Article 2 of the Saudi Security Guard Law
المادة 2 من نظام الحراسة الأمنية المدنية الخاصة
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.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
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 مدنية إلا بإذن من الجهة المختصة وفقا لما تحدده اللائحة.
ب - تحدد اللائحة مجال الحراسة الأمنية المدنية الخاصة ومكانها وأوقاتها وأدواتها.
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 2 explained in plain English
This article specifies who must use private civil security guards and who needs permission to use them.
Paragraph (a) divides entities into two categories:
- Required entities: those specified by the Implementing Regulations, which must place guards at their facilities in accordance with the provisions of the Law and its Regulations. The Law itself does not name these entities; it leaves their identification to the Regulations.
- Other entities: they may not use private civil security guards except with permission from the competent authority, as specified by the Regulations.
Paragraph (b) refers four matters to the Regulations: the scope of the guard service, its location, its hours, and its equipment.
In practice, private civil security guard service is not left to any entity to adopt without controls: an entity is either required to have it or must obtain permission. To know whether a particular facility is a required entity, or which equipment a guard may carry and what hours he may work, one must refer to the Implementing Regulations.
Article 3 complements this provision by regulating the ways of obtaining guard service, including direct contracting with licensed Saudi guards.
If you have a specific case, it is best to consult a lawyer who specializes in administrative matters and security licensing laws.
Practical example
The owner of a commercial complex in Riyadh wants to place security guards at the complex entrances. He must first check the Regulations: if the complex is one of the required entities, he must place guards in accordance with the Law; if it is not, he may not use guards until he obtains permission from the competent authority.
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 2 of the Saudi Security Guard Law
Which entities are required to have private civil security guards?
They are the entities specified by the Implementing Regulations of the Law.
Can any facility place security guards?
Entities that are not required to have guards may not use private civil security guards except with permission from the competent authority, as specified by the Regulations.
Who determines guard hours and equipment?
The Regulations specify the scope of the guard service, its location, its hours and its equipment.
More articles on Definition of Security Guarding and Obligated Entities
- Article 1
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.
يقصد بالألفاظ والعبارات الآتية – أينما وردت في هذا النظام – المعاني المبينة أمامها، ما لم يقتض السياق خلاف ذلك: الحراسة الأمنية المدنية الخاصة : الخدمة الأمنية
- 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.