The certification follows a 700-kilometre assessment of roads across the Dammam metropolitan area, conducted as part of Saudi Arabia’s Road Assessment Programme
In a significant boost for transport and logistics infrastructure in Saudi Arabia, Eastern Province Municipality has received Saudi Arabia’s first official urban road safety certification from the International Road Assessment Programme (iRAP).
Announced by iRAP on Monday, the certification marks a regional milestone in the adoption of global safety standards for high-speed urban roads, critical arteries for the movement of goods and people across the region’s growing cities.
Dammam sets new safety standard
The certification follows a comprehensive 700-kilometre assessment of roads across the Dammam metropolitan area, conducted as part of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s Road Assessment Programme (KSARAP), a national initiative aligned with Vision 2030 and the National Transport and Logistics Strategy.
The evaluation found that 85% of the assessed network met the 3-star or higher safety standard for vehicle occupant. This is a key benchmark for reducing crash risks and enhancing operational reliability across freight and passenger corridors.
The project was executed by Euro Group for Engineering Consulting and supervised by the Eastern Province Municipality. For logistics operators, the improvements are expected to reduce disruption, improve journey time predictability, and support Saudi Arabia’s push to become a leading regional logistics hub.
Blueprint for safer freight routes
“This certification reflects our strategic commitment to road safety,” said His Excellency Eng. Mazen Adel Bakhurji, Deputy Mayor for Projects and Construction. “Through integrated efforts and international collaboration, we are determined to reduce fatalities and improve the safety of all road users.”
The Dammam initiative is the first urban application of iRAP’s methodology in southern Saudi Arabia and provides a practical model for other cities looking to integrate road safety into the broader logistics and mobility agenda.
Safer road design not only protects human life but also mitigates the economic cost of crashes—ranging from cargo damage and insurance claims to supply chain delays. The success of the project reinforces the Kingdom’s leadership in transport safety reform and underscores how smart infrastructure upgrades can deliver both social and commercial value.
Smart design drives logistics safety
By adopting iRAP’s evidence-based approach, Saudi Arabia is embedding safety into the early planning stages of infrastructure development. This aligns with wider efforts to integrate advanced technologies, AI-based decision-making tools, and global design standards into the Kingdom’s evolving transport network.
As urban logistics demand increases, particularly with the rise of last-mile delivery and e-commerce, Dammam’s certification provides an encouraging signal that safety and efficiency can go hand in hand.
With more Saudi cities expected to follow Dammam’s lead, the iRAP milestone could pave the way for smarter and safer road infrastucture across the region.
