It connects the Dammam metropolitan area to the industrial area of Ra's al-Khair, running in the north-south direction for its entire length from Khobar in the south to Ra's al-Khair north of Jubail, while providing access to Saihat, Qatif and Jubail along its length.

The expressway begins at the roundabout where it intersects Highway 617 near al-'Aziziyah Municipality on the northern tip of the Half Moon Bay.

It then bends around the eastern boundary of the King Abdulaziz Air Base, before constricting into a tunnel at the intersection with the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Road.

Ali Naimi Road, which provides access to the King Abdulaziz Center for World Culture.

It is controlled-access with features of some of the more advanced highways of Saudi Arabia such as grade-separated ramps and cloverleaf interchanges.