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Saudi Initiatives Propel Kingdom to 4th Globally in Road Quality Index

Saudi Roads General Authority is achieving rapid milestones to enhance the efficiency of the road network in Saudi Arabia (SPA)
Saudi Roads General Authority is achieving rapid milestones to enhance the efficiency of the road network in Saudi Arabia (SPA)
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Saudi Initiatives Propel Kingdom to 4th Globally in Road Quality Index

Saudi Roads General Authority is achieving rapid milestones to enhance the efficiency of the road network in Saudi Arabia (SPA)
Saudi Roads General Authority is achieving rapid milestones to enhance the efficiency of the road network in Saudi Arabia (SPA)

Saudi Arabia continued to advance on the Road Quality Index (RQI) to the level of 5.7, taking the fourth place globally among the G20 countries, according to the World Economic Forum (WEF) report for 2023.
Saudi Minister of Transport and Logistics Saleh Al-Jasser attributed this success to the unwavering support lent by the leadership and the efforts exerted to maintain the Kingdom’s global leadership in road network connectivity, enhance road quality, improve operational efficiency, ensure safety, and meet the ambitious targets outlined in the national transport and logistics services strategy entailed in Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030.
For his part, Badr Aldulami, the acting CEO of the Kingdom’s Roads General Authority (RGA), pointed to the “remarkable momentum” witnessed by the road sector in 2023, which contributed to this achievement after working on several vital projects and initiatives, coupled with implementing new and modern road network solutions.
The RGA had indicated that the WEF report revealed that road infrastructure quality in the Kingdom rose from 5.2 to 5.7 in 2023, with a growth rate exceeding 10%, which is the highest among the G20 countries.
Improving Road Safety, Quality
The RQI is one of the key global indices that measures the quality of road networks based on the study and analysis of a group of factors that affect road performance and user safety.
The RGA is actively working to boost road safety and quality standards, aligning with strategic sector targets where quality, safety, and traffic density are key.
Experts note Saudi Arabia’s progress in the global road quality index, ranking fourth among G20 nations, attributed to government efforts to enhance road infrastructure across cities.
Enhancing Cargo Transport
Logistics expert Nashmi Al Harbi credited Saudi Arabia’s rise in the global road quality index to government initiatives improving roads to high technical standards, facilitating smoother cargo transport and trade growth.
“The establishment of an independent roads authority in 2022 has further supported transportation and logistical services, contributing to economic development,” Al Harbi told Asharq Al-Awsat.
“Focus on high-quality road networks reflects the government’s commitment to advancing logistical services and trade facilitation,” he asserted.
Strategic Road Development
Economic analyst Abdulrahman Al Jubairi highlighted Saudi Arabia’s progress in the road infrastructure quality index, signaling successful government strategies post-establishment of a specialized authority aimed at improving operational efficiency and quality standards.
The recent evolution in Saudi Arabia's road network is expected to enhance user experience and logistical efficiency, supporting trade operations, Al Jubairi stressed.

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Taiwan to Skip WTO Conference after Labeled 'Province of China'

Taipei 101 building, seen from a park in Taipei, Taiwan March 12, 2026. REUTERS/Ann Wang
Taipei 101 building, seen from a park in Taipei, Taiwan March 12, 2026. REUTERS/Ann Wang
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Taiwan to Skip WTO Conference after Labeled 'Province of China'

Taipei 101 building, seen from a park in Taipei, Taiwan March 12, 2026. REUTERS/Ann Wang
Taipei 101 building, seen from a park in Taipei, Taiwan March 12, 2026. REUTERS/Ann Wang

Taiwan said on Tuesday it will skip a high-level World Trade Organization meeting for the first time following a dispute with host nation Cameroon over the name used for the democratic island in visa documents.

The Taiwanese foreign ministry said it had lodged a "stern protest" after Cameroon designated the island "Taiwan, Province of China" in paperwork issued to the island's delegation before it departed for the March 26-29 event.

Cameroon then granted members of the group a "visa exemption", but the document did not mention their nationality, misspelled some English names and identified almost all of them as female, the ministry said.

The ministry also said in a statement it was clear that the central African country "had no sincere intention of resolving the issue".

China claims Taiwan is part of its sovereign territory and has tried to erase the self-governed island from the international stage by blocking or hindering its access to global forums. It also opposes the designations "Taiwan" or "Republic of China", its official name.

"The one-China principle is the political prerequisite for the Taiwan region of China to participate in the WTO," Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Lin Jian told a regular news briefing in Beijing on Tuesday.

Lin accused Taiwan's ruling party of "engaging in political manipulation under the pretext of attending the meeting".

According to AFP, Taipei called its WTO snub a matter of "national dignity".

"Considering that our delegation members might encounter obstruction if they attempted to enter Cameroon with a document full of incorrect information, and in order to uphold our national dignity, we had no choice but to be absent," the Taiwanese foreign ministry said.

"The Ministry of Foreign Affairs reiterates that our country joined the WTO as a 'separate customs territory' not subordinate to any other member, and that our equal right to participate must not be infringed."

It previously accused Cameroon of "subservience to China".

The WTO declined to comment.

Taiwan joined the WTO in 2002, shortly after China, and its official name at the organization is the "Separate Customs Territory of Taiwan, Penghu, Kinmen and Matsu (Chinese Taipei)".

The WTO ministerial conference, its highest decision-making body, will take place in Cameroon's capital Yaounde. It is usually held every other year.

