The road linking Oman and Saudi Arabia will be completed by the end of 2018, said the Saudi ambassador in Oman, according to a report from the Times of Oman.

The 680 km road had 130 million cu m of sand removed to successfully complete the road work, due to it running through the Empty Quarter.

Eid Al Thaqafi, the Saudi ambassador, said: “It’s about to be completed. There were some delays in road works. From the Omani side, the road work has been completed as the distance is shorter compared to the Saudi Arabian side.”

He continued: “For the Saudi side, the road passes through a very tough geographical area, which is the Empty Quarter. According to the Saudi Transport Ministry, the road will be opened to the public soon.”

Currently the only road from Oman to Saudi Arabia is through the UAE and is 1,638 km long and takes about 16 to 18 hours, but the new route is expected to decrease the distance by more than 800 km.

According to the report, the existing 52 km one-way road from Hafeet to Wadi Saa in Oman will be transformed into a dual carriageway. The road begins from the area of Tanam in Ibri and continues through the oilfields until it reaches the Empty Quarter, where the Oman-Saudi border is located.