A number of passengers traveling on highways such as Jeddah-Makkah and Jeddah-Madinah have expressed their displeasure over the services provided at rest stops and furnished apartments located on the highways, including the lack of hygiene and the poor services offered.

Speaking to Arab News, they demanded that the authorities concerned should check the level of cleanliness and the quality of services offered at such places.

Such facilities located on highways are vital, they said, because thousands of passengers use them, especially during these days with the end of summer vacation and the beginning of the new academic year.

The highways are experiencing strong traffic and also due to the various roads linking the Kingdom’s different regions.

The extensive passenger movement has revived the business of rest stops and furnished apartments, restaurants and shops.

Investors in the sector said the summer vacation, Ramadan and the Eid Al-Fitr, following increased sales and revenues, had revived the business of rest stops and furnished apartments, as also of the restaurants and shops located alongside the highways.

Mohammad Faqieh, owner of a rest house on Jeddah-Makkah highway, said the prices vary according to the time period clients spend at his rest house, and the number of rooms they occupy.

“Rent of a room for an hour ranges between SR20 and SR40, according to the location of the residential compound and the level of hygiene there,” he explained, adding: “But the price increases to SR100-SR250 if hired for a whole day.”