Business

UAE Stocks Jump as US Postpones Strikes on Iran's Energy Sites

A fishing boat sails as the sun sets in the Arabian Gulf in the United Arab Emirates Monday, March 23, 2026. (AP Photo)
A fishing boat sails as the sun sets in the Arabian Gulf in the United Arab Emirates Monday, March 23, 2026. (AP Photo)
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UAE Stocks Jump as US Postpones Strikes on Iran's Energy Sites

A fishing boat sails as the sun sets in the Arabian Gulf in the United Arab Emirates Monday, March 23, 2026. (AP Photo)
A fishing boat sails as the sun sets in the Arabian Gulf in the United Arab Emirates Monday, March 23, 2026. (AP Photo)

Stock markets in the United Arab Emirates rose on Tuesday, in line with oil prices, after US President Donald Trump postponed strikes on Iran's energy infrastructure.

On Monday, Trump postponed the bombing of Iran’s power plants and energy infrastructure because of what he described as productive talks with Iranian ⁠officials. Iran later denied ⁠that it had engaged in negotiations with the United States.

"The stop on attacks for five days is only on their energy sites," a ⁠US official told Semafor.

The Semafor report added that Israel was not party to Washington's talks with Tehran.

Dubai's main index climbed 4% in early trade, lifted by a 5.3% jump in its blue-chip developer Emaar Properties and a 4.5% rise in state-run utility firm Dubai ⁠Electricity ⁠and Water Authority.

Abu Dhabi's benchmark index gained 1.2% in early trade, with utility firm Abu Dhabi National Energy (TAQA) advancing 5.1%, while real estate giant Aldar properties increased 3.2%.

Oil prices - a key catalyst for Gulf's financial markets - were up 2.77 % at $102.66 a barrel by 0643 GMT.

Business

China Positions Itself as a Stable Economic Force Amid Global Uncertainty at Beijing Forum

Apple CEO Tim Cook is seen on a big screen live broadcasting his speech at the opening of the China Development Forum 2026 held at the Diaoyutai State Guesthouse in Beijing on March 22, 2026. (AFP)
Apple CEO Tim Cook is seen on a big screen live broadcasting his speech at the opening of the China Development Forum 2026 held at the Diaoyutai State Guesthouse in Beijing on March 22, 2026. (AFP)
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China Positions Itself as a Stable Economic Force Amid Global Uncertainty at Beijing Forum

Apple CEO Tim Cook is seen on a big screen live broadcasting his speech at the opening of the China Development Forum 2026 held at the Diaoyutai State Guesthouse in Beijing on March 22, 2026. (AFP)
Apple CEO Tim Cook is seen on a big screen live broadcasting his speech at the opening of the China Development Forum 2026 held at the Diaoyutai State Guesthouse in Beijing on March 22, 2026. (AFP)

Global corporate executives attending China's flagship annual business conference this week were reassured by leaders of the world's second-largest economy that it remains a predictable anchor at a time of geopolitical flux and global uncertainty.

The tone at this year's China Development Forum (CDF), which ended on Monday, was noticeably more confident than in recent years, analysts said, marking a shift from previous post-pandemic forums where officials tended to emphasize support measures and recovery trajectories.

"Compared to previous CDFs, the China messaging was the most confident,” said Han Lin, China Country Director at US-based strategy consultancy, The Asia Group. “While identifying challenges in the international system and without naming the US directly, (Premier Li Qiang’s) opening speech focused on what China was doing right to encourage innovation, trade and other opportunities to collaborate."

The timing of the ‌forum sharpened that ‌message. Nearly a year into a bruising trade war and ahead of a ‌postponed summit ⁠between President Xi ⁠Jinping and US President Donald Trump, Beijing is navigating strained ties with Washington and faces rising trade barriers elsewhere off the back of a record $1.2 trillion trade surplus in 2025.

The US-Israeli war with Iran has caused a surge in energy prices that is rippling across the wider global economy and given Beijing another opportunity to promote itself as a bastion of calm.

REFLECTION OF SHIFTING GEOPOLITICAL LANDSCAPE

Attendance patterns reflected shifting geopolitical boundaries. A higher share of US corporate leaders travelled to Beijing compared with previous years, among them the CEOs of Apple, ⁠McDonald’s, Eli Lilly, Coach parent Tapestry and Mastercard.

Their presence suggested that despite tensions, American multinationals ‌remain keen to keep channels open with Beijing, as the two ‌countries recalibrate trade and investment flows.

Stability, a recurring theme from last year’s CDF, resonated more strongly this year, said Albert ‌Hu, professor of economics at the China Europe International Business School in Shanghai.

“Given all the erratic policies ‌introduced by Donald Trump and the uncertainty his policies have introduced to the world economy, the message of China being a stabilizing force probably finds a more willing audience this year than last year,” Hu said.

Absent, however, were Japanese executives — a stark contrast with last year, when their involvement included a widely publicized meeting between top global CEOs and Xi.

Their non-attendance this year ‌comes amid a diplomatic rift between Beijing and Tokyo, underscoring how China’s promises of renewed openness still operate firmly within geopolitical red lines.

EYES ON POTENTIAL MEETING WITH ⁠XI

A decision on whether ⁠Xi will reprise his recent practice of hosting a roundtable with select CEOs had not been confirmed by the close of the forum.

Han Lin believes the absence of an immediate announcement reflects sequencing rather than reluctance.

“I think Xi has every intention to meet CEOs, but only after a Trump visit,” he said. “Beijing wants trade terms set at the leadership level first, then multinationals get their signal on what comes next.”

Chinese policymakers also used this year's forum to underline priorities that now define its medium-term strategy: technological self-reliance, industrial upgrading and “high-quality development.”

All three pillars are central to the country’s latest five-year plan, released earlier this month and set as the theme of this year’s CDF.