Saudi Arabia Tightens Amusement Park Safety Checks

Authorities across Saudi Arabia have intensified inspections of amusement parks and entertainment venues under the Entertainment Activities Law, following recent injuries caused by a mechanical ride accident. Inspectors now hold powers to suspend or halt any activity that poses a risk to public health or safety.

Under the law, all amusement parks, entertainment cities, and venues must hold a valid licence from the General Entertainment Authority (GEA). Operating without a licence is prohibited. Licensing applications are submitted online through the GEA Tarfeeh portal, or by email to the GEA licensing department if the portal is unavailable.

Applicants must provide proof of site ownership or use rights, valid national ID or Iqama data, and a commercial registration covering amusement-park activity. They must also submit a crowd management plan detailing ride entry mechanisms, queue and pathway organization, ticket validation checkpoints, and procedures for lost children and property.

Ride inspections and access

Every ride and device must carry an inspection certificate from an approved body before entering service, with clearly displayed issuance and expiry dates. Rides cannot operate without an inspection report and must be maintained in line with Saudi technical specifications. GEA inspectors and other government representatives must be granted access to premises and surveillance recordings.

Penalties for violations range from warnings to fines of up to SAR 1,000,000, suspension or cancellation of licences, and bans of up to five years from carrying out entertainment activities. The GEA may also collect up to 10% of entertainment ticket sales, with the exact rate set by regulations.

Oversight data shows recorded violations dropped from 6,290 in 2024 to 4,662 in 2025, alongside 92,025 inspection visits across all regions. Following serious accidents, regional authorities have ordered the immediate closure of affected parks and launched full investigations. For families visiting entertainment venues, the tighter oversight aims to ensure safer rides and clearer accountability across the fast-growing sector.

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