Planning
AEDs for Shopping Malls in the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Oman
By NeoPulse AED Team · Published · Updated
Prepared with AI assistance using the linked sources. Read our editorial policy.
Quick answer
Plan mall AED access around peak-hour travel routes, every security shift and a control-room map covering entrances, food courts, cinemas, prayer rooms and car parks. Historical UAE reports describe AEDs in malls with staff training, while the cited Saudi review describes installations in other public settings and recommends wider access. These sources do not establish a universal mall AED mandate in the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar or Oman; confirm the requirements for the specific site with its operator and relevant authorities.
What GCC public-access programmes show
In the UAE, the Ministry of Interior announced an AED programme for public places that began with Marina Mall in Abu Dhabi, with hands-on training for mall staff and free courses for the public. A later Abu Dhabi Police report said the ministry had deployed 82 AEDs across the UAE, naming malls and shopping centres among the locations, and had run 78 training courses including 25 refresher courses. The pages carry older datelines, so treat them as background on how programmes are run, not as current rules.
In Saudi Arabia, a 2022 review by Saudi Red Crescent Authority authors, published on the Ministry of Health website, describes AEDs placed in airports and at the holy mosques. It sets out a national plan proposal and recommends that AEDs be placed in public buildings, for example at secured entrances. It also proposes a national AED registry, training for public servants, and voice prompts in the most widely spoken language. It is a review and proposal, not a regulation.
Source: Abu Dhabi Police: MoI to install AEDs in public places; Abu Dhabi Police: 82 defibrillators deployed across the UAE; Saudi MOH: Toward more AEDs in public places, a national plan (PDF)
Qatar and Oman
We did not find a published public-access AED rule or programme for malls in Qatar or Oman when this guide was written. Mall operators there can use the same approach: a risk assessment, AEDs reachable from every zone, trained security on each shift, and a clear handover to the ambulance service. Ask the landlord, the civil defence authority and any tenant group standard whether they add requirements.
Zones to cover in a mall
Walk each route with the security manager at a busy time, starting from the control room, and time how long it takes to bring an AED to each zone.
- Main entrances and secured access points, which the Saudi review suggests as visible, protected locations.
- Food courts and family entertainment areas, where many people sit for long periods.
- Cinemas, ice rinks and event spaces, where lights, crowds and closed doors slow access.
- Prayer rooms, which fill at set times.
- Car parks, taxi ranks and service yards, including the routes security use to reach them.
The security control room is the hub
In most malls, security staff are the first to arrive at an emergency. Give the control room a map of every AED, a way to dispatch the nearest trained guard, and a procedure for meeting the ambulance at the right entrance. If cabinets have alarms, decide who responds when one is opened.
Tenants matter too. Shop and restaurant staff should know how to call security and where the nearest AED is, even if they are not trained to use it.
Mall AED worksheet
Use this with the mall manager, security manager and facilities team. It is an original planning aid, not an authority form.
| Check | What to record | Question for the review |
|---|---|---|
| Requirement | Landlord, civil defence or group standard; risk assessment. | Which document sets AED provision for this mall? |
| Response time | Measured minutes from each AED to each zone at peak hours. | Can security bring an AED to every zone quickly through the crowd? |
| People | Trained guards per shift, refresher dates, tenant awareness briefings. | Who responds at night, during events and during Ramadan hours? |
| Control room | AED map, dispatch procedure, ambulance meeting points. | Does the control room know which AED and guard to send? |
| Signage and language | AED signs, voice-prompt languages, floor directory entries. | Can visitors and staff find the AED and follow its prompts? |
| Checks | Status log, pad and battery expiry, cabinet alarms, post-use process. | Who checks each AED, and who restocks it after use? |
What to ask an AED supplier for a mall
Ask which voice-prompt languages the exact model offers, whether alarmed cabinets and wayfinding signs are available, and whether status checks can be logged centrally for many units.
Ask for training for security teams on every shift, with refreshers, and a clear process to replace pads and batteries after use. NeoPulse can quote AEDs, cabinets, signage and security team training for malls in the UAE and the wider GCC; send the floor plans and visitor peaks through the quote form.
Buyer questions
Are AEDs mandatory in shopping malls in the UAE?
We did not find a published rule that makes AEDs mandatory in every UAE mall. The UAE Ministry of Interior has run a public-access programme that placed AEDs in malls with staff training. Check landlord, civil defence and group requirements.
Are AEDs required in Saudi malls?
A 2022 review on the Saudi MOH website recommends AEDs in public buildings, such as at secured entrances, and proposes a national registry. It is a proposal, not a regulation. Check current requirements with the authorities.
Where should AEDs go in a mall?
Where security can bring one quickly to every zone: entrances, food courts, cinemas, prayer rooms and car parks, coordinated from the control room. Time the routes at peak hours.
Who should be trained to use mall AEDs?
Security staff on every shift first, then supervisors and any staff on duty at night. Tenants should at least know how to call security and where the nearest AED is.
Do you have a guide for Dubai malls?
Yes. See our AED for malls in Dubai page for local planning points.