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| Ministry of National Guard (Saudi Arabia) | |
|---|---|
| Name | Ministry of National Guard (Saudi Arabia) |
| Native name | وزارة الحرس الوطني |
| Formed | 1948 |
| Jurisdiction | Saudi Arabia |
| Headquarters | Riyadh |
| Minister | Prince Abdullah bin Bandar bin Abdulaziz |
| Chief | Major General Mansour Al-Turki |
Ministry of National Guard (Saudi Arabia) is a Saudi Arabian institution responsible for the National Guard force, a distinct institution alongside the Royal Saudi Land Forces, Royal Saudi Air Force, Royal Saudi Navy, and Saudi Arabian National Guard Health Affairs. It traces origins to early Saudi state security structures linked to the reigns of King Abdulaziz, King Saud, and King Faisal and has evolved through interactions with House of Saud politics, regional conflicts such as the Gulf War, and modernization initiatives tied to Vision 2030 and partnerships with foreign militaries including United States Central Command, United Kingdom Ministry of Defence, and France Armed Forces.
The force emerged from tribal levies during the consolidation of the Kingdom under Ibn Saud and formalized under King Saud and King Faisal during the 1950s and 1960s, shaped by the Arab Cold War and the rise of regional actors such as Egypt and Iraq. Expansion and reorganization occurred after the 1979 Grand Mosque seizure and the 1990–1991 Gulf War when cooperation with United States Department of Defense and Central Intelligence Agency influenced training and logistics. Subsequent decades saw professionalization under leaders connected to the House of Saud and integration of medical and educational institutions like King Saud University, King Abdulaziz University, and King Fahd Medical City into its support network. Reforms in the 2010s linked to Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and Saudi Vision 2030 accelerated procurement from General Dynamics, BAE Systems, Lockheed Martin, and Rheinmetall and partnerships with Saudi Arabian Military Industries.
The ministry administers the Saudi Arabian National Guard as a separate military formation distinct from the Ministry of Defense (Saudi Arabia) chain, with regional commands across provinces such as Riyadh Province, Makkah Province, Eastern Province, and Asir Province. It comprises brigades, armored units, artillery, and paramilitary elements modeled on formations like Royal Guard (United Kingdom) and influenced by training from United States Army, French Army, and Jordan Armed Forces. Supporting institutions include the National Guard Health Affairs, the King Salman Complex for Care and Rehabilitation, educational centers affiliated with King Saud University, and logistics partnerships with companies such as Saudi Arabian Military Industries and American Rheinmetall Vehicles.
The ministry oversees responsibilities including internal security missions historically tied to protecting the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques and royal sites like Al-Yamamah Palace and Masmak Fort, security of religious sites in Mecca and Medina, and support to civil authorities during crises such as natural disasters and the COVID-19 pandemic. It provides specialized capabilities for counterinsurgency inspired by lessons from the Yemeni Civil War (2014–present), counterterrorism operations against groups like Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula and ISIS, and coordination with agencies such as the Ministry of Interior (Saudi Arabia), Saudi Civil Defense, and Red Crescent Authority.
Leadership traditionally involves senior princes and career officers from the House of Saud and the Saudi military establishment, with ministers drawn from royal family branches and chiefs appointed from professional ranks. Notable figures connected to the ministry and its antecedents include members of the Sudairi Seven, senior officers who trained with United States Army Special Forces, and advisers who studied at institutions like the United States Military Academy at West Point and the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst. Leadership interacts with entities such as the Saudi Royal Court, the Council of Ministers (Saudi Arabia), and international defense ministries.
The ministry recruits personnel primarily from Saudi nationals, including tribal contingents historically associated with regions like Najd, Hejaz, and Asir, with service pathways through academies modeled on Royal Military Academy Sandhurst, training exchanges with the United States Army, and technical education with institutions such as King Saud University and Imam Muhammad ibn Saud Islamic University. Medical, engineering, and communications cadres are augmented by professional exchanges with Johns Hopkins Medicine, Mayo Clinic, and defense contractors such as BAE Systems and Lockheed Martin. Recruitment drives and career development align with Saudi Vision 2030 workforce objectives and training programs run at bases near Riyadh and Tabuk.
Equipment profiles include armored vehicles, artillery, air defense systems, and communications gear procured from suppliers like General Dynamics, Rheinmetall, Lockheed Martin, Raytheon Technologies, and Thales Group. The ministry fields armored platforms comparable to systems used by the Royal Saudi Land Forces and maintains logistics networks supported by Saudi Arabian Military Industries and international maintenance contracts with companies such as BAE Systems and Northrop Grumman. Medical evacuation and field hospital capabilities have been enhanced through collaboration with World Health Organization standards and hospitals like King Faisal Specialist Hospital.
Domestically, the ministry has been active in providing security during Hajj and Umrah seasons, disaster relief in floods affecting Jeddah and Makkah, and support during public health emergencies including the COVID-19 pandemic. Internationally, training missions and exchanges have involved the United States Central Command, bilateral engagements with United Kingdom Ministry of Defence, training cooperation with Jordan Armed Forces, and capacity-building ties with Gulf Cooperation Council partners. Operations and deployments have been influenced by regional crises such as the Yemeni Civil War (2014–present), the Syrian civil war, and broader security cooperation frameworks with NATO partners.
Category:Government agencies of Saudi Arabia Category:Military of Saudi Arabia