Last updated: 26 October 2026
Saudi Arabia uses three warning siren tones, set by Civil Defense and shared across the GCC: an intermittent tone means danger is approaching, a wavy (rising and falling) tone means danger is happening now, and a steady continuous tone means the danger has passed. Civil Defense also sends emergency alerts straight to mobile phones in the affected area through the National Early Warning Platform. When you hear a siren or get an alert, go indoors to an inner room away from windows and follow official instructions.
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| Tone | What it sounds like | Meaning | What to do |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Early warning | Steady intermittent tone (on and off), about 1 minute | Danger is approaching | Go inside a building, to an inner room away from windows |
| 2. Danger | Wavy tone, rising and falling, about 1 minute | Danger is happening now | Stay in your shelter and follow official updates |
| 3. All clear | Steady continuous tone, about 1 minute | The danger has passed | Stay where you are until told it is safe to leave |
The tones and their meanings are published on the Civil Defense warning sirens page, which also lets you listen to each one.
Emergency Alerts on Your Phone
Most people now hear about danger first from their phone. Civil Defense runs the National Early Warning Platform with the Communications, Space and Technology Commission (CST). It uses cell broadcast, so the alert appears on every phone connected to Saudi mobile networks in the area at risk.
- No app or registration: alerts arrive without an app, sign-up or internet connection.
- Loud tone and vibration: the danger alert comes with a distinctive loud tone and vibration, with text in Arabic and English.
- Area only: alerts go to phones in the affected area, so people in other cities do not receive them.
- All clear: since 24 March 2026 the all-clear arrives as a normal text-style notice, so it is not confused with the danger tone.
- Tests say so: test messages state that they are a test and that no action is needed.
- Keep alerts on: alerts reach your phone only if they are switched on. See the steps below.
How to Switch On Emergency Alerts on Your Phone
Government and emergency alerts are usually on by default, but they can be switched off by mistake. Check them now, before the next alert:
- iPhone: open Settings, tap Notifications, scroll to the bottom and turn on the alerts under Government Alerts.
- Android: open Settings, tap Safety and emergency, then Wireless emergency alerts, and turn the alerts on. Menu names differ between phone makers, so if you cannot find it, type “emergency alerts” in the Settings search bar.
- Stay on the mobile network: alerts travel over the mobile network, so a phone in flight mode or without a Saudi mobile signal will not receive them.
Apple says some government alerts cannot be switched off, and the exact setting names can change with the phone’s software version.
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What to Do When You Hear a Siren or Get an Alert
These steps follow the advice Civil Defense includes in its alerts:
If you are indoors
- Stay calm and stay inside. Move to an inner room away from windows and glass.
- Do not go out to balconies or rooftops, and do not leave the building until the danger has passed.
- Follow updates only from official channels: Civil Defense (@SaudiDCD on X), the Saudi Press Agency and official media.
If you are outside
- Go into the nearest building, or shelter behind a solid barrier.
- Avoid open areas, and do not gather in groups or go near the site of an incident.
- Do not film or share videos of incident sites. Civil Defense asks people not to.
If you are driving
- Stop safely at the roadside, away from bridges and tall buildings.
- Keep listening for instructions and continue only when it is safe.
After the all-clear, stay inside until the danger is fully gone, help others if it is safe to do so, and report anything suspicious or any damage on the emergency numbers below.
Recent Alerts in 2026
During September 2026, Civil Defense sent several “potential danger” alerts and sounded sirens in southern regions, including Abha, Khamis Mushait, Jazan and Najran, after Houthi missile and drone attacks on the south, according to the Saudi-led coalition. Later alerts that month also covered other cities. Each alert was followed by an all-clear. For the latest, follow Civil Defense on X (@SaudiDCD) and the Saudi Press Agency.
Alerts in the Southern Region: Jazan, Najran and Asir
Jazan and Najran, on the border with Yemen, receive more early warnings than any other part of the Kingdom. On 15 October 2026 Civil Defense sent an alert through the National Early Warning Platform to both regions and asked citizens and residents to follow the instructions issued through official channels (Ajel, citing Civil Defense on X).
