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Introduction
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Saudi Arabia has a network of roads and highways. |
For thousands of years, merchants, pilgrims and Bedouins have been traveling the ancient trade and caravan routes of the Arabian Peninsula. Traversing the length and breadth of this huge landmass, however, entailed great expenditure of time and risks to life and property. Passage through the vast deserts was possible only during the cooler hours of the day and less harsh seasons of the year. But the times when crossing the peninsula demanded a month or more of arduous travel have now faded into history. Today, thanks to a modern network of intercity roads, towns at far ends of the Kingdom are only hours apart. In addition, all parts of the country are now linked by highly advanced telecommunication and postal systems integrated with global networks.
The swift movement of both people and freight has been particularly vital to modernize such a large and sparsely-populated country. During the course of the first four Development Plans, 1970-89, special emphasis was placed on the overall improvement of the Kingdom's transportation infrastructure. Saudi Arabia now possesses one of the finest national transportation networks and most sophisticated communication systems in the world. The great distances between cities and the rugged terrain of much of the country make these achievements all the more remarkable. Transport and communication links have helped Saudi Arabia bring prosperity to its remotest regions.
With far-reaching vision, Saudi Arabian leaders starting with King Abdul Aziz Bin Abdul Rahman Al-Saud, the founder of modern Saudi Arabia, have understood the critical importance of roads, railroads, air travel and telecommunications for building a modern nation. A testament to the progressive approach of the nation's leadership, the infrastructure they established continues to reinforce national unity, while providing a base for future economic and national development .
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