Article 1 of the Saudi Security Guard Law
المادة 1 من نظام الحراسة الأمنية المدنية الخاصة
The article defines the key terms of the Law: private civil security guard service, a private civil security guard company or establishment, the security guard, and the Regulations.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
يقصد بالألفاظ والعبارات الآتية – أينما وردت في هذا النظام – المعاني المبينة أمامها، ما لم يقتض السياق خلاف ذلك:
الحراسة الأمنية المدنية الخاصة :
الخدمة الأمنية البشرية التي تقدمها المؤسسات والشركات المرخص لها لمن يطلبها مقابل أجر، أو التي يتم الحصول عليها من خلال التعاقد المباشر مع حراس أمنيين مدنيين مرخص لهم.
مؤسسة أو شركة الحراسة الأمنية المدنية الخاصة :
المؤسسة الفردية المملوكة بالكامل لسعودي، أو الشركة المملوكة بالكامل لسعوديين، التي تقوم – بموجب ترخيص خاص – بتجهيز وتأمين الحراسة الأمنية المدنية الخاصة لمن يطلبها مقابل أجر.
الحارس الأمني :
الشخص المكلف بمزاولة حراسة المنشآت للحفاظ على أمن وسلامة منسوبيها وأموالها وممتلكاتها ووقايتها من السرقة والاعتداء.
اللائحة:
اللائحة التنفيذية لهذا النظام.
This is the official Arabic wording, the only legally binding version. We do not translate the law itself; the explanation below is ours. Official source: Bureau of Experts at the Council of Ministers
Article 1 explained in plain English
This is the definitions article, and it is the key to understanding the rest of the Law. It fixes the meaning of four terms wherever they appear, unless the context requires otherwise:
- Private civil security guard service: a human security service provided in one of two ways: either through licensed establishments and companies that provide it to anyone who requests it for a fee, or through direct contracting with licensed civilian security guards.
- Private civil security guard company or establishment: a sole proprietorship wholly owned by a Saudi, or a company wholly owned by Saudis, that, under a special license, equips and provides private civil security guard service to anyone who requests it for a fee.
- Security guard: the person assigned to guard facilities in order to preserve the security and safety of their personnel, funds and property and protect them from theft and assault.
- The Regulations: the Implementing Regulations of this Law.
Two practical points follow from the definitions: the service in question is human rather than technological, and a license is required in both cases, whether the service is provided by a company or by a guard contracted directly. Full Saudi ownership is also part of the definition of the establishment or company itself.
Article 2 builds on these definitions by specifying the entities required to place guards at their facilities.
Translated from our Arabic explanation with machine assistance. For guidance only; it does not replace advice from a lawyer on your situation.
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Frequently asked questions about Article 1 of the Saudi Security Guard Law
What is private civil security guard service?
It is the human security service provided for a fee by licensed establishments and companies, or obtained through direct contracting with licensed civilian security guards.
Can a non-Saudi own a security guard company?
According to the definition, a sole proprietorship must be wholly owned by a Saudi, and a company must be wholly owned by Saudis.
Who is a security guard under the Law?
The person assigned to guard facilities in order to preserve the security and safety of their personnel, funds and property and protect them from theft and assault.
More articles on Definition of Security Guarding and Obligated Entities
- Article 2
The article requires the entities specified in the Regulations to place private civil security guards at their facilities, and bars anyone else from using them without permission from the competent authority.
أ - تلتزم الجهات التي تحددها اللائحة، بوضع الحراسة الأمنية المدنية الخاصة على منشآتها وفق أحكام هذا النظام ولائحته . ولا يجوز لأي جهة أخرى اتخاذ حراسة أمنية مد
- Article 3
The article allows required entities and others to contract directly with licensed Saudi guards, and requires required entities to set up a security department if their guards number more than 20.
يجوز للجهات الملزمة بوضع الحراسة الأمنية المدنية الخاصة ، ولمن يطلبها من غير الملزمين بها – سواء كان فردا أو مجموعة أو منشأة – التعاقد المباشر مع أفراد سعوديين
The texts are reproduced from the official website of the Bureau of Experts at the Council of Ministers for reference; where they differ, the officially published Arabic text prevails. This content is not legal advice.