With Vision 2030 reshaping development, Eng. Taher Mansour, Corporate Manager at Saudi SALCO Contracting Co. highlights, AI, IoT, sustainability and cybersecurity as foundations for fire safety in the Kingdom’s future
Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 is driving development across the Kingdom, with projects such as NEOM, Qiddiya and the Red Sea Project reshaping cities and creating new industrial zones.
This rapid pace of change also raises the scale of fire risk.
The Saudi Civil Defense records more than 20,000 fire incidents every year, with industrial and commercial buildings accounting for nearly half.
The annual financial losses exceed 500 million dollars, not including the impact of disrupted operations or damage to reputations.
Traditional fire protection measures that rely on periodic inspections, manual alarms and passive suppression are proving insufficient in such complex and high-value environments.
The convergence of Artificial Intelligence, the Internet of Things and advanced data analytics is enabling more predictive and proactive approaches to fire safety.
This article looks at the key challenges facing the Kingdom, the role of new technologies, the rise of sustainable suppression methods, the importance of cybersecurity and the actions needed to build a smarter, safer future.
The fire safety gap in Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia’s climate is a natural source of risk.
With temperatures climbing above 50°C in summer, electrical faults and chemical reactions become more likely, creating conditions where fires can ignite rapidly.
A 2023 warehouse fire in Jeddah was caused by overheated HVAC units; experts have noted that AI thermal monitoring might have identified the fault before it escalated into a blaze.
The scale of new megaprojects presents its own challenges.
NEOM’s The Line, a planned 170-kilometre linear city, will connect buildings and services in ways that demand continuous monitoring of structural integrity.
A localised fire in such a system could quickly cascade into a much wider threat if not contained immediately.
The oil and gas sector is another area of vulnerability.
Saudi Aramco has reported that about 12 percent of incidents across its refineries are linked to equipment malfunctions, highlighting the need for more reliable and intelligent detection methods.
Regulation has not always kept pace with these risks.
In Riyadh and Jeddah only 30 percent of buildings currently comply with the 2024 Saudi Building Code fire standards.
Older structures are particularly difficult to retrofit, and incentives for upgrading systems remain limited.
The costs of fire extend far beyond repairs.
A single factory fire can halt production for months, leading to financial losses above ten million dollars, while insurance companies are increasingly charging up to 30 percent more in premiums for businesses with outdated protection.
AI and IoT in modern fire protection
Artificial Intelligence and machine learning are being used to analyse large volumes of performance data, predicting failures before they occur and reducing false alarms.
Siemens’ Fire Safety Digital Twin is one such example, simulating fire spread in real time to support decision-making while halving false alerts.
AI is also changing evacuation planning.
Trials in the Riyadh Metro used AI-driven crowd analysis to optimise exit routes and reduce bottlenecks during emergency simulations, helping passengers move safely and efficiently.
Alongside predictive analytics, IoT sensors are becoming widespread across new developments.
Thermal cameras are now installed in around 40 percent of new industrial facilities, where they continuously scan for overheating machinery.
Gas leak detectors are compulsory in Saudi Aramco plants to monitor levels of carbon dioxide, methane and smoke.
Structural sensors, which track the condition of buildings during fire events, have already been piloted in the Red Sea Project.
Beyond sensors, robotics and drones are extending the reach of fire services.
Aramco has deployed autonomous drones capable of inspecting rigs and tackling small fires in zones where sending personnel would be hazardous.
Dubai Civil Defense has tested robotic exoskeletons that enable firefighters to withstand temperatures above 150°C while maintaining operational strength.
Green fire suppression technologies
Saudi Arabia’s commitment to the Saudi Green Initiative and Net Zero 2030 requires fire safety systems that protect people and assets without harming the environment.
Conventional agents such as Halon and PFAS-based foams are being phased out because of their damaging effects on the ozone layer and water systems.
Water mist systems are one alternative.
By atomising water into fine droplets they use up to 90 percent less water than standard sprinklers, while proving highly effective in data centres, hospitals, schools and high-rise towers.
These systems leave no toxic residue, which makes them especially suited to sensitive facilities.
Clean agent suppressants such as Novec 1230 and FM-200 remove heat without damaging electronics or endangering people in occupied spaces.
They are already in use in NEOM’s data hubs, where continuous uptime is essential.
Inert gas systems such as Argonite and INERGEN suppress flames by reducing oxygen concentration rather than by chemical reaction.
They are non-toxic, leave no residue and are widely adopted in archives, libraries and cultural heritage sites where both human safety and preservation of materials are priorities.
If Saudi Arabia mandates the use of such sustainable solutions in its Vision 2030 projects, it could position itself as a global leader in safe and environmentally responsible fire protection.
The experience of Dubai International Airport, which reduced its emissions by 30 percent after adopting green suppression systems, shows the viability of this approach.
Cybersecurity in connected fire systems
The growing use of IoT devices, cloud monitoring platforms and AI analysis tools creates another challenge: cybersecurity.
A compromised fire safety network could disable alarms, prevent suppression systems from operating or trigger mass evacuations through false alerts.
False alarm attacks already represent a threat.
In 2023 a hospital in the United Arab Emirates experienced a hoax incident that disrupted services and caused unnecessary panic.
Malware and ransomware could also target suppression systems directly, silencing alarms at the very moment they are most needed.
Data theft is another concern, as building layouts, evacuation plans and occupancy data stored within fire systems could be stolen or manipulated.
Solutions are being tested across the region.
End-to-end encryption protects data as it travels from detectors to control centres.
AI-based anomaly detection can scan network traffic in real time, isolating suspicious behaviour before it spreads.
Blockchain has been used in NEOM’s infrastructure to secure software updates against tampering, while multi-factor authentication ensures only authorised personnel can make system changes.
Saudi Arabia’s National Cybersecurity Authority has already issued regulations covering IoT and critical infrastructure.
Requiring penetration testing and live threat monitoring for fire systems would allow the Kingdom to set a global example of secure connected protection.
A roadmap for future fire safety
Policy change will play a major role in moving Saudi Arabia towards smarter fire safety.
Updates to the Saudi Building Code in 2025 could make AI risk assessments mandatory for buildings over ten storeys and require IoT networks in all new industrial developments.
Financial incentives will also matter.
Offering tax breaks for businesses that modernise their fire protection could encourage investment in advanced systems, much as Dubai’s Smart City Fund has done in other areas of technology.
Industry collaboration is essential.
Partnerships between public bodies and companies such as Saudi Telecom could provide the infrastructure for widespread deployment of 5G-enabled fire detection networks.
Training and skills must not be overlooked.
Integrating AI and IoT fire safety modules into the curricula of the Technical and Vocational Training Corporation and the Saudi Electricity Company would help ensure the workforce can operate and maintain new systems effectively.
Public awareness campaigns could strengthen this progress.
A national fire safety month would raise visibility through social media and community platforms such as mosques, while mobile applications could provide residents with alerts on fire risks in their local areas.
The technology is available and the benefits are clear, but progress depends on coordination and commitment.
Immediate steps should include commissioning AI-driven fire audits of critical infrastructure, piloting IoT sensor networks in high-risk areas and pressing for regulatory updates that support faster adoption.
The Kingdom faces a clear decision.
By embracing innovative and sustainable approaches it can safeguard its expanding cities and industries while setting international standards for smart fire protection.
The alternative is to continue facing growing risks, higher costs and preventable losses.