Saudi Arabia Railways (SAR)’s commitment to safety and risk management has been recognised with recent awards
SAR received the excellence in digital transformation of safety systems award from digital health and safety system Safe365 in recognition of its efforts to develop an advanced digital framework for measuring and improving institutional safety culture. It was awarded the Risk Team of the Year Award from IIRSM for excellence in implementing risk management practices and enhancing operational safety through an integrated institutional approach.
As reported by the Saudi Press Agency (SPA), these awards reflect a strategic path pursued by SAR in recent years to establish safety as a core pillar of its operational and governance framework by adopting an integrated institutional model that links executive leadership, data-driven analysis, operational intelligence, predictive analytics, and continuous improvement, contributing to enhanced operational readiness and strengthening the reliability of the railway network in accordance with global best practices.
SAR has evolved its approach to safety, moving from a focus on procedures and compliance to an embedded safety culture built on employee empowerment, shared responsibility, and linking safety to performance, sustainability, and operational quality. In line with this approach, it has developed the operational governance framework, enhancing executive leadership's role in risk reviews and field visits, adopting advanced tools to measure safety culture and operational behaviour, and leveraging data and operational intelligence to support decision-making and improve risk management efficiency.
This has been facilitated by joining the Rail Safety and Standards Board earlier this year, enabling SAR to adopt best international practices in governance, operational safety, and intelligence. It enables SAR to access advanced research and technical programmes including risk management, predictive analysis, and operational intelligence models that enhance performance quality and operational efficiency, in the drive to develop a safer and more efficient railway network.
Further reflecting the company’s proactive approach to safety, CEO of SAR Dr. Bashar bin Khalid AlMalik has received the CEO Award 2026 from the British Safety Council as part of its International Safety Awards. The award recognises the leadership and strategic vision of CEOs who have made a vital contribution to the health and safety of their business and to the wider society during 2025.
SAR has implemented a range of initiatives and programmes to strengthen its safety culture, as reported by the SPA. These include awareness campaigns to reduce violations and unsafe behaviours across the railway network, the adoption of internationally recognised models to measure safety culture and analyse operational behaviours, specialised training and awareness programmes for leaders and employees, and the use of advanced technologies, data, and operational intelligence to support decision-making and enhance risk management. These initiatives are reported to have led to a 75% reduction in level-crossing accidents, a 62.5% decrease in injuries, a 63% reduction in near-miss incidents, and a 68% decline in collisions within rail yards and workshops.
