Saudi Arabia Adopts Advanced Technologies for Road Sustainability, Logistics Efficiency

The acting CEO of the Saudi Roads Authority speaking to the audience during a panel discussion (Asharq Al-Awsat)
The acting CEO of the Saudi Roads Authority speaking to the audience during a panel discussion (Asharq Al-Awsat)
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Saudi Arabia Adopts Advanced Technologies for Road Sustainability, Logistics Efficiency

The acting CEO of the Saudi Roads Authority speaking to the audience during a panel discussion (Asharq Al-Awsat)
The acting CEO of the Saudi Roads Authority speaking to the audience during a panel discussion (Asharq Al-Awsat)

Badr Al-Dulami, CEO of the Saudi General Authority for Roads, announced that advanced technologies are being used to recycle road layers in Saudi Arabia. This has sped up maintenance by 40%, improved cost efficiency, and helped protect the environment.

Speaking at the “Supply Chain Conference” in Riyadh, Al-Dulami said Saudi Arabia's road network exceeds 500,000 kilometers, making it the top country in connectivity and the fourth-best in road quality among the G20 nations.

Al-Dulami also noted that the “Saudi Road Code” is designed to keep up with future changes, including performance-based maintenance contracts.

He highlighted key projects, such as the opening of the Eastern Interchange in Riyadh to reduce traffic and redirect trucks, and the Second Ring Road in Jeddah, which moves trucks outside the city to improve logistics flow.

Al-Dulami emphasized that safety, quality, and sustainability are key to transportation strategies, with a safe and high-quality road network being essential for a successful logistics system.

He also mentioned that the transportation and logistics strategy now focuses on these key areas. To support the growing demand, the authority introduced a system for issuing permits for transporting heavy loads.

Ahmed Al-Hassan, Assistant Minister of Transport and Logistics Services, highlighted that the ministry is focused on strategies to connect Saudi Arabia globally and increase its competitiveness, with a special emphasis on developing local talent to support Vision 2030.

On the second day of the conference, global experts gathered to discuss best practices for improving supply chain efficiency.

Mansour Al-Qahtani, from the Saudi Electricity Company, pointed out the role of artificial intelligence in improving data security and helping companies manage potential threats, boosting overall sector efficiency.



Gold Firms; Focus on US Data for Cues on Fed's Policy Path

FILE PHOTO: A woman looks at a gold bangle inside a jewellery showroom at a market in Mumbai January 15, 2015. REUTERS/Shailesh Andrade//File Photo
FILE PHOTO: A woman looks at a gold bangle inside a jewellery showroom at a market in Mumbai January 15, 2015. REUTERS/Shailesh Andrade//File Photo
TT

Gold Firms; Focus on US Data for Cues on Fed's Policy Path

FILE PHOTO: A woman looks at a gold bangle inside a jewellery showroom at a market in Mumbai January 15, 2015. REUTERS/Shailesh Andrade//File Photo
FILE PHOTO: A woman looks at a gold bangle inside a jewellery showroom at a market in Mumbai January 15, 2015. REUTERS/Shailesh Andrade//File Photo

Gold prices hovered near a four-week peak on Thursday, while focus shifted to jobs report due on Friday for clarity on the Federal Reserve's 2025 interest rate path.
Spot gold edged 0.1% higher to $2,664.30 per ounce, as of 0732 GMT. US gold futures rose 0.4% to $2,681.80
"Prices are trading in a narrow range ... A new trigger is needed for gold to breach its resistance," said Ajay Kedia, director at Kedia Commodities in Mumbai.
The bullion hit a near four-week high in the previous session after a weaker-than-expected US private employment report hinted that the Fed may be less cautious about easing rates this year.
The market now awaits US jobs report on Friday for more cues on the Fed's policy path.
Investors are also awaiting Donald Trump to take office on Jan. 20 and his proposed tariffs and protectionist policies are expected to fuel inflation.
Policymakers at the Fed's last meeting also "noted that recent higher-than-expected readings on inflation, and the effects of potential changes in trade and immigration policy, suggested that the process could take longer than previously anticipated," the minutes showed on Wednesday.
Bullion is considered an inflationary hedge, but high rates reduce the non-yielding asset's allure.
"We believe the bulk of the rally has been put in and that while gold's upward momentum may carry it higher in the near term and in early 2025, a combination of physical and financial market factors may tame the rally and drive gold moderately lower by the end of next year," HSBC said in a note.
Elsewhere, physically-backed gold exchange-traded funds (ETFs) registered their first inflow in four years, the World Gold Council said.
Spot silver added 0.2% to $30.17 per ounce, platinum dropped 0.3% to $952.54 and palladium shed 0.8% to $921.37.