المملكة: Requirements for operating beaches in the Kingdom… proactive regulation that reduces the risk of drowning

World Drowning Prevention Day, which falls on July 25 of each year, confirms that drowning is no longer viewed as an unavoidable accident, but rather an issue that can be reduced through effective policies, legislation and preventive measures. Between the global message of this occasion and the reality of the Saudi coasts extending along the Red Sea, the importance of moving from being satisfied with awareness to building regulatory systems that precede the occurrence of accidents and reduce their risks becomes clear.
This message is of particular importance in the Kingdom, whose coastline on the Red Sea extends for more than 1,800 kilometers, and is home to a growing network of public and private beaches and coastal destinations, which represent one of the pillars of the Kingdom’s Vision 2030 goals in developing tourism and improving the quality of life.

Security guarantee

With the expansion of the development of these destinations, the need for an integrated system for managing safety and reducing risks is increasing, as awareness alone is not sufficient to achieve protection, and the presence of a qualified lifeguard remains an important measure, but it does not replace the presence of comprehensive regulatory standards applied to all beaches.
In this context, the Saudi Red Sea Authority, in late 2025, and for the first time in the Kingdom, issued requirements and stipulations for beach operators, as a regulatory framework for issuing a beach operating license, which includes requirements for security and safety, public health, and protection of the marine environment.
The requirements stipulate the provision of qualified lifeguards, rescue and first aid equipment, separation of swimming areas and paths for marine activities, assessment of the carrying capacity of beaches, in addition to building requirements, providing access for all, and requirements for obtaining the “Blue Flag” environmental label, insurance, and environmental permits.

Raising the level of safety

The importance of these requirements is not limited to procedural aspects, but rather establishes a foundation for raising the level of safety at various beaches, by unifying the minimum requirements among operators, and transferring risk management from accident response to advance preparedness, making safety a basic criterion in the operation of beaches and the quality of services provided, with the effectiveness of this system remaining dependent on the level of compliance and continuous field evaluation.
The Saudi experience provides a practical model for the content of this year’s World Day slogan, as prevention begins before accidents occur, through regulated licensing, binding standards, and continuous preparedness. Drowning is not an inevitable result of marine activities, but rather a risk that can be reduced when legislation is integrated with implementation, so that beaches provide a safer and more sustainable environment for its visitors.