The Special Emergency Force () or the SEF (Saudi Emergency Force) is a

special operations Special operations or special ops are military activities conducted, according to NATO, by "specially designated, organized, selected, trained, and equipped forces using unconventional techniques and modes of employment." Special operations ma ...

counter-terrorism Counterterrorism (alternatively spelled: counter-terrorism), also known as anti-terrorism, relates to the practices, military tactics, techniques, and strategies that governments, law enforcement, businesses, and intelligence agencies use to co ...

unit of the

Presidency of State Security Presidency of State Security () is a Saudi Arabia, Saudi Arabian security body created in 2017 by combining the counter-terrorism and domestic intelligence service, intelligence services under one roof. It is concerned with all matters related t ...

History

The SEF was established in 1972; its main job was to control riots and demonstration alongside assisting other police forces in combating drug trafficking and criminals. After the Grand Mosque seizure in 1979 and the ineffectiveness of the

Saudi Arabian National Guard The Saudi Arabian National Guard (SANG), also known as the White Army, is one of the three major branches of the military forces of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The national guard is under the administrative control of the Ministry of National ...

in the Saudi decision of hostages, its role was strengthened. Since 1995, with the first terrorist attacks on Saudi soil in Olaya, Riyadh, and then in 1996 in

Al Khobar Khobar () is a city and governorate in the Eastern Province of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, situated on the coast of the Persian Gulf. With a population of 409,549 in the city core and 658,550 in the governorate, as of 2022, Khobar forms part of ...

, the center shifted to combating terrorism, and accordingly it retrained and reprogrammed its forces. In 2017, the General Directorate of Investigations,

Special Security Forces Special or specials may refer to: Policing * Specials, Ulster Special Constabulary, the Northern Ireland police force * Specials, Special Constable, an auxiliary, volunteer, or temporary; police worker or police officer * Special police forces M ...

, Special Emergency Forces, Security Aviation, General Directorate of Technical Affairs, National Information Center were moved from the Ministry of the Interior to Presidency of State Security. Now there are 13 centers, controlling 35,000 men, around the Kingdom to combat terrorism.
In September of 2014, around 70,000 members of the Special Emergency Forces participated in providing security during the Hajj season.Al-Talai, Makkah - Hassan, (September 28, 2014). "وزير الداخلية السعودي: داعش نشأ برعاية دول وتنظيمات" Al Arabiya Network, 2025, https://www.alarabiya.net/saudi-today/hajj/2014/09/28/%D9%88%D8%B2%D9%8A%D8%B1-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%AF%D8%A7%D8%AE%D9%84%D9%8A%D8%A9-%D9%8A%D8%AA%D9%81%D9%82%D8%AF-%D8%A3%D9%85%D9%86-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%AD%D8%AC%D8%A7%D8%AC, Accessed on January 8, 2025

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Notes and references

1972 establishments in Saudi Arabia Organizations established in 1972 Special forces by country Law enforcement in Saudi Arabia {{Portal, Saudi Arabia