Control Room Design in Saudi Arabia
Control rooms for Saudi oil, gas and power
We design control rooms for oil and gas, petrochemical and power facilities in Saudi Arabia, working from our partner MCPM’s offices in Riyadh and Jeddah.
Our designs follow the owner’s engineering standards, such as Saudi Aramco Engineering Standards (SAES) or SABIC Engineering Standards, alongside ISO 11064. Local contractors supply and install to our specification. See how delivery works on our GCC page.
Owner standards first
SAES, SES or your own specification sets the baseline. ISO 11064 fills the human-factors gaps.
Task and link analysis
Every operator role and link mapped before a console is drawn.
Consoles and video walls
Vendor-independent performance specifications, so bids compare like for like.
Fire command centres
Rooms planned to the current Saudi Building Code fire requirements, SBC 801-2024.
OT security in the layout
Equipment rooms and access planned with the NCA’s ECC-2:2024 and OTCC-1:2022 in mind.
Where We Work in Saudi Arabia
Oil and gas
Upstream, gas plant and refinery control rooms, designed around the DCS, SCADA and alarm philosophy in use.
Upstream, gas, refining
Petrochemical
Complex upgrades phased so the plant keeps a working control position at every stage.
Live upgrades
Power and water
Generation, transmission and desalination control and dispatch centres for round-the-clock operation.
Generation and dispatch
What We Bring to Saudi Arabia
2009
Designing control rooms since
100+
Control rooms designed
2
Crude oil refineries upgraded live
2
Partner offices in Saudi Arabia
Client and site names are not published. References on request.
Saudi codes change: we check the edition every time
The Saudi Building Code fire requirements were reissued as SBC 801-2024, in force since mid-2025 and aligned to the 2021 International Fire Code, and they changed how fire command centres are sized and identified. For information and OT security, the National Cybersecurity Authority’s ECC-2:2024 and OTCC-1:2022 apply alongside the owner’s own requirements.
We confirm every edition with the owner and the authority before design starts.
Standards Behind Every Design
We design with reference to the standards that matter for people in control rooms. Tap a card to see what each one covers.
ISO 11064Ergonomic design of control centresTap to read more
Layout, workstation, display and environmental requirements for control rooms, from concept to evaluation.
ISO 6385Ergonomics of work systemsTap to read more
The principles behind designing work around people: tasks, equipment and environment together.
EEMUA 201Control room design guidanceTap to read more
Practical guidance on human-centred control room and HMI design for process industries.
EEMUA 191Alarm systemsTap to read more
How to design, manage and measure alarm systems so operators are not flooded.
ISA-18.2 / IEC 62682Alarm management lifecycleTap to read more
The lifecycle for alarm philosophy, rationalisation and performance monitoring.
ISA-101HMI designTap to read more
How operator screens should be structured, from plant overview down to equipment detail.
IOGP 454Human factors in projectsTap to read more
Human factors engineering built into capital projects from the start.
Your site codesLocal and owner specificationsTap to read more
Your own specifications and the codes in force where you build always take precedence.
Frequently asked questions
Do you have an office in Saudi Arabia?
We work from MCPM’s offices in Riyadh and Jeddah, and travel for surveys, design workshops and site supervision.
Can you design to Saudi Aramco Engineering Standards?
Yes. We work to the owner’s engineering standards, including SAES where they apply, and flag any conflict with ISO 11064 early so it is resolved before the design is fixed.
Do you supply the consoles and video wall?
In the GCC we design and specify. Approved local suppliers supply and install to our specification, and we supervise the build.
Can you work under an EPC?
Yes. We often join a project team as the control room design specialist, working to the EPC’s programme and document control.
When should we bring you in?
Before the control building layout and the console order are fixed. Changes cost least at that stage.