Driving Saudi Arabia's Highway 10, one of the world's longest straight roads
Located in Saudi Arabia's Eastern Province, Highway 10 features a 255 km (158 miles) straight section through the desert. While it was long ago the world's longest straight road, it has recently been surpassed by Saudi Arabia's Highway 85, which features a longer straight stretch between Arar and Al Jauf. It is one of the longest straight roads in the world,
| Road facts: Highway 10 | |
|---|---|
| Location | Eastern Province, Saudi Arabia |
| Straight Section | 255 km (158 miles) |
| Termini | Haradh to Al Batha (UAE border) |
| Speed Limit | 120 km/h (Cars) / 80 km/h (Trucks) |
| Surface | Fully paved 2x2 lane highway |
How long is Highway 10 in Saudi Arabia?
The straight section is part of the main 1,475-kilometer-long Highway 10, running west-to-east from Haradh—a city known for oil and natural gas—to Al Batha near the UAE border. This stretch cuts through the Rub' al Khali desert with no bends left or right, and no noticeable gradients up or down. It is a flat, paved 2x2 lane highway crossing miles of empty sand without a single settlement or terrain change to break the line.
Why was Highway 10 in Saudi Arabia built?
This road was originally constructed for the private use of King Fahd and was later opened to public traffic. Today, it serves as a commercial link for transporting industrial goods across the desert from the central and western regions of Saudi Arabia directly to the UAE border.
How long does it take to drive the straight section of Highway 10?
Driving the entire straight stretch at the maximum legal speed limit of 120 km/h (75 mph) takes 2 hours and 15 minutes. For truck drivers, the speed limit is restricted to 80 km/h (50 mph), extending the journey to more than 3 hours. The absolute monotony of the road makes maintaining concentration the biggest challenge, as there are no steering inputs or landscape changes for hours.
What are the hazards on this straight desert highway?
The intense summer heat can cause engines to overheat, but the main danger for car drivers is extreme drowsiness and highway hypnosis. To prevent drivers from drifting off the road, crews have installed reflective cat's-eye markers along the lanes and built several asphalt rest areas. Additionally, high winds frequently blow loose sand from the surrounding dunes onto the road surface, creating sudden patches of low traction.
Pic: https://www.saudi-expatriates.com/2018/04/worlds-longest-straight-road-is-now-in-saudiarabia.html