The car is thought to have crashed into an electric pole. The bodies of the couple were left charred beyond recognition, said a police source.

Meanwhile, a driver and a woman passenger were killed near the Maskhouta Tunnel on the Ring Road in Makkah.

According to police, the car hit a wall at the entrance of the tunnel and overturned when the driver swerved to avoid a dog that had crossed on to the carriageway.

The traffic authorities in the Kingdom have implemented an automatic-ticketing system known as Saher in order to cut down on road accidents which are mainly attributed to speeding. Officials say there has been a noticeable decline in the number of speeders after the system was introduced.