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Saudi Arabia has painted some of its roads blue and white to cool asphalt surfaces, Saudi Gazette reports. “The experiment has already been completed in the Holy Sites of Mina, Arafat and Muzdalifah and the results were stimulating, and this project will be expanded to include all regions across the Kingdom in the future,” Transport and Logistics for Road Affairs Deputy Minister Badr Al-Dalami said. The experiment was announced at the launch of the Saudi Road Code in Riyadh.
Qatar has tried something similar: Qatar’s Public Works Authority (Ashghal) implemented a pilot project in 2019 where it used a material on asphalt that reflects solar radiation. The project involved applying a cryogenic material on 200 meters of asphalt on Abdullah bin Jassim Street near Souq Waqif. Traditional asphalt absorbs some 80% to 95% of UV rays, while “cooling pavement” reflects these rays, according to Ashgal. The material also reduces vehicle tire friction, can extend road life, and improves air quality by lowering air temperatures in residential areas.
