In a Warming World, Mecca Cools Down: Saudi Arabia Expands ‘White Road’ Project

As temperatures soar, heat-reflective roads and soft walkways offer critical relief for millions during the Hajj.

Overview

Eng. Saleh Al-Jasser, Saudi Arabia’s Minister of Transport and Logistics Services and Chairman of the Roads General Authority, has launched a cooled pedestrian walkway project in Mecca that also enhances accessibility for people with disabilities.

Cooled Roads Initiative Grows by 82 %

• 84,000 m² of roads in Arafat now paved with locally recycled, heat-reflective materials.
• Surface temperatures lowered by ≈ 12 °C.
• Morning sunlight reflectance improved by 30–40 %, cutting urban-heat-island effects, energy use, and air pollution.

Flexible Rubber Walkways Up 33 %

Rubberised asphalt—ideal for older pilgrims—now covers 16,000 m². The newest stretch runs from Namira Mosque to Arafat Train Station. Road Research Centre studies confirm greater comfort and safety.

Green Corridor & Cooling Amenities

• Trees planted along 1,200 m of the route.
• Air-cooling mist systems and water fountains installed in partnership with the Abdulrahman Fakieh Charitable Foundation.

New 4 km Accessible Path to Mount Arafat

A dedicated, 4,000-metre cooled pathway minimises vibrations to aid mobility-impaired pilgrims and their companions.

Saudi Road Network Targets for 2030

• Achieve 6^th place globally for road quality.
• Reduce road fatalities to < 5 per 100,000 people.
• Maintain the world-leading inter-city network of 73,000 km+.