Terrorism and Border Security in Saudi Arabia: Evaluating Criminological Strategies to Counter Cross-Border Terrorism

Abstract

The following research describes the grand strategy that Saudi Arabia has adopted to protect its borders from emerging threats in the Middle East and to deter terrorism. The efficiency of such strategies will be judged based on their financial investment, advanced technologies engaged, and international cooperation. This study will employ a mixed-method approach, relying both on quantitative data from official reports and institutional databases and qualitative insights from expert interviews, case studies, and document analysis. Results indicate that the state of Saudi Arabia has been successful in its security at the borders, where terrorist activities greatly reduce due to huge technological investments, such as drones and biometric systems, artificial intelligence, which increase the levels of surveillance and rate of response, thus drastically reducing the level of illegal border crossing attempts and terrorist incidents. Furthermore, an active member of the international coalitions in which Saudi Arabia participates is the Global Coalition to Counter ISIS and the Islamic Military Counter Terrorism Coalition, which are two coalitions in which Saudi Arabia heavily participates. The research acknowledges ongoing challenges, including the need for greater flexibility in adapting to a rapidly changing geopolitical environment and continuous threats from the Yemen conflict. Despite these challenges, Saudi Arabia has achieved considerable success, though maintaining and enhancing its security infrastructure will require ongoing investment in technological innovation, deeper international collaboration, and attention to socio-economic development in border areas. This study provides valuable insights into Saudi Arabia's border security and counter-terrorism strategies, offering lessons applicable to other countries facing similar security challenges.