Driving Sustainable Disaster Risk Reduction: A Rapid Review of the Policies and Strategies in Saudi Arabia

Ahmed M. Al-Wathinani, Dennis G. Barten, Marta Borowska-Stefańska, Paweł Gołda, Noora A. AlDulijan, Mohammad A. Alhallaf, Lujain O. Samarkandi, Abdullah S. Almuhaidly, Mariusz Goniewicz, Waleed O. Samarkandi and Krzysztof Goniewicz ()
Additional contact information
Ahmed M. Al-Wathinani: Department of Emergency Medical Services, Prince Sultan bin Abdulaziz College for Emergency Medical Services, King Saud University, Riyadh 11451, Saudi Arabia
Dennis G. Barten: Department of Emergency Medicine, VieCuri Medical Center, 5912 BL Venlo, The Netherlands
Marta Borowska-Stefańska: Institute of the Built Environment and Spatial Policy, University of Lodz, 90-142 Lodz, Poland
Paweł Gołda: Faculty of Aviation, Polish Air Force University, 08-521 Dęblin, Poland
Noora A. AlDulijan: Human Resources Department, King Fahad Specialist Hospital, Dammam 32253, Saudi Arabia
Mohammad A. Alhallaf: Department of Emergency Medical Services, Prince Sultan bin Abdulaziz College for Emergency Medical Services, King Saud University, Riyadh 11451, Saudi Arabia
Lujain O. Samarkandi: College of Medicine, Al-Maarfa University, Diryah 13713, Saudi Arabia
Abdullah S. Almuhaidly: Department of Operational Affairs, Saudi Red Crescent, Riyadh 1135, Saudi Arabia
Mariusz Goniewicz: Department of Emergency Medicine, Medical Univeristy of Lublin, 20-081 Lublin, Poland
Waleed O. Samarkandi: College of Medicine, Al-Maarfa University, Diryah 13713, Saudi Arabia
Krzysztof Goniewicz: Department of Security Studies, Polish Air Force University, 08-521 Dęblin, Poland

Sustainability, 2023, vol. 15, issue 14, 1-20

Abstract: This article presents a comprehensive rapid review of the current disaster risk reduction (DRR) efforts in Saudi Arabia, a country exposed to a variety of hazards such as extreme heat, droughts, floods, dust, and sandstorms, along with threats from terrorism and violence. Employing a rapid review approach, our aim was to provide timely insights into DRR strategies, with an emphasis on the unique geographical and socio-political context of Saudi Arabia. This study serves as a valuable reference for similar hazard-prone regions worldwide. Our review encompasses Saudi Arabia’s progress in key areas, such as improving building codes and infrastructure, developing early warning systems, raising public awareness, and strengthening emergency response capabilities. While Saudi Arabia has made commendable strides in implementing international best practices for DRR, our review also identified specific areas where further development and enhancement are needed. These include the need for more sophisticated early warning systems, expanded public awareness campaigns, and continual enhancements in emergency response capabilities. This review offers key insights into the challenges and opportunities within Saudi Arabia’s DRR efforts, highlighting the steps that Saudi Arabia has taken towards resilience. Drawing from specific examples of past disasters, our findings shed light on practical considerations for improving disaster risk management, with the potential to inform policy, enhance public awareness, and contribute to building a safer and more resilient future in Saudi Arabia.

Keywords: disaster risk reduction; building infrastructure; early warning systems; public awareness; emergency response capabilities; community-based disaster preparedness (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2023
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

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