Warehouse CCTV design does not start with a camera count. It starts with how things move on site: where trucks enter, where goods are unloaded, which aisle they are stored in, and who may enter each area.
This guide shows how to split warehouses and logistics centres into surveillance zones, which camera suits each zone, what Saudi regulations require, and examples from the Hikvision and Dahua models available through AZEIDK’s security and surveillance solutions.
Key takeaways
- The Implementing Regulations of the Saudi Security Surveillance Cameras Law list stores and warehouses, and goods loading and unloading areas, among the areas cameras must cover.
- Each zone has its own goal: reading plates at the gate, following loading at the dock, tracking movement in aisles, detecting intrusion on the fence.
- Racking aisles need cameras at the aisle ends with varifocal lenses and a vertical image, not wide-angle cameras above the racks.
- At loading docks, wide dynamic range (WDR) matters more than megapixels.
- Linking cameras with access control, barriers and number plate recognition (ANPR) turns recordings into a searchable event log.
In this article
- Why is warehouse CCTV different?
- What do Saudi regulations require from warehouses?
- Splitting the warehouse into surveillance zones
- Racking aisles: at the aisle end, not above it
- Loading docks, gates and number plate recognition
- Yard, fence line and low light
- Integration with access control and the control room
- Network and recording: calculate power first
- Common mistakes in warehouse CCTV
- Frequently asked questions
- Conclusion
Why is warehouse CCTV different?
Racking blocks sight lines, stacked goods change the layout week by week, and forklifts hide what is behind them. Outside are wide truck yards, long fences and gates that work day and night.
So each camera is designed around its purpose: detect a person, recognise them, or read a container number or plate. IEC 62676-4:2025 (edition 2.0, October 2025) gives guidance on planning, design, installation, testing and maintenance of video surveillance systems. It is a technical reference the designer adopts, not a binding rule in itself. Detail levels and pixel density are covered in CCTV Camera Placement & Coverage; here we apply them inside a warehouse.
What do Saudi regulations require from warehouses?
The Law on the Use of Security Surveillance Cameras was issued by Royal Decree No. (M/34) dated 7/3/1444 AH. Its Implementing Regulations and the Security Requirements and Conditions Document were approved by Minister of Interior Decision No. 22688 dated 3/11/1444 AH and published in Umm Al-Qura on 9 June 2023. Provisions relevant to warehouses:
- Covered areas (Article 2): stores and warehouses; goods unloading, loading and service areas; entrances, car park entrances and exits, and emergency exits.
- Equipment and network (Article 3): equipment in a secure, clean place under continuous monitoring; storage media dedicated to the cameras; no connection to other networks without Ministry approval and National Cybersecurity Authority requirements; access limited to authorised people with a log; faults reported through the e-platform.
- Operations rooms (Article 5): links based on the site sensitivity classification in the annex.
- Recordings (Article 6): after a reported security incident, recordings are kept until the investigation ends or for the period in the conditions document, whichever is longer.
Detailed specifications, retention periods and warning sign templates are in the Security Requirements and Conditions Document on the Ministry of Interior website. For background, see Surveillance Systems in Saudi Arabia: Market Growth and the Law.
Splitting the warehouse into surveillance zones
| Zone | Main goal | Suggested camera | Critical design point |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vehicle gate | Read plates, log entry and exit | ANPR camera with barrier | Capture angle, vehicle speed, night lighting |
| Loading docks | Follow loading and goods condition | Bullet or turret, varifocal, high WDR | Backlight from the open dock door |
| Racking aisles | Track people and forklifts | Fixed camera at aisle end, vertical image | Pallets and overhanging goods |
| Sorting and staging | General view of order flow | Fixed cameras with overlapping views | Layout changes over time |
| Yard and fence | Detect intrusion, follow trucks | PTZ or panoramic with analytics | False alarms, views beyond the boundary |
| Equipment and recording room | Protect equipment, log access | Fixed indoor camera | Restricted access (Article 3) |
Racking aisles: at the aisle end, not above it
A wide-angle camera on the roof above the racks shows carton tops, not what happens between the racks. Mount the camera at the aisle end looking along it, and use corridor mode (a vertical image) on models that support it, so a long, narrow aisle uses the pixels instead of the side walls.
Aisle lengths vary, so a varifocal lens helps. One example is the Hikvision iDS-2CD7A46G0/S-IZHSY (DeepinView): 4 MP (2688 × 1520), 2.8–12 mm or 8–32 mm lens, horizontal field of view 42.5° to 15.1° with the longer lens, IR up to 100 m with the 8–32 mm lens, deep learning functions including multi-target-type detection, perimeter protection and people counting, and IP67/IK10, per its AZEIDK product page.
Coordinate camera positions with lighting, cable routes and sprinklers, so no bracket obstructs a sprinkler or sits in a forklift’s path.
Loading docks, gates and number plate recognition
Loading docks
When a dock door opens, daylight floods in behind the truck. True WDR matters more here than resolution; the iDS-2CD7A46G0/S-IZHSY is rated at 140 dB WDR. Ideally each dock door has a camera looking into the trailer and unloading area, plus an overview camera for the row of docks, so each shipment can be tied to a vehicle and a time.
