CCTV for Schools & Nurseries in Saudi Arabia: Requirements & Privacy Limits

Installing CCTV in schools and nurseries in Saudi Arabia is no longer optional. The Law on the Use of Security Surveillance Cameras lists public and private educational institutions among the facilities required to install cameras, and it also draws clear lines around what must never be filmed. If you run a school or nursery in Riyadh, Jeddah or Dammam, this guide covers where cameras should go, where they are prohibited, and how to protect children's and staff privacy without leaving a security gap.

Why schools and nurseries are different

In an office or warehouse, cameras protect property. In a school or nursery the first goal is child safety: who comes in, who leaves, who collects each child at dismissal, and what happens in corridors and playgrounds. Children are also the most privacy-sensitive group, so the design must be precise: full coverage of shared spaces, zero cameras in private ones. For the general framework across all business types, see our guide to CCTV requirements for businesses in Saudi Arabia.

What the law requires

The law was issued in 2022, followed by its implementing regulations. Key points for school owners:

• Mandatory installation: educational institutions are covered, and installation is tied to issuing or renewing the licence.
• Continuous operation and maintenance: cameras must keep recording, not just be mounted.
• Signage: a visible sign must state the area is under surveillance.
• Retention: recordings are kept for the period set in the requirements; after a reported incident they must be preserved unaltered until the investigation ends.
• No sharing: recordings may not be transferred or published without approval from the competent authorities or a court.

A summary of the law is available at saudipedia.com/en/article/3315 — always confirm current details with your licensing authority.

Penalties announced by the Ministry of Interior

• SAR 20,000 for publishing or broadcasting recordings in breach of the law, or damaging equipment or recordings.
• SAR 10,000 for installing cameras in prohibited places.
• SAR 5,000 for failing to keep recordings for the required period.

Installing in the wrong place costs more than failing to retain footage — more cameras is not automatically safer; correct planning is.

Where to install cameras

Entrances and the dismissal gate

The single most important point. A 4MP+ camera on every entrance, angled to capture faces, plus one covering the child hand-over area.

Corridors and stairways

Continuous coverage with no blind spots. Dome cameras suit indoor corridors: discreet and harder to tamper with.

Playgrounds and bus bays

Outdoor bullet cameras rated IP66 or higher for heat and dust, with night vision if the site is used in the evening.

Classrooms: a grey area

The law does not explicitly ban classrooms, but many schools cover the corridor outside the classroom door instead. If you do install inside, do it under a written policy known to parents and teachers, without audio, and with strictly limited viewing rights.

Where cameras are never allowed

• Toilets and restrooms
• Changing rooms and nappy-changing rooms
• Nap/rest rooms in nurseries (confirm with your licensing authority)
• The school clinic and examination rooms

Place the camera in the corridor leading to these rooms so it records who entered and when — never what happens inside.

Privacy: who can watch the footage?

• Limit viewing rights to two or three named people and log every playback.
• Do not offer parents live classroom streams; transferring footage to third parties is restricted by law.
• Separate the camera network from student and staff Wi-Fi — see our guide to CCTV network security.
• Change default NVR and camera passwords on installation day.

Recommended setup for a mid-size school

• Recorder: an NVR with ~25% spare channels for expansion.
• Indoor: 4MP dome cameras.
• Outdoor: heat-resistant IP66+ bullet cameras.
• Storage: surveillance-grade drives sized for the required retention period.
• Power: a UPS so recording continues during outages.

Compare recorders in our DVR vs NVR guide and budget with our CCTV installation price guide.

Beyond cameras: entry and communication

The gate is the first line of defence. Many nurseries pair the entrance camera with a video intercom so staff see visitors before opening, plus a smart lock that controls who enters. See also smart locks for schools and nurseries and our CCTV maintenance guide — the law requires continuous operation.

FAQ

Are CCTV cameras mandatory in private schools in Saudi Arabia?
Yes. Public and private educational institutions are covered by the law, and installation is tied to licensing and renewal.

Can cameras be installed inside classrooms?
Not explicitly banned, but best practice is to cover corridors and doors; if inside, use a published policy and no audio.

Can parents view school footage?
Transferring or publishing footage is restricted. Viewing happens on site under management supervision; footage goes to authorities on request.

What is the fine for a camera in a prohibited place?
Up to SAR 10,000, per the Ministry of Interior.

How many cameras does a small nursery need?
A 4–6 room nursery typically needs 6–10 cameras; a technician confirms after a site visit.

Install your school's CCTV with Fixlr

Fixlr connects you with verified technicians who know educational-facility requirements: privacy-aware camera planning, clean installation and access-rights setup, with an installation warranty and same-day service in Riyadh, Jeddah and Dammam. Browse Fixlr services, book security camera installation, or see how Fixlr works. Book at getfixlr.com.