Qatar boasts its blue-colored roads in a street near Souq Waqif and a stretch near Katara Cultural Village. An experimental project to blue coat the roads to create cooler pavements has been developed.
The coating features a heat-reflecting pigment and ceramic microspheres, aiming to reduce road surface temperatures and combat the urban heat island effect. In addition, the roads are made of a special material that reflects the sun’s rays and lowers the surface temperature by 15 – 20 degrees Celsius.
The blue roads are a part of the country’s efforts to cope with the rising temperature caused by climate change. Qatar is among the hottest countries in the world, with an average summer temperature reaching 42 degrees Celsius.
In addition to enhancing the aesthetic appeal, the roads also have a cooling effect on surrounding areas.
