MAKKAH: Saudi women working in the Unified Security Operations Center (911) say they are proud to be helping people of many nationalities by doing jobs that were once the sole preserve of men.
The Ministry of Interior employs hundreds of men and women at its two 911 centers in Riyadh and Makkah. They operate under the National Center for Security Operations (NCSO), which provides the ministry and related organizations with a range of security services, including information, statistics and reports.
Some of the women working at the 911 center in Makkah told Arab News about their work, and the sense of pride they get from being in the privileged position of being able to help others.
“I hold a Bachelor of Arts in English language, which enables me to provide the necessary assistance to the many English-speaking callers living in the region,” operator Rana Tayeb told Arab News.
Her colleague, Ghadeer Al-Sahafi, has also been trained to assist foreign callers, in particular those who speak German.
“I usually pass the reports the center receives from the callers to the relevant authorities,” she said. “We have received intensive training courses in dealing with all of the calls we receive daily from different segments of society.”
French-speaker Ohoud Al-Sulaimani, who is also an operator, said she is proud of her work with the center. In addition to normal day-to-day calls, it also allows her to help pilgrims during Hajj, she added.
NCSO spokesman Lt. Col. Ahmed bin Hamdan Sharaf told Arab News that many female workers now carry out the same duties as male colleagues.
“The women receive emergency calls from citizens and residents in both regions, where they help and assist in all needed services,” he said. “The centers, which work 24 hours a day, have unified nearly 105 different government operation centers into one unit.”
Some of the female employees are highly qualified and work as technicians, quality assurance professionals, and business intelligence experts who collect and analyze data, he said.
“Some of them are human resources employees, who do office administrative work and services, and some monitor the street security TV surveillance cameras,” added Sharaf. “They are, in fact, in all departments of the centers.
“Like their male coworkers, they regularly receive on-the-job training courses, which aim to enhance and update their communication skills.”
The women also receive professional training to help them deal with callers as effectively as possible, in particular women and children, he explained.
“We strongly believe that our staff members of both genders should always be ready to deal with all calls in a professional manner that adds to their academic qualification and disciplined military preparations,” he said. “Most of our female workers hold bachelor’s and master’s degrees.”
Sharaf added that female operators are highly qualified to take calls and deal with them in a professional way in a variety of languages, including English, French, German, Urdu and Indonesian.
He said that 911 centers, which are directly linked to the Information Ministry, received more than 1,348,690 calls between June 11 and July 10, most of which were from people looking for help or information.
“In addition to the humanitarian services, the centers also receive calls from citizens, residents and tourists reporting traffic accidents and seeking safety information and advice,” he added.
Saudi female 911 workers are good news in any language
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Saudi female 911 workers are good news in any language
- Women at the Unified Security Operations Center tell of their pride in doing jobs once limited to men
Saudi Arabia launches key projects at World Defense Show in Riyadh
- Defense Minister Prince Khalid bin Salman unveils initiatives
- New firms set up and deals inked at event running to Feb. 12
RIYADH: Defense Minister Prince Khalid bin Salman unveiled new initiatives and signed several agreements on the opening of the third World Defense Show in Riyadh on Sunday.
Prince Khalid opened the show on behalf of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, the Saudi Press Agency reported.
Organized by the General Authority for Military Industries, the five-day event will run until Feb. 12, showcasing the Kingdom’s rapid strides toward strategic independence and technological leadership in the defense sector.
The 2026 edition features a purpose-built venue with a 2,700-meter runway for live air and land demonstrations, underscoring the show’s status as a premier global defense event.
The GAMI’s Gov. Ahmad Al-Ohali said the show reflects Saudi Arabia’s commitment to localizing over 50 percent of military spending in line with Vision 2030, and fostering an integrated ecosystem where government bodies and international partners collaborate on innovation.
Strategic agreements and major launches
At the Saudi Arabian Military Industries Group pavilion, Prince Khalid launched several key initiatives.
- New entities: The inauguration of the SAMI Land Co., SAMI Autonomous Co., and the SAMI Land Industrial Complex.
- Supply chain: The unveiling of the SAMI Local Content Program and the HEET Program.
- International cooperation: A memorandum of understanding was signed between the Saudi General Authority for Defense Development and the Korean Agency for Defense Development on advanced military research.
- Defense deals: The minister signed cooperation agreements with Slovakia, Malaysia, and Somalia.
Technological debuts and innovations
The show is also serving as a launchpad for cutting-edge security technologies across various government sectors.
- AI-Powered Lucid Gravity: Public Security debuted its advanced Lucid Gravity electric security vehicle at the Ministry of Interior’s pavilion.
The vehicle integrates state-of-the-art artificial intelligence and specialized security equipment designed to accelerate emergency response times and support field operations.
By leveraging predictive intelligence and advanced command-and-control systems, the Lucid Gravity exemplifies the ministry’s commitment to protecting the Kingdom.
- Smart helmet: Also at the Ministry of Interior’s pavilion, the General Directorate of Civil Defense unveiled its smart helmet.
Designed to revolutionize public safety and emergency response, the helmet features day-and-night cameras and specialized sensors to detect hazardous materials in hard-to-reach locations.
The device serves as a mobile command node, delivering live video feeds directly to command-and-control centers. By enabling real-time data analysis and faster decision-making, the helmet reduces response times and enhances personnel safety in high-risk environments.
- Border security: The General Directorate of the Border Guard showcased an integrated security system featuring radar and thermal cameras capable of detecting drones and classifying moving targets to protect critical infrastructure.
It also functions as an early warning system for critical facilities and border areas and is fully integrated with command-and-control systems.
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Counter-terrorism: The Islamic Military Counter Terrorism Coalition presented a comprehensive framework integrating intellectual, media, and military domains to combat extremism and terror financing.
Visitors were briefed on specialized programs designed to raise the readiness of national personnel and foster sustainable institutional cooperation among member states to combat extremism.
On the event’s opening day, the pavilion hosted high-level delegations, including ministers, military leaders, and ambassadors who reviewed and praised the coalition’s pivotal role in coordinating local and international security efforts.
A view of the Islamic Military Counter Terrorism Coalition pavilion. (SPA) -
Meteorology: The National Center for Meteorology displayed advanced weather systems essential for ensuring the safety of the event’s air shows and military operations.
At its dedicated pavilion, the NCM is showcasing its latest advanced meteorological technologies and systems. These solutions serve both the military and civilian sectors, providing accurate data to support beneficiary entities’ operational processes.
World Defense Show CEO Andrew Pearcey said that participation is expected to surpass previous records, reflecting the event’s growing importance on the international stage.
