Extra highway tasks underway
At the moment, 18 highway tasks are in progress throughout Riyadh, extending as much as 516 kilometers and valued at SAR1.5 billion. Moreover, the RGA is enterprise 48 preventive upkeep tasks spanning 2,500 kilometers, with a price range of SAR1 billion, together with one visitors security enhancement undertaking price SAR125 million.
These tasks are designed to fulfill high-quality requirements and specs, aiming to cut back highway fatalities to beneath 5 per 100,000 folks and to rank sixth worldwide in highway high quality index. The authority’s goals additionally embody enhancing the highway community’s security options primarily based on the Worldwide Highway Evaluation Program (IRAP) classifications, sustaining superior capacities inside the community, and rising non-public sector involvement in operational actions to twenty p.c.
