Fire and Emergency Services Team: Delivering Solutions in Saudi Arabia

When the world’s most ambitious developments emerge from remote coastlines and push the boundaries of what’s possible, one critical question demands an answer: Who ensures these transformative projects are truly prepared when crisis strikes? 

At Jensen Hughes, we don’t just answer that question; we deliver the solution. Across the globe, we partner with visionary clients to bridge the gap between design intent and operational reality, ensuring emergency services are not merely planned on paper, but fully capable, tested and ready to perform when lives and assets are on the line. This commitment has never been more evident than in Saudi Arabia, where unprecedented giga-projects are redefining the future of tourism and development. As these world class destinations take shape, one fundamental truth remains non negotiable: exceptional experiences demand exceptional safety. 

Jensen Hughes Fire + Emergency Services is honored to play a pivotal role in establishing the standard. 

JED Airport, Jeddah KSA 

Task Resource Analysis at King Abdulaziz International Airport 

The Task Resource Analysis (TRA) workshops were part of a comprehensive Fire and Rescue Services Study conducted for KAIA, one of the region’s busiest airports. The project exemplified Jensen Hughes’ integrated global approach, with project management led by Abdulrahman Zaben from our Riyadh office and supported by Sudheesh Madhavan in Doha and Waheeb Mehboob in Jeddah. This cross-office collaboration demonstrates our ability to leverage regional expertise while bringing specialized knowledge from our global network to address complex safety challenges.

Understanding Task Resource Analysis 

A Task Resource Analysis is a systematic methodology for evaluating and optimizing emergency response capabilities at critical facilities. The TRA process involves a detailed examination of potential emergency scenarios, required response tasks, necessary resources and the time needed to effectively manage incidents. For aviation facilities like KAIA, where the protection of passengers, staff and aircraft is paramount, TRAs provide essential data-driven insights that inform staffing levels, equipment requirements, training programs and operational procedures. 

The importance of TRAs in airport operations cannot be overstated. These analyses help identify gaps in current capabilities, validate existing resources and ensure that emergency services can meet both regulatory requirements and real-world operational demands. By conducting thorough TRAs, airports can make informed decisions about resource allocation, ultimately enhancing safety while optimizing operational efficiency.

Engaging with JEDCO Fire and Rescue Services The February workshops brought together members of all ranks from the JEDCO Fire and Rescue Services Department, the organization responsible for emergency response at KAIA. The interactive nature of the TRA workshops fostered meaningful dialogue among Jensen Hughes specialists, frontline responders, supervisors and department leadership. This collaborative approach ensured that the analysis reflected both theoretical best practices and practical operational realities.

Participants engaged in scenario based discussions, resource mapping exercises and detailed reviews of current response protocols. The workshops examined emergency scenarios specific to the airport’s operations, including aircraft fires and mass-casualty events. By involving personnel at all levels, the TRA process captured valuable institutional knowledge and operational insights that informed the final recommendations.

Building Lasting Partnerships 

Jensen Hughes Fire + Emergency Services has built a lasting relationship with the JEDCO Fire and Rescue Services Department through our commitment to excellence and collaborative approach. This relationship extends beyond individual projects, reflecting our dedication to supporting the ongoing professional development and operational enhancement of emergency services throughout the region.

Red Sea + Amaala Fire & Rescue 

Validating Excellence in Emergency Response

When the world’s most ambitious developments rise from remote coastlines and redefine what’s possible, one question sits quietly behind the scenes: Who ensures they are truly prepared for the unexpected? At Jensen Hughes, that answer is clear. Around the globe, we help clients move beyond design intent to operational reality, ensuring that emergency services are not only planned but fully capable of performing when it matters most.

Nowhere is that more evident than in Saudi Arabia, where transformative giga projects are reshaping the future of tourism and development. As these destinations take form, one principle remains constant. World-class experiences demand world-class safety. Jensen Hughes Fire + Emergency Services is proud to play a role in helping deliver that standard.

Supporting a Defining Milestone in the Kingdom

Jensen Hughes was recently engaged to support Red Sea Fire and Rescue, the emergency services provider for both The Red Sea Project and Amaala, as it advances toward operational licensure through Tabuk Civil Defense. This milestone represents far more than a regulatory checkpoint. It reflects a broader commitment to embedding high-performing, resilient emergency services into some of the world’s most complex and high-profile developments.

To support this effort, Jensen Hughes was tasked with conducting an independent, third-party evaluation of operational readiness, organizational reliability and alignment with current Civil Defense requirements. Drawing on decades of global experience in fire protection engineering and emergency services consulting, the team brought a perspective that connects technical expertise with real-world operational understanding. 

From Assessment to Assurance 

This was not a desktop review. In February, senior consultants Vernon Champlin and Mike Stanley, both former Chief Fire Officers, conducted a multi-day, in-person evaluation across four fire stations strategically located throughout the developments. These included facilities supporting the Central Coastal Village and Shura Island at The Red Sea Project, as well as Triple Bay and the Amaala Staff Village. 

Each location presents its own set of operational challenges, from remote island response logistics and aviation support to high-end hospitality environments and environmentally sensitive coastal terrain. Together, they require a fully integrated, all-hazards emergency response capability that can adapt to both routine incidents and complex, large-scale events.

The assessment process included direct observation of daily operations, detailed evaluation of staffing models and deployment strategies, inspections of apparatus and equipment and a comprehensive review of training programs, governance structures, and operational procedures. This level of engagement is essential in environments where expectations are high, and performance must be consistent and reliable.

More Than Compliance, Confidence 

While regulatory compliance is a critical milestone, the real value of this work extends beyond mere compliance with minimum standards. It provides confidence.

Confidence for developers and operators that their assets are protected. Confidence for investors that risk is being managed. Confidence for guests and communities that safety is built into the experience.

Jensen Hughes’ independent validation services ensure that fire and emergency services operate as a mature, professional organization with the capability to manage complex incidents, coordinate effectively with Civil Defense authorities, and sustain performance as these developments continue to evolve.

Raising the Bar for Global Emergency Services

As The Red Sea Project and Amaala continue to set new benchmarks for luxury, sustainability and design, they are also setting a new standard for integrating emergency services into large-scale developments from the outset. The work of Red Sea Fire and Rescue, supported by Jensen Hughes, demonstrates that safety is not an afterthought. It is a foundational element of success.

For Vernon and Mike, in close collaboration with Mohamed Mohamed, PE, P.Eng, and Saad AlZahrani (Ret. Brigadier General), this engagement represents far more than a project milestone. It reflects a shared commitment to delivering integrated, high-impact solutions that thoughtfully bring together engineering, strategy and real-world operational expertise. Together, this work demonstrates what is possible when experienced professionals align around a common purpose, achieving meaningful, lasting outcomes in some of the world’s most complex and demanding environments.

As global development continues to accelerate, so does the need for emergency services that are agile, resilient and built for complexity. Jensen Hughes remains at the forefront of that effort, helping clients around the world not only design for safety, but deliver it with confidence.

Expanding Capabilities Across the Middle East

As the Middle East continues to advance some of the world’s most ambitious developments, Jensen Hughes remains a trusted partner in delivering resilient, high-performing emergency services solutions. Through a strong regional presence and the depth of our global expertise, we provide practical, integrated strategies that align with international standards while reflecting the realities of local operations.