The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) has entered into a strategic partnership with the Saudi Facility Management Association (SFMA) through the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) aimed at raising fire and life safety standards across the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
The agreement, signed in Riyadh by Olga Caledonia, Director of International Business Development at NFPA, and Aiyd A. Alqahtani, Board Chairman at SFMA, will focus on advancing the capabilities of the Kingdom’s facilities management workforce in line with international safety benchmarks.
Through this collaboration, NFPA and SFMA will jointly develop certification programmes, launch new training initiatives, and co-host industry conferences designed to enhance fire and life safety awareness. The partnership will serve as a platform for knowledge-sharing and the dissemination of best practices, as Saudi Arabia continues its ambitious transformation under Vision 2030.
“Saudi Arabia is undergoing rapid development across sectors, from housing to hospitality, and from smart cities to iconic mega-projects, placing it firmly among the world’s fastest-growing economies,” said Olga Caledonia. “With this scale and speed of growth comes a heightened need for robust fire and life safety measures to ensure that progress is not compromised by preventable risks. Through our partnership with SFMA, we are proud to support this national momentum by bringing NFPA’s nearly 130 years of expertise and a portfolio of more than 300 globally recognised codes and standards to assist in preventing loss.”
Echoing this sentiment, Aiyd A. Alqahtani emphasised the partnership’s alignment with national priorities: “At SFMA, our mission is to elevate the professional capabilities of facilities managers throughout Saudi Arabia, in alignment with Vision 2030’s goals of building safer, healthier, and more dynamic communities. This collaboration with NFPA will amplify our efforts by providing access to international best practices in fire and life safety, enriching training programmes, and promoting knowledge exchange that will positively impact communities across the Kingdom.”
Under the terms of the MoU, SFMA members will also gain access to NFPA’s extensive resources, including the NFPA Fire & Life Safety Ecosystem — a comprehensive framework featuring research, data, and tools to mitigate fire-related risks. Members will also have the opportunity to participate in global NFPA events and contribute to the evolution of fire safety codes and standards.
