• Primary Program Transportation and Infrastructures
  • Research Interests Transport Demand Modeling, Choice Modeling, Transport Economics and Energy Demand Modeling

Biography

Abdulrahman is a research associate at King Abdullah Petroleum Studies and Research Center (KAPSARC). Before joining KAPSARC, Abdulrahman was a lecturer at the College of Engineering at Muhammed Ibn Saud University. He also worked as a traffic engineer at the Riyadh Metro project. His interests lie in transport demand, choice modeling, transport economics, and energy demand modeling. Abdulrahman holds a master’s degree in transportation planning and engineering and a B.S. degree in civil engineering.

Publications

See all Abdulrahman’s publications
  • Discussion papers
  • Data Insights
  • Commentaries
Fuel Efficiency in Saudi Arabia’s Aviation Sector: Progress and Future Implications

Fuel Efficiency in Saudi Arabia’s Aviation Sector: Progress and Future Implications

Despite the fast global expansion of the aviation industry, due to its sustainability issues, the industry’s concerns about energy efficiency and emissions are still very important. Studying the changing energy consumption patterns in Saudi Arabia is crucial, as the country is expected to see significant changes in the coming years with new infrastructure, an increase in tourism, and new airlines.

25th July 2023
Estimating Regional Variation in Saudi Arabia’s Energy Usage and Carbon Emissions

Estimating Regional Variation in Saudi Arabia’s Energy Usage and Carbon Emissions

Estimates of regional energy consumption and carbon emissions could be useful for agencies investigating the effects of regionally targeted investments and policy interventions. Using gasoline consumption in Saudi Arabia as a case study, we develop two approaches for estimating the regional variation in gasoline consumption in Saudi Arabia: a sector-specific approach and a generic econometrics-based approach. Our findings reveal that Riyadh and Makkah, which account for 60% of the nation’s population and economic activity, consume 58% of the country’s gasoline.

18th June 2023
Current and Future Trends in Saudi Arabia’s Container Throughput

Current and Future Trends in Saudi Arabia’s Container Throughput

The maritime sector is a key pillar for the diversification of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s economy, and it has been prioritised by the Saudi government due to its strategic importance. Saudi Vision 2030 has set a target for making KSA a global logistics hub. Correspondingly, the Kingdom has been investing heavily in its seaports to modernize their infrastructure and increase their capacity. For instance, several projects are now underway to boost the maritime transport sector, costing around 6 billion Saudi Arabian riyals (SAR) (USD $1.6 billion).

25th May 2022
Post-Covid Recovery of Air Traffic in Saudi Arabia

Post-Covid Recovery of Air Traffic in Saudi Arabia

The dramatic drop in air traffic caused by the COVID-19 pandemic and the related travel restrictions has significantly impacted the aviation industry in Saudi Arabia and around the world. The sector has suffered considerable losses due to the reduction in passenger traffic.

25th May 2022
Aviation Fuel Consumed and Passengers Carried in Saudi Arabia

Aviation Fuel Consumed and Passengers Carried in Saudi Arabia

The air transport sector in Saudi Arabia has an important impact on the economy (e.g., job creation, gross domestic product, and gross value added). Over 690 routes are registered in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia for both domestic and international travel. There are currently 141 domestic routes. This data insight presents the fuel consumed and total passengers carried by the aviation sector over the past 10 years.

7th December 2021
Impact of COVID-19 on Passenger Railway Demand in Saudi Arabia

Impact of COVID-19 on Passenger Railway Demand in Saudi Arabia

The Saudi Railways Organization (SRO) operates a network of approximately 1,400 kilometers (km). This network links the Eastern Province with Riyadh, where more than 40% of the country’s population and economic activities are located. A passenger line connects Riyadh with Dammam through Alhassa and Abqaiq.

6th April 2021
The Implementation of the Carbon Offsetting and Reduction Scheme for International Aviation and Its Challenges for Aviation

The Implementation of the Carbon Offsetting and Reduction Scheme for International Aviation and Its Challenges for Aviation

The aviation sector is a fast-growing industry that contributes significantly to greenhouse gas emissions and climate change. To address this issue, the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) set aspirational emissions goals and introduced the Carbon Offsetting and Reduction Scheme for International Aviation (CORSIA). CORSIA aims to cap carbon emissions from international flights by 2020 through the use of sustainable aviation fuels (SAFs) and other measures. The eligibility criteria for SAFs include a 10% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions compared to fossil fuels and compliance with sustainability criteria. However, challenges remain, such as the limited production capacity and higher cost of SAFs. CORSIA’s implementation is voluntary for participating states in the first phase but will become mandatory in the second phase. Increasing participation, ensuring the integrity of offset credits, and addressing technological and documentation challenges are essential for the successful implementation of CORSIA and the decarbonization of the aviation sector.

14th September 2023
Future Fuel Demand From the Saudi Shipping Sector: A Business-as-Usual Estimation

Future Fuel Demand From the Saudi Shipping Sector: A Business-as-Usual Estimation

The purpose of this commentary is to suggest a rough estimation of future exports and corresponding fuel consumption of the Saudi shipping sector up to 2040. For estimation purposes, we use two assumptions: A global average energy intensity of 0.078 megajoules per tonne-kilometers (MJ/tonne-km). An average export distance of 5,441 nautical miles (nm) between Saudi Arabia and export trading partner countries.

21st August 2023
Will King Salman International Airport Be One of the Largest Airports in the World?

Will King Salman International Airport Be One of the Largest Airports in the World?

King Salman International Airport (KSIA), with a projected capacity of up to 185 million passengers and 3.5 million tonnes of freight by 2050, is crucial for Saudi Vision 2030. Developing tourism and industrial areas will be vital for its success. In April 2016, Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman launched Saudi Vision 2030, which is a comprehensive strategy for the economic and social development of Saudi Arabia. Its objectives include diversifying the Saudi economy, boosting tourism, increasing trade, generating new jobs and economic opportunities, and reducing the country’s dependence on oil exports.

15th June 2023
Key Improvements in the Saudi Aviation Sector: Exploring the Performance of the Passenger Load Factor

Key Improvements in the Saudi Aviation Sector: Exploring the Performance of the Passenger Load Factor

Aviation is a significant contributor to the global economy, given that it, directly and indirectly, contributes to jobs, tourism, trade, and countries’ gross domestic product (GDP). However, environmental issues, technological advances, consumer behavior, energy consumption, the volume of passenger and cargo air traffic, and the liberalization of markets have challenged this sector’s ability to continue as a catalyst for future economic development.

5th March 2023

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