Gates and barriers
A vehicle gate combines a barrier, an ANPR camera and access rules that decide whether to open. AZEIDK supplies the Hikvision DS-TMC407-EH all-in-one entrance and exit unit: a 3 or 4 m fence-arm barrier, a 4 MP capture camera that recognises the plate, vehicle type and logo, an optional 21.5-inch LCD and a help button with two-way audio. Stand-alone barriers include the DS-TMG423/B (3, 4 or 5 m fence arm, 3 s raise and lower with a 4 m arm, IP54 and IK09) and the DS-TMG520 with a 3 to 6 m straight arm.
Plate reading depends on camera angle, vehicle speed and lighting. Follow the mounting heights and distances in the model’s installation guide, and leave room before the barrier for a vehicle to stop without blocking the public road.
Yard, fence line and low light
PTZ and panoramic cameras for yards
Fixed cameras alone rarely cover a large yard. The usual answer is a panoramic view plus a PTZ channel that zooms in. The Hikvision DS-2SF8C442MXG-ELW/26 TandemVu combines a 190° panoramic channel with a 42× optical zoom PTZ channel and IR up to 300 m. The Dahua SD8A840-HNF-PA offers 4K, 40× zoom, IR up to 500 m, IP67 and an operating range of −40 to +70 °C. Check the operating temperature of every outdoor camera.
On the fence line, false alarms drop when the camera can tell people and vehicles from other movement, as with the Dahua WizSense series and its dedicated AI chip. Article 8(5) of the Implementing Regulations requires a privacy mask to block viewing and recording of private areas in cases that include cameras with pan and zoom functions, outdoor rooftop cameras whose view extends beyond the site boundary, and cameras that zoom beyond 150 m. Review PTZ cameras and any camera facing roads or neighbouring buildings before approval.
Low light
Infrared gives a black-and-white night image and can reflect off nearby surfaces such as glossy stretch wrap. For nearby outdoor areas, a white-light camera such as the Hikvision DS-2CD2T47G1-L (ColorVu, F1.0 lens, white light up to 30 m) gives a colour image at night, which helps identify vehicle and clothing colours. Article 8(4) of the Implementing Regulations prohibits thermal cameras without the approval of the Public Security Directorate.
Integration with access control and the control room
Linking cameras to events ties a card swipe at a high-value store, a forced door or an unregistered vehicle to the video clip at that moment. One example is the Hikvision DS-K2801 single-door controller, with two Wiegand readers for entry and exit, door contact and exit button inputs, and capacity for 10,000 cards and 50,000 records across the series.
No lock or gate may block an escape route. Keep the camera network separate, and get Ministry approval before connecting it to another network (Article 3).
Network and recording: calculate power first
Warehouse cameras sit far from the equipment room, so calculate cable length and PoE power per port before choosing a switch. The Hikvision DS-3E1309P-EI has eight PoE ports, a 110 W total budget, up to 30 W per port, and long-range PoE up to 300 m depending on camera and cable. A PTZ camera such as the DS-2SF8C442MXG-ELW/26 needs up to 60 W from 36 VDC or Hi-PoE, which a standard PoE port cannot supply.
A small site can use a recorder such as the Hikvision DS-7608NXI-K1(B): eight channels, 80 Mbps incoming bandwidth, one SATA bay for up to 10 TB, and cameras up to 12 MP. Large logistics centres need bigger recorders sized from camera count, bitrate and the retention period in the conditions document.
Common mistakes in warehouse CCTV
- Wide-angle cameras above the racks instead of at the aisle ends.
- A high-resolution dock camera without enough WDR, losing detail when doors open.
- Using a general camera to read plates instead of a correctly mounted ANPR camera.
- Not reviewing coverage after racking and stock layouts change, leaving new blind spots.
- Sizing PoE by port count without adding up camera power, especially with PTZ cameras.
- Connecting the camera network to the facility network without approval or segregation.
Frequently asked questions
Are CCTV cameras mandatory in Saudi warehouses?
The Implementing Regulations list warehouses and loading and unloading areas among the areas cameras cover in facilities under the law. Check the Security Requirements and Conditions Document for your facility category.
How long must recordings be kept?
The conditions document sets the period. After a reported security incident, recordings are kept until the investigation ends or for the set period, whichever is longer (Article 6).
Is one PTZ camera enough for a warehouse yard?
Usually not. A PTZ camera looks in one direction at a time, so it is paired with fixed or panoramic cameras that record the overall view continuously.
How does an ANPR camera differ from a normal camera at the gate?
An ANPR camera has its angle, lighting and shutter set to read the plate and convert it to text that can be checked against authorised vehicles. A normal camera records a general scene in which the plate may be unreadable.
Conclusion
Warehouse CCTV is designed zone by zone: plate reading at the gate, WDR at the docks, a vertical image in aisles and analytics on the fence, with a properly sized network and recorder and links to access control. The law, its Implementing Regulations and the conditions document define what must be covered and kept.
Planning CCTV for a warehouse or logistics centre? Send us the layout, the number of docks and gates and the racking height, and we will propose a camera layout and suitable models with datasheets. Talk to the AZEIDK team
