“I have three years working at this job, but my salary is 1,500 riyals a month,” said Mabrook, a Saudi in his 20s. “I don’t have a weapon to defend myself, either, in the event I need to capture thieves.”

Working as security guards is one of the few job classifications in the Kingdom that prohibits foreign employees in a country where practically every other job in the private sectors allows for competition from imported foreign workers.

“Our required standards are that the Saudi must be less than 20 years at the time of employment and must have a high school diploma,” said Mohammad Al-Mandeeli, the manager of a security firm in Jeddah.

“Salaries are according to the importance of the sites our employees guard. We can pay more then 3,000 riyals for guards who have specific skills and strong bodies.”

Another problem Saudi security guards face is confrontations from young Saudi men who want to enter shopping malls on family-only days. And for guards in parts of south Jeddah — where the crime rate is higher — the job can be downright dangerous.

“Especially working at night,” said Mohammad Naaeem, a Saudi in his 20s. “I hope to find another job, but there are few jobs for somebody who only has a high school degree.”

Naaeem said one night he confronted two young men who were acting suspiciously near a commercial center late at night, “but they were able to run away because they threatened violence and I had no way to defend myself.”

Saeed Maimon, another young Saudi man who works as a night watchman agreed that he is underpaid for such a potentially dangerous job.

“Working at night is an adventure; I can’t predict the criminal incidents I might face,” he said. “I pray every day that I return home safely.”