Civil Defense Issues Storm Safety Guidance

With storms forecast across parts of the Kingdom, the General Directorate of Civil Defense, under the Ministry of Interior, is leading health and emergency coordination and issuing public guidance on workplace and infrastructure safety. Its mandate covers protecting residents and public and private property from disasters and regulating industrial safety.

As part of its civil protection role, Civil Defense works to deter and reduce natural hazards, unify efforts to confront threats, and keep important facilities and infrastructure running. When sandstorms or bad weather strike, it can order an immediate halt to work and the closure of construction sites, or require crane booms to be lowered to prevent accidents.

In February 2026, Civil Defense published updated regulations titled “Responsibilities of the Safety, Prevention, and Fire Protection Officer in Public and Private Entities.” The rules, published in Umm Al-Qura and detailed on the Civil Defense website, define safety officers’ duties across ministries, government bodies, and private institutions. These include keeping facilities ready for daily incidents, ensuring fire prevention and protection systems work efficiently, organizing initial response steps, carrying out evacuation plans, and managing resources with an eye on spending efficiency.

Authorities also circulate preventive awareness booklets and storm guidance through official digital channels. The public is advised to avoid open areas during thunderstorms, stay away from trees and metal structures, and take shelter indoors or inside a vehicle.

Emergency contacts

For storm-related emergencies, call 911 in the Makkah, Madinah, Riyadh, and Eastern regions, or 998 in the rest of the Kingdom. For system and service inquiries, including safety services, Civil Defense technical support is available on 920000356.

The Saudi Red Crescent Authority supports storm response and health guidance, with the emergency number 997 and round-the-clock reporting through the Asefni, Tawakkalna, and Absher apps in affected regions. Residents are also encouraged to follow official weather early warnings for heavy, moderate, and light rain and related hazards.

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