The CEO of the General Authority for Roads met with the Secretary of the Madinah Region at the Secretariat headquarters to discuss enhancing joint efforts to serve the guests of the Most Merciful and review the readiness of the road network and related projects in preparation for the Hajj season. The two sides reviewed road projects and authority initiatives, their role in supporting operating entities, and enhancing integration in applying the Saudi Road Code, which contributes to raising levels of quality, safety, efficiency, and sustainability. The General Authority for Roads emphasized its commitment to enhancing integration with the Secretariats to ensure optimal application of the Saudi Road Code and achieve the targets of the Road Sector Program, supporting the goal of reaching sixth place globally in road quality by 2030. This falls within the Authority’s role in regulating and overseeing the road sector through developing policies and legislation and applying modern technical standards, which enhances the experience of road users and raises safety and efficiency levels across various regions.

General Authority for Roads

The General Authority for Roads is a government body responsible for planning, constructing, and maintaining the country’s road network. It was established to support rapid development and economic growth, playing a key role in major infrastructure projects.

Madinah Region Secretariat

The Madinah Region Secretariat is the administrative government body overseeing the Medina Region in western Saudi Arabia, which includes the holy city of Medina. Its work is deeply connected to managing the infrastructure and services for one of Islam’s most sacred cities, a site of immense historical and religious significance as the place of Prophet Muhammad’s migration (Hijrah) and burial.

Saudi Road Code

The “Saudi Road Code” is the official set of traffic laws and regulations. It governs all road use, from licensing to vehicle standards, and reflects broader national modernization efforts.

Road Sector Program

“Road Sector Program” is a term typically used for large-scale infrastructure initiatives aimed at improving a country’s network of roads and highways. These programs are frequently implemented to boost economic growth, connectivity, and regional integration through the construction, rehabilitation, and maintenance of roadways.

Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is a modern nation built upon the historical regions of Najd, Hejaz, and Al-Ahsa. It is globally significant as the birthplace of Islam, home to its two holiest cities, Mecca and Medina, and possesses a deep cultural history rooted in the Arabian Peninsula’s ancient trade routes and tribal traditions.

Hajj season

The Hajj season is the annual Islamic pilgrimage to the holy city of Makkah (Mecca). It is a centuries-old religious obligation for Muslims, tracing its origins to the Prophet Abraham (Ibrahim).
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Medina

The Medina is the historic old city center found in many North African towns, most famously in Fez, Marrakech, and Tunis. These ancient walled quarters, often dating back to the medieval period, are characterized by a dense maze of narrow alleyways, bustling souks (markets), mosques, and traditional houses. They serve as vibrant living monuments to Islamic urban design and social history, with many, like the Medina of Fez, recognized as UNESCO World Heritage Sites for their preserved architectural and cultural heritage.

Prophet Muhammad’s migration (Hijrah)

The Hijrah refers to the pivotal migration of the Prophet Muhammad and his early followers from Mecca to the city of Yathrib (later renamed Medina) in 622 CE. This event, driven by persecution, marked the beginning of the first Muslim community and the Islamic calendar. It established Medina as the base from which Islam grew into a major religious and political force.

Prophet Muhammad’s burial place

Prophet Muhammad’s burial place is located within the **Masjid al-Nabawi (the Prophet’s Mosque)** in Medina, Saudi Arabia. He was buried in his house adjacent to the mosque after his death in 632 CE, and the site was later incorporated into the expanded mosque. It is one of the most sacred sites in Islam, visited by millions of pilgrims annually.

Mecca

Mecca is the holiest city in Islam, located in present-day Saudi Arabia. It is the birthplace of the Prophet Muhammad and the site of the Kaaba, the most sacred shrine in Islam, which Muslims believe was built by Abraham and his son Ishmael. Every year, millions of Muslims perform the Hajj pilgrimage to Mecca, a mandatory religious duty that traces its origins back to the 7th century.

Prophet Abraham (Ibrahim)

Prophet Abraham (Ibrahim) is a central, unifying figure in the three major Abrahamic faiths—Judaism, Christianity, and Islam—revered as a patriarch and a model of unwavering monotheism. According to tradition, his story, spanning from Mesopotamia to Canaan and Egypt, involves a covenant with God and tests of faith that are foundational to these religions’ scriptures. While not a physical site, his spiritual legacy is profoundly embodied in locations like the city of Hebron, home to the Cave of the Patriarchs, and Mecca, the focal point of Islamic pilgrimage rites linked to Abraham and his son Ishmael.

Najd

Najd is the vast central plateau region of Saudi Arabia, historically known as the birthplace of the modern Saudi state and the conservative Islamic revivalist movement known as Wahhabism. Its capital, Riyadh, grew from a small desert oasis into a major global city after being established as the capital of the unified Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in the 1930s. For centuries, Najd’s isolated geography fostered a distinct tribal culture and it served as the political and religious heartland from which the Al Saud dynasty expanded its rule.

Hejaz

The Hejaz is a region in western Saudi Arabia, historically renowned as the cradle of Islam, containing the holy cities of Mecca and Medina. For centuries, it was a vital trade and pilgrimage route, controlled by various local powers before becoming the heartland of the early Islamic caliphates. In the 20th century, it was unified with the Nejd region by the Al Saud dynasty to form the modern Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

Al-Ahsa

Al-Ahsa is a vast desert oasis in eastern Saudi Arabia and a UNESCO World Heritage site, recognized as one of the world’s largest and most historic oases. Its history dates back over 5,000 years, with evidence of continuous human settlement due to its abundant groundwater and strategic location on ancient trade routes. Today, it is celebrated for its millions of date palms, traditional springs, historic forts, and as a cultural hub reflecting the rich heritage of the region.