SAIS licenses AESG to provide FLS services across major projects in Saudi Arabia
With the SAIS licence now in place, AESG is positioned to contribute to the more than $69.8bn being invested annually in Saudi industrial and infrastructure projects, the firm said.
AESG has secured a license from the Saudi Ministry of Interior (MoI) represented by the Supreme Authority for Industrial Security (SAIS) to provide Fire and Life Safety (FLS) consultancy services across key industrial and infrastructure sectors.
According to AESG, it is amongst the first international consultancies to achieve the accreditation, and positions it to play a pivotal role in ensuring compliance with SAIS Safety and Fire (SAF) directives across flagship Vision 2030 projects. These include planned nuclear power plants, vital electricity and water initiatives, large-scale manufacturing and petrochemical facilities, chemical, gas and mining sectors, as well as critical infrastructure such as railways, telecommunications, and ports.
“The safety of facilities and their workers, and ensuring the continuity of operations, is an investment in the future and an added value to achieve sustainability and the success of national business systems. By establishing strong legislation built on the best local standards, experiences, and forward-looking global practices, we can ensure that security and safety remain central to the Kingdom’s industrial and infrastructure development,” said Eng. Ali bin Mohammed Al-Zahrani, Governor of the Supreme Authority for Industrial Security (SAIS).
To date, AESG is said to have helped safeguard over US $7.9bn worth of built assets, including projects such as NEOM, the Red Sea International Airport, projects in the Diriyah Gate district, and more, representing millions of sqm of facilities in the country.
With the SAIS licence now in place, AESG is well positioned to contribute to the more than $69.8bn being invested annually in Saudi industrial and infrastructure projects, the firm said.
Saeed Al Abbar, CEO at AESG said, “Through commendable vision, SAIS is setting a new benchmark for Fire and Life Safety not just in the Kingdom, but for the wider region. We are proud to have worked closely with the authority, meeting every requirement of its rigorous licensing process. This achievement reflects AESG’s unique ability to combine the depth of regional understanding from our Middle East roots with the breadth of expertise from our expansive global operations. It underscores our commitment to bringing world-class safety standards to Saudi Arabia at a time of unprecedented growth.”
AESG’s scope of services under the licence will encompass the full breadth of FLS consultancy, from SAISSAF directives compliance guidance to the delivery of practical, high-impact solutions designed to be simple, effective, and achievable. This will include supporting Saudi Public and Private sectors in meeting SAIS requirements, ensuring safety and resilience remain at the forefront of the Kingdom’s infrastructure boom.
The company’s investment in talent is central to its growth strategy in the Kingdom. Among its most notable recent hires is Steve Apter, former Deputy Chief of the London Fire Brigade, who brings over three decades of international leadership in fire safety, including work on several Saudi Giga projects.
In parallel, AESG said that it is expanding its Fire and Life Safety service offerings to comply with the Saudi Civil Defence’s new mandate for licensed private fire and rescue teams – an initiative driven by the Kingdom’s privatisation policies and the 2021 Privatisation Law, which emphasises private-sector involvement in delivering services to giga projects and the wider market. With the licence in place, AESG aims to grow its Saudi team by more than 25%, while remaining on track to achieve its business goal of 40% growth in the Kingdom this year.
Abdullah Faza, Director – Fire and Life Safety, Middle East at AESG concluded, “This licence unlocks significant opportunities to support the Kingdom’s most strategic projects, from power generation to industrial manufacturing sectors. At AESG, we take pride in being at the forefront of this transformation by already leading one of Saudi Arabia’s first private fire code guides for a royal commission, a clear example of the specialist and pioneering role we bring to the market. Of course, with such governmental trust comes responsibility, and everything we deliver must add value. We are committed to making compliance with AHJ requirements more efficient, clear, and simple, so our clients can focus on achieving their targets with confidence. Backed by our expanded capabilities, we will continue to deliver solutions that safeguard lives, protect assets, and enable the operational excellence of Saudi Arabia’s most critical developments.”
