Saudi Arabia: A high income country with a population of 34.8 million, Saudi Arabia is the largest country by size in the Eastern Mediterranean region. It is the lowest performing country in the region with 28.8 road deaths per 100,000 inhabitants. The regional average is 18 road deaths per 100,000 inhabitants (2018, WHO). In 2016, Saudi Arabia was found to have higher number of deaths from road traffic crashes among high income countries (accident to death ratio is 32:1 versus 283:1 in United States), and road crashes is the country’s main cause of death for 16-30-year-old males. Road traffic deaths have more than doubled in the past 10 years and the incidence rate is predicted to continue increasing.
On 5 December 2021, the Special Envoy met with Mr. Amer Bukvic, Acting Chief Product and Partnerships Officer (Vice-President) for the Islamic Development Bank (IsDB) in Jeddah to encourage IsDB to support member countries in implementing road safety measures; and explore collaboration or donor engagement with the UNRSF.