Saudi Arabia sets a limit of up to 140 km/h for small cars on signed sections of some expressways and 120 km/h on main roads. Speed is monitored by Saher, the automated traffic system that Saudipedia describes as covering all regions of the Kingdom. City limits are set road by road, so the sign in front of you is the number that counts.
| Road type | Cars |
|---|---|
| Signed expressway sections | Up to 140 km/h |
| Main roads, in and between cities | 120 km/h |
| Other city roads | As signed, some at 80 or 90 km/h |
What are the speed limits in Saudi Arabia?
The usual maximum is 120 km/h, with 140 km/h on signed expressway sections. Khaleej Times, citing the Saudi Press Agency, reported that the higher limits took effect on 19 February 2018: 140 km/h for small vehicles, 100 km/h for buses and 80 km/h for trucks.
Gulf News named four highways, in both directions: Riyadh to Taif, Riyadh to Qassim, Makkah to Madinah and Madinah to Jeddah. It said the higher limit applies only on certain sections, and at that point not on Jeddah to Makkah, Madinah to Qassim or Riyadh to Dammam. Okaz later reported that Riyadh to Dammam joined the list in March 2018 and Madinah to Qassim in October 2018. Saudipedia confirms that signposts mark where each limit starts and ends.
Inside cities there is no single number. Arab News reported in November 2017 that some roads, including roads in Riyadh, rose from 70 km/h to 80 or 90 km/h, while main roads within and between cities stayed at 120 km/h. We found no published national table of urban limits, so follow the signs.
What kinds of speed cameras does Saudi Arabia use?
Saudi Arabia uses Saher, an automated network of cameras and radars. Arab News reported in February 2025 that the system was developed in 2009 and launched the following year by the Ministry of Interior. It records offences such as speeding, not wearing a seat belt and texting while driving, then looks up the vehicle owner and notifies the driver by SMS.
Saudipedia says the cameras connect to the National Information Center. A study reported by Arab News in May 2017 found that deaths from traffic accidents fell by 37.8 percent after Saher arrived, which is the road safety case for the system. We found no current official camera count, and no official statement on average-speed enforcement that we could verify.
Are speed camera apps legal in Saudi Arabia?
We found no clear published rule on apps. In July 2010 the director of traffic in Riyadh said that anyone found using radar-detection devices would face strict punitive action, according to Arab News. That statement concerned hardware detectors, did not mention phone apps, and we could not find the article of the Traffic Law behind it. Checked on 30 October 2026; check locally before you rely on an app.
What should visiting drivers know?
- Speeds are in km/h, and speeding is an offence wherever the limit is posted.
- Limits change by section. A road signed at 140 km/h can drop to 120 km/h, so read each new sign rather than holding the last number in your head.
- Vehicle class matters. The limit for buses and trucks is well below the limit for cars.
- Leave the phone alone. Texting while driving is one of the offences Saher records.
Rules change at each border. If your trip continues into the region, read our guides to Bahrain, Kuwait and Qatar.
