Saudi Arabia Tests National Early Warning System

Saudi Arabia carried out a nationwide test of its National Early Warning Platform on Monday, 3 November 2025, sending alert tones directly to mobile phones across all regions and sounding fixed sirens in selected cities. The General Directorate of Civil Defense led the exercise, with the National Center for Security Operations (911) supporting unified warning and emergency coordination.

The test followed a set schedule: at 13:00 a new early warning behavioral tone was pushed to mobile phones, at 13:10 a national alert tone was sent, and at 13:15 fixed sirens were activated in specified locations. Cellular broadcast messages carried a distinctive loud audio tone delivered directly to phones connected to local networks within the targeted areas.

Fixed sirens were sounded in the Riyadh Region — including Riyadh, Diriyah, Al-Kharj and Al-Dilam — as well as the Tabuk Region and the Makkah Region, covering Jeddah and Thuwal. Mobile alerts, however, reached all regions of the Kingdom through cellular broadcasting.

Authorities stressed that the messages and sirens were tests only, not real emergencies, and that no action was required from residents or visitors. Receiving the alerts and taking part in the tests is free of charge, with no service fees involved.

Periodic tests of this kind help verify that the early warning platform, its geographically targeted alerts, and the audibility and coverage of fixed sirens all function correctly. The exercises are followed by evaluation from Civil Defense and security operations centers, strengthening public safety readiness so that, in a genuine emergency, residents across the country receive clear and timely warnings.

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