On 25 October 2026 a warning went to Jazan Province at 2:07 pm and Civil Defense announced at 2:14 pm that the danger had passed. It asked residents not to gather or film, warned that filming or sharing interceptions and impact sites can bring legal liability, and gave 998 as the emergency number. Later that day, debris from two intercepted missiles fell in Khamis Mushait and Ahad Rafidah in Asir and injured two people (Gulf News, citing Civil Defense).
If you live in the south, keep government alerts switched on, know which room in your home has no outside windows, and never drive to a debris site to look. Alerts reach only phones in the area at risk, so relatives in Riyadh or Jeddah will not get your Jazan alert. Our National Early Warning Platform guide explains each step, and our report on missile debris in Makkah, Jeddah and Taif shows what Civil Defense advises after an interception.
Siren Tests
Civil Defense tests sirens and phone alerts periodically and announces each test in advance on 998.gov.sa, the Saudi Press Agency and its X account. The last nationwide test was on 3 November 2025: fixed sirens sounded in Riyadh, Diriyah, Al-Kharj, Al-Dilam, the Tabuk region, Jeddah and Thuwal, and test alerts were sent to phones in all regions. If a test has been announced for that day and time, the siren you hear is almost certainly the test.
Weather Warnings (NCM Colours)
Sirens are not used for every storm. For weather, the National Center for Meteorology issues colour-coded warnings:
| Colour | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Yellow | An area may be affected by a weather event |
| Orange | An area is affected by a weather event; take care |
| Red | Severe weather or floods; take full care and follow Civil Defense instructions |
Flash floods are the main weather risk in many cities. Never drive through flooded roads or wadis. See our Saudi Arabia weather calendar and the safety essentials to keep in your car.
Emergency Numbers
| Service | Number |
|---|---|
| Unified emergency number (Riyadh, Makkah, Eastern Province and Madinah regions) | 911 |
| Civil Defense (other regions) | 998 |
| Ambulance, Saudi Red Crescent | 997 |
| Police | 999 |
| Traffic accidents | 993 |
Save these numbers now, and make sure everyone at home, including household workers, knows what the three tones mean.
Be Prepared
- Keep water, a torch, a power bank, a basic first aid kit and any regular medicines at home.
- Keep copies of passports, iqamas and insurance cards in one place.
- Agree on a family meeting point in case phone networks are busy.
- Register with your embassy so it can contact you in an emergency.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does a continuous siren mean in Saudi Arabia?
A steady continuous tone of about one minute means the danger has passed (all clear). Stay where you are until the authorities say it is safe to leave, and keep following official instructions.
What is the emergency alert I received on my phone in Saudi Arabia?
It is an alert from Civil Defense through the National Early Warning Platform. It is sent by cell broadcast to every phone on Saudi mobile networks in the affected area, with a loud tone and vibration, in Arabic and English.
Do I need an app to receive emergency alerts?
No. The alerts reach phones directly by cell broadcast. No app, registration or internet connection is needed. Keep emergency alerts switched on in your phone settings.
Why did I get an alert but my friend in another city did not?
Alerts are sent only to phones in the area at risk. Someone in a different city or region will not receive an alert meant for your area.
What number should I call in an emergency?
911 in the Riyadh, Makkah, Eastern Province and Madinah regions. In other regions call 998 for Civil Defense, 997 for an ambulance or 999 for the police.
Why did my phone not get the emergency alert?
Alerts reach only phones in the area at risk, and only if emergency or government alerts are switched on. On iPhone check Settings, Notifications, Government Alerts. On Android check Settings, Safety and emergency, Wireless emergency alerts. A phone in flight mode or without a Saudi mobile signal will not receive them.
Sources: Saudi Civil Defense (998.gov.sa warning sirens page, test announcements and alert notices); Saudi Press Agency; National Center for Meteorology early warning page; Okaz, Asharq Al-Awsat, Reuters and Al Jazeera reporting on the 2025 test and the September 2026 alerts.