Security Guard Services in Saudi Arabia

How to Become a Licensed Security Guard in Saudi Arabia

Private civil security guarding in Saudi Arabia is governed by the Private Civil Security Guarding Law and its Implementing Regulations. Guarding establishments must be wholly owned by Saudi nationals and licensed by the Minister of Interior or the Minister’s delegate, and their security guards and all other staff must also be Saudi nationals.

Regulator: Ministry of Interior. Licenses are issued by the Minister of Interior or the Minister’s delegate under the Private Civil Security Guarding Law issued by Royal Decree No. M/24 dated 8/7/1426 AH and Council of Ministers Resolution No. 145 dated 5/6/1426 AH. In May 2025 the Ministry of Interior amended the Implementing Regulations, specifying which establishments must provide guards during working hours and which must provide them around the clock. moi.gov.sa

Security Guard Requirements

• The security guard must be a Saudi national, and all employees of a private civil security guarding establishment must also be Saudi nationals (Art. 5)
• The licensed establishment must train and qualify its guards to perform their duties as set out in the Implementing Regulations (Art. 6)
• Guards wear the uniform set by the employer in accordance with the Implementing Regulations (Art. 8)
• The Law itself sets no separate age or criminal record requirement for guards; the age requirement (25 years) and good conduct requirements in Article 4 apply to the license applicant, and guards’ duties and other qualifications are left to the Implementing Regulations (Art. 5)

Steps to Work as a Security Guard

1. Be a Saudi national
2. Join a private civil security guarding establishment licensed by the Ministry of Interior (the Law also allows covered entities to contract directly with licensed Saudi individuals, Art. 3)
3. Complete the training and qualification that the establishment must provide under the Implementing Regulations
4. Wear the approved uniform and work within the duties and sites set by the Implementing Regulations

Licensing of Guarding Establishments

Licenses are issued by the Minister of Interior or the Minister’s delegate (Art. 4). The conditions in Article 4(a) include: the establishment must be a sole proprietorship or a company wholly owned by Saudi nationals; the license applicant must be at least 25 years old; the applicant must not have been sentenced to a hadd punishment or to imprisonment for a crime involving honor or trust unless rehabilitated; the applicant must not have been dismissed from civil or military service for disciplinary reasons unless three years or more have passed; the applicant must have sufficient capital and resources to recruit and equip guards as set by the Regulations; and a bank guarantee must be provided according to the Regulations’ classification. A fee of SAR 100 is collected for each contracted guard when the license is issued and when it is renewed. Entities with more than 20 guards must establish a security department (Art. 3). Penalties include a warning, closure for up to one month, fines of up to SAR 50,000 that are doubled for repeat violations, and cancellation of the license, which requires a ruling from the Board of Grievances (Art. 12). A grievance may be filed with the Board of Grievances within sixty days of notification.

An establishment license is valid for five years and renewable for equal periods (Art. 4), and the fee of SAR 100 per guard is collected again on renewal.

Sources

• Private Civil Security Guarding Law (Royal Decree M/24, 1426 AH), copy hosted by King Khalid University
• Saudipedia: Law of Private Security Services
• Lexis Middle East: KSA Private Security Guard Services Law Amended (May 2025)
• Gulf News: Saudi Arabia Tightens Private Security Law, Mandates 24-Hour Guards for Key Sectors

Requirements are subject to change. Confirm current rules with the official regulator before applying. This summary is general information, not legal advice. Last reviewed November 2026.