Saudi Arabia has awarded 41 new road contracts, valued at SAR2.96bn ($789m), as part of the present national budget.

The contracts, signed by the country’s Transport Minister Jabara Al-Seraisry, include multiple projects worth more than SAR213m ($56.8m) in the Makkah province, which cover the first phase of Jeddah’s second ring road, as well as Jabal Sharqi and Jabal Thudair roads in Muzdalifah.

Of the total SAR268m ($71.4m) allocated for the Madinah province, SAR140m ($37.3m) has been set aside to build the Madinah-Al-Ula Expressway, the Saudi Press Agency reported.

Riyadh, the Saudi capital, has been allocated funds of SAR282m ($75.1m) for construction works on the Dharma-Shaqra-Dawadmi-Afeef road, as well as a stretch connecting the Riyadh-Dammam Expressway.

Al-Seraisry has inked five deals worth SAR348.5m ($93m) for the Asir province, including the Fursha-Rabua-Jalaba-Dhahran Al-Janoub stretch.

The Madinah-Tabuk Expressway is part of SAR294m ($78.3m) worth of road projects in the Tabuk province.

The Transport Minister has signed four projects worth SAR112m ($30m) for the Eastern province and two contracts, valued at SAR441m ($117.5m), for the Qassim province, which include developing part of the Jubail-Qassim Expressway.

The Hail-Madinah Road at SAR259m ($69m) and the Abu Hadariya-Hafr Al-Baten-Rafha Road for SAR140m ($37.3m) also both feature amongst the 41 new contracts.

Further contracts awarded by the ministry include the SAR139m ($37m) Shuqaiq-Tiwal Expressway, a SAR199m ($53m) Rain-Bisha Road that will connect Baha with Riyadh Road, as well as a SAR104m ($28m) project that would connect the intersection of King Abdullah Road with Qaeth Road in Al-Jouf.