Saudi Arabia's General Authority for Roads has installed laser lighting and over 1,100 solar-powered ground markers along the Hijrah Road connecting Makkah and Madinah for Hajj 2026 - an initiative designed to combat driver fatigue on one of the world's busiest pilgrimage routes. The project, called "Durbak Noor" (Your Road is Light), is being reported for the first time in English here, translated from Arabic sources.

What Has Been Installed

The system comprises two technologies working together:

  • 16 laser devices that project multi-coloured overhead light patterns with a range of up to 2 kilometres each, creating a visually stimulating driving environment
  • 1,110 solar-powered ground markers (cat's eye reflectors) embedded directly into the road surface, providing continuous lane guidance without requiring mains electricity

The combination creates a lighting corridor along the highway that is visible even on the darkest stretches, where conventional street lighting may be sparse or absent.

Why It Matters for Pilgrims

The Hijrah Road between Makkah and Madinah is one of the most heavily trafficked routes during Hajj season. Tens of thousands of buses, taxis, and private vehicles make the journey daily, often with exhausted drivers operating after long shifts or overnight schedules.

Driver fatigue is a significant safety concern. According to the Roads Authority, the lighting system is designed to "stimulate driver alertness and reduce visual strain and instances of drowsiness and distraction" - particularly on the long, straight desert stretches where monotony contributes to microsleep incidents.

For pilgrims, this translates directly to safer bus journeys between the two holy cities. Many pilgrims travel this route late at night or in the early hours of the morning, when fatigue-related accidents are most common.

Solar-Powered and Sustainable

The ground markers are entirely solar-powered, requiring no connection to the electricity grid. This makes them sustainable and low-maintenance - important qualities for infrastructure in the desert environment between the two cities. The cat's eye reflectors charge during the day and provide visible guidance throughout the night.

Part of a Broader Vision

The initiative supports Saudi Vision 2030's goal of accommodating 30 million pilgrims annually by improving road infrastructure quality. According to Al Mowaten newspaper, authorities plan to expand the lighting system to other pilgrimage routes if initial results on the Hijrah Road meet their objectives.

Saudi Arabia has already deployed the "world's largest fleet of advanced road surveying equipment" this Hajj season, using high-resolution cameras and laser sensors to detect road defects down to 0.05 millimetres. Combined with the Durbak Noor lighting initiative, the Kingdom is investing heavily in making road travel between holy sites both safer and more comfortable for the millions of pilgrims who depend on it.