Muscat: One thing that is always highly praised, and of which citizens and residents should be proud, is the roads of the Sultanate of Oman. This sentiment is especially echoed by first-time visitors to the country, who often rank Oman's roads above those in some so-called developed economies.
According to the World Population Review by WEF for 2024, Oman's roads are ranked eighth globally and second in the Arab World in the Road Quality Index. This ranking is also reflected in travel advisories issued by some countries to their nationals visiting Oman, stating, "Roads in Oman are good, but exercise caution as rainfall can cause significant flooding during the rainy season."
Road quality is a crucial aspect of a country's infrastructure, and some countries have better road quality than others. To determine the country with the best roads, a Roads Quality Index (QRI) score has been awarded to many countries. The QRI rating was determined after a survey involving business leaders from 144 countries and their opinions on roadways worldwide. As of June 2024, Singapore topped the list with a QRI score of 6.45, followed by Switzerland (6.36), Netherlands (6.18), Hong Kong (6.06), Portugal (6.05), Japan (6.02), France and Oman (5.96), United Arab Emirates (5.92), and Austria (5.89).
Another important statistic to consider when evaluating a country's road quality is the mean speed score, based on travel times between major cities. According to the latest data (International Monetary Fund, 2022), the United States leads the list with a score of 107. Canada, Saudi Arabia, and Portugal are currently tied for second place with scores of 106. France follows with a 105 rating, Spain with 103, Oman with 102, and South Africa with 100, rounding out the countries with mean speed scores of 100 or higher.
The importance of the road network in Oman's challenging terrain is evident in the General Budget 2025, which allocated RO 900 million for development projects under 'development expenditure' and programmes approved within the budgets of civil ministries and government units. Of this amount, 36 per cent has been allocated to the infrastructure sector, including major road projects to be implemented and completed this year, such as the Khasab-Dibba-Lima Road, Al Sharqiyah Expressway, Adam-Thamrait Road, and the Ansab-Jafnain dualisation project.
The expansion of the Muscat Expressway will commence this year, involving the construction of three additional lanes in both directions, bringing the total number of lanes to 12, with 6 lanes in each direction, making it the widest road in the Sultanate of Oman.
Oman Observer is now on the WhatsApp channel. Click here
