Ministry of Transport and Logistics Services honoured at Middle East Technology Excellence Awards 2025

Its initiatives enhanced road safety, addressed overloaded vehicles, and enabled prescriptive maintenance.

Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Transport and Logistics Services (MoTLS) landed three wins at the prestigious Middle East Technology Excellence Awards 2025 for its Smart Surveying System Model, which has modernised road maintenance and safety; Weight-in-Motion (WiM) system that tackles overloaded freight vehicles; and SRP+ system, which addresses the growing demands of modern, safe and integrated transportation networks. These initiatives were implemented in close collaboration with the Road General Authority (RGA), reinforcing cross-entity coordination to elevate national road infrastructure standards.

These awards reflect the Ministry’s digital transformation commitment and leveraging advanced and emerging technologies to enhance road safety, increase travellers’ satisfaction, optimise logistics efficiency, and deliver sustainable infrastructure in line with Saudi Vision 2030, whilst positioning the Ministry as a sector leader and a regional benchmark for innovation-driven transportation and logistics transformation.

The Smart Surveying System Model, which has won the Emerging Technology - Transportation category, is an initiative aimed at transforming the national approach to road infrastructure maintenance and safety management. It uses artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning to analyse historical and real-time data collected via drones, smart sensors, smart cameras, and advanced pavement survey vehicles.

Over 4.8 million road segment records feed the system to predict surface deterioration, structural fatigue, and safety-critical risks.

The model is powered by a custom-built algorithm that assesses pavement condition rating (PCR), international roughness index, rutting, cracking, and texture, delivering a precise forecast of when, where, and how roads should be maintained. It marks a strategic shift from curative to preventive maintenance, significantly improving road network reliability and extending asset life.
Since its implementation, there have been 41% fewer accidents, 34% fewer public maintenance complaints, reduced emergency repairs and costs, as well as more accurate, data-driven budgeting.

Meanwhile, MoTLS’s WiM system, which brought the ministry the accolade in the IoT - Logistics category, is a transformative digital enforcement solution designed to enhance road safety, preserve infrastructure, and modernise freight regulation across the Kingdom. The system was developed and deployed in collaboration with the Road General Authority (RGA), ensuring alignment with national road governance frameworks and enforcement standards.

Unlike traditional weigh stations, the WiM system is contactless, real-time, and entirely automated. It employs a blend of LiDAR, Doppler radar, high-speed cameras, and AI-based analytics to assess the weight, dimensions, and compliance of freight vehicles as they travel on the road, without stopping or interrupting the flow of traffic.

In its launch phase, 26 smart inspection stations have scanned over 17 million vehicles, achieving over 95% accuracy in identifying weight violations. This proactive system has reduced overload-related road damage complaints by 20% and has contributed to a 60% drop in violations through automated alerts, driver education, and targeted enforcement.

These improvements have been realised without additional enforcement burdens or delays for freight operators, contributing instead to higher trust and system transparency.

Finally, the SRP+ system represents a transformative leap in asset management, leveraging emerging technologies to address the growing demands of modern and safe transportation networks. The system was advanced through coordinated efforts between MoTLS and the Road General Authority (RGA), integrating policy, regulatory oversight, and operational execution into a unified preservation strategy.

At its core, the system integrates big data analytics, IoT sensor networks, and AI-powered diagnostics to create a closed-loop preservation ecosystem. It processes vast, high-velocity datasets, ranging from historical PCR to real-time WiM scans and user feedback, enabling predictive modelling and prescriptive maintenance.

Through SRP+, fatalities drop to 12.13 per 100,000, with 79% of roads reaching greater than or equal to 3-star safety ratings. At the same time, 80% of road users have reported satisfaction, exceeding the target mainly due to improved road quality and reduced accidents.

By shifting from reactive fixes to proactive interventions, SRP+ has redefined operational benchmarks, delivering measurable improvements in safety, efficiency, and sustainability. This transformational system has earned the ministry the title in the Big Data - Transportation category.

Middle East Technology Excellence Awards honours the remarkable achievements of both homegrown and international firms in shaping the Middle East’s evolving technological landscape, acknowledging their innovations, strategic growth, and contributions to economic and community development.

The Middle East Technology Excellence Awards is presented by Asian Business Review Magazine. To view the full list of winners, click here. If you want to join the 2026 awards programme and be acclaimed for your company's outstanding contributions in pursuit of technological innovation, please contact Danica Avila at [email protected].