Dammam, Saudi Arabia — May 2025

In a landmark development for road safety in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the Eastern Province Municipality has achieved the nation’s first urban iRAP Star Rating Certification, marking a regional milestone in the application of international road safety standards.

Conducted as part of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia Road Assessment Programme (KSARAP)—a strategic national initiative under Vision 2030—the project utilized the International Road Assessment Programme (iRAP) methodology to assess approximately 700 kilometres of high-speed urban roadways within the Dammam Metropolitan Area.

Executed by Euro Group for Engineering Consultancy and overseen by the Eastern Province Municipality, the project resulted in 85% of the assessed network achieving a 3-Star or better rating for vehicle occupants. This outcome represents a significant benchmark in urban road safety, not only within Saudi Arabia but across the Gulf region.

As a flagship initiative within Saudi Arabia’s National Transport and Logistics Strategy, this urban road safety assessment reinforces the Kingdom’s commitment to developing safer, smarter, and more sustainable transportation systems.

To commemorate the achievement, a high-level road safety workshop was convened on May 25, bringing together leading experts from across the region and internationally. Among the distinguished attendees were:

• Samar Abouraad, Global Safer Journeys Specialist, iRAP
• Marko Ševrović, Director, European Institute of Road Assessments (EIRA)
• Mohamed Hoseny, Road Safety Expert
• Senior engineers and policy makers from Saudi Arabia’s road safety ecosystem

The workshop featured technical presentations and policy discussions focusing on:

• The application and outcomes of the iRAP methodology in Dammam;
• The use of Artificial Intelligence in road safety data and decision-making;
• The integration of Star Rating for Designs (SR4D) to ensure safety is embedded at the planning stage of future infrastructure projects.

During the ceremony, H.E. Eng. Mazen Adel Bakhurji, Deputy Mayor for Projects and Constructions, received the official iRAP certificate and commemorative award on behalf of the Eastern Province Municipality—recognizing its pioneering role as the first municipality in Saudi Arabia to implement the iRAP methodology in an urban context.

“This certification reflects our strategic commitment to traffic safety,” said Eng. Bakhurji. “Through integrated efforts and international collaboration, we are determined to reduce fatalities and elevate the safety of all road users.”

The successful implementation of this initiative highlights the value of structured collaboration between municipal authorities, global road safety organizations, and technical consultants. It also sets a replicable precedent for other Saudi cities aspiring to align with global road safety benchmarks.

This milestone reinforces the Kingdom’s leadership in transport safety reform and offers a powerful model for leveraging evidence-based assessment tools to save lives and prevent serious injuries on urban roads.

Read more on the pilot project here irap.org/2024/12/dammam-launches-saudi-arabias-first-irap-pilot-project/