DEMINETEC in Riyadh

DEMINETEC operates in Riyadh

DEMINETEC, a French company headquartered in La Seyne-sur-Mer (Var), delivers civilian demining (pyrotechnic clearance) and unexploded ordnance (UXO) risk management services to public and private clients in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. We cover the full chain from historical pyrotechnic desk study (EHT) to ordnance neutralisation and disposal, in line with French Decree 2005-1325 and international best practice.

Pyrotechnic historical context of Riyadh

Riyadh is the capital of Saudi Arabia and a major Middle Eastern economic hub. The city itself has not been a battlefield, but the Kingdom served as a key base for coalition operations during the 1991 Gulf War — and was targeted by Iraqi Scud missiles at the time — while its southern border has experienced spillover from the Yemen conflict since 2015 (drone and ballistic-missile attacks on Aramco facilities and other sites).

Under Vision 2030, Riyadh hosts mega-projects including the Riyadh Metro, the new King Salman International Airport, NEOM and AlUla, Qiddiya, Diriyah and surrounding oil and gas fields. These projects require pyrotechnic historical studies and magnetometric surveys aligned with Saudi Aramco, SEC and IMAS standards.

International contracts in the Kingdom increasingly rely on European and French pyrotechnic standards, including French Decree 2005-1325, to meet international lender requirements and HSE standards on major projects.

Our services in Riyadh

Historical pyrotechnic desk study (EHT)

Document research in national and foreign archives to qualify pyrotechnic risk on a site (bombings, combat, depots, ranges).

Pyrotechnic safety study (ESP)

Residual risk assessment, definition of effect zones, safety perimeters and collective protective measures.

Magnetometric geophysical survey

On-site detection of ferromagnetic anomalies, surface or deep, onshore or underwater.

UXO clearance

Extraction, identification and neutralisation / disposal of munitions by our NEDEX / EOD-qualified operators.

Underwater expertise

Survey and clearance in ports, rivers and offshore environments, in partnership with our group company SEMTEC.

Why choose DEMINETEC for Riyadh?

French licensed company, ISO 9001 and MASE certified, compliant with French Decree 2005-1325.
Teams of former French Navy and Army EOD operators (NEDEX / EOD qualifications).
Over 30 years of accumulated experience in France and on international projects.
Onshore and underwater intervention capacity through the DEMINETEC group (SEMTEC, GEODE, DEMINETEC ECG).
Quick response: quote within 48 hours, rapid mobilisation in France and abroad.

War history and explosive contamination in Riyadh

Between 18 January and 26 February 1991, during the Gulf War, Ba'athist Iraq launched 46 al-Husayn Scud missiles against Saudi Arabian and American military targets in Dhahran and Riyadh. The attacks followed Iraq's invasion of Kuwait in 1990, after Saudi Arabia broke diplomatic ties with Iraq and allowed 700,000 US troops to enter the country. Saudi air bases served as the main staging areas for US aerial airstrikes against Iraqi targets. The stated military activity provides a historical basis for reviewing missile launch, interception and impact locations in and around Riyadh.

The first Iraqi missile was launched at Saudi Arabia on 18 January and was destroyed over Dhahran Air Base by US Army Patriot air-defence missiles. On the night of 20 January, Patriots intercepted nine Iraqi Scud missiles directed at Saudi cities and military installations, including five aimed at Dhahran and four at Riyadh; a tenth landed in the Persian Gulf. On 25 January, two missiles were launched at Riyadh. One warhead destroyed a wing of the six-story Ministry of Interior Civil Records building. An Iraqi missile hit Riyadh on 3 February, and a missile attack on Hafar al-Batin on 14 February was the last reported attack causing civilian casualties or damage in Saudi Arabia or other Gulf areas. On 25 February, a Scud demolished a US barracks in Dhahran.

Areas and structures concerned

Riyadh
Dhahran
Dhahran Air Base
Ministry of Interior Civil Records building
United States barracks in Dhahran
Hafar al-Batin
Persian Gulf

Expected ordnance and implications for survey

The ordnance identified comprises 46 Iraqi al-Husayn Scud missiles, described also as Iraqi ballistic missiles, together with their explosive warheads. US Army Patriot air-defence missiles intercepted or destroyed several incoming Scuds, while other missiles were partially intercepted, impacted buildings, or landed in the Persian Gulf. The recorded combination of military targets, interceptions, missile impacts and destroyed structures indicates that a historical survey would need to distinguish launch, interception, impact and debris locations when assessing possible explosive-ordnance hazards. No bombs, artillery shells or landmines are identified.

FAQ: explosive risk in Riyadh

Which Riyadh locations were struck by Iraqi missiles during the Gulf War?

Iraqi missiles struck Riyadh on 20 January, 25 January and 3 February 1991. On 25 January, a warhead totally destroyed one wing of the six-story Ministry of Interior Civil Records building, killing one Saudi citizen and injuring 30 people of different nationalities. The 3 February impact slightly injured 29 people.

What military missile activity affected the Riyadh area?

On the night of 20 January 1991, US Patriot missiles intercepted four Iraqi Scuds aimed at Riyadh. On 25 January, Iraq launched two missiles at Riyadh; one was intercepted, while the second was hit but not destroyed and its warhead destroyed part of the Ministry of Interior Civil Records building. Another Iraqi missile hit Riyadh on 3 February.

Reference : Wikipédia — Iraqi strikes on Saudi Arabia

Territorial coverage

DEMINETEC operates in Riyadh and across Saudi Arabia from our French head office (285 avenue Marcel Paul, 83500 La Seyne-sur-Mer, France). We mobilise teams and technical assets to fit each mission: documentary studies, short field surveys, or long-duration clearance operations.

Frequently asked questions about UXO clearance in Riyadh

Which munitions are typically found?

In Riyadh and across Saudi Arabia, the most frequently recovered items include artillery shells, hand grenades, landmines, aerial bombs and — in coastal areas — naval mines. Exact typology depends on the site history and is the focus of the prior historical desk study (EHT).

Does French Decree 2005-1325 apply abroad?

French Decree 2005-1325 governs civilian pyrotechnic clearance on French soil. Internationally, DEMINETEC uses it as a best-practice benchmark alongside IMAS (International Mine Action Standards) and the contractual requirements specific to Saudi Arabia.

How long does a mission in Riyadh typically last?

Duration varies with surface area, investigation depth and anomaly density. An EHT desk study takes 2-6 weeks, a magnetometric survey from a few days to several months, and active clearance from a few weeks up to multiple years for major projects.

Do you operate underwater?

Yes. Through our subsidiary SEMTEC and the DEMINETEC group, we provide commercial diving, underwater magnetometry and submerged-ordnance neutralisation for ports, rivers, lakes and coastal areas.

Contact DEMINETEC for Riyadh

For any historical study, diagnostic or pyrotechnic clearance request, contact our teams:

DEMINETEC SAS
285 avenue Marcel Paul
83500 La Seyne-sur-Mer, FRANCE
Tél: +33 (0)9 52 51 00 63
Email: contact@deminetec.com