To what extent is it permissible for residents of Madinah and workers in Yanbu Industrial City to combine the Dhuhr and Asr prayers in advance (jam' taqdim) if they do not travel until a few minutes before Asr and the Asr prayer is readily available on the way?

The distance between Medina and Yanbu is a travel distance. Therefore, it is permissible for anyone among them who does not intend to reside in Yanbu for a period that would negate the ruling of travel to combine 'Asr with Dhuhr as jama' taqdim (combining and bringing forward) in Yanbu before returning to Medina, even if he travels a few minutes before 'Asr. This is because he is a traveler, and he is not required to wait for the time of 'Asr to begin, nor to perform 'Asr on the way after its time has commenced.