Safety gloves are one of the most frequently purchased PPE items across Saudi Arabia’s industrial, construction, and manufacturing sectors. They are also one of the most frequently mis-specified — the wrong glove for the hazard provides false protection and increases injury risk. This guide helps procurement officers, HSE managers, and site supervisors in KSA select the right gloves for every application.
Understanding EN 388 — The Mechanical Risk Standard
The majority of work gloves in Saudi Arabia are specified to EN 388:2016 — the European standard for gloves protecting against mechanical risks. Every EN 388-certified glove carries a four or five-digit performance code that tells you exactly how the glove performs in testing:
- A — Abrasion resistance (0–4)
- B — Blade cut resistance (0–5)
- C — Tear resistance (0–4)
- D — Puncture resistance (0–4)
- E — TDM blade cut (A–F, in the 2016 revision)
- F — Impact protection (P = pass, if tested)
A rating of EN 388:4544 means the glove scored 4/4 on abrasion, 5/5 on cut, 4/4 on tear, and 4/4 on puncture — a high-performance general work glove. Always read the full code, not just the headline standard.
Glove Types by Application — Saudi Arabia Context
1. Leather Welding Gloves (EN 12477)
The single most-used glove in Saudi Arabia’s oil and gas, construction, and manufacturing sectors. Leather welding gloves must meet EN 12477 (the welding-specific glove standard), which specifies protection against heat, molten metal spatter, and mechanical risks specific to welding operations.
RAF Safety manufactures its own line of CE-marked leather welding gloves at our Pakistan facility — cow split leather construction in A-grade and A+ grade quality. Available in long (35 cm cuff) and short (28 cm cuff) variants. Exported to Saudi Arabia, UAE, and across the GCC at factory-direct pricing for bulk orders.
2. Cotton Knit Dotted Gloves
The highest-volume glove by unit count across Saudi Arabia’s construction sector. Cotton knit gloves with PVC dot grip provide basic hand protection and grip for general manual handling — moving materials, stacking, light assembly. Not suitable for cut hazards. Available from RAF Safety in weight grades from 30g to 70g per pair.
3. Nitrile Coated Gloves (EN 388)
Nitrile palm-coated gloves on a polyester/cotton liner are the standard for assembly work, light manufacturing, and tasks requiring dexterity with grip. The nitrile coating provides oil resistance and significantly better grip than bare cotton. Common specifications in KSA: EN 388:4131 to EN 388:4544 depending on coat thickness.
4. Latex/Crinkle Coated Gloves
Crinkle latex coating on a polycotton liner gives excellent wet and dry grip, used widely in warehousing, concrete work, and general construction. The crinkle texture on the palm and fingers provides superior grip in dusty and wet conditions compared to smooth nitrile coatings.
5. Chemical-Resistant Gloves
For chemical handling in petrochemical plants, laboratories, and industrial cleaning, gloves must be selected based on the specific chemicals involved — not just a general chemical resistance claim. Nitrile gloves resist petroleum-based chemicals; neoprene resists acids and bases; butyl rubber offers the best protection against ketones and esters. Always cross-reference your chemical exposure list with the glove manufacturer’s chemical resistance chart.
6. Anti-Cut Gloves (EN 388 + ANSI A4/A6)
For sheet metal handling, glass handling, and blade-adjacent work, cut-resistant gloves with HPPE (high-performance polyethylene) liners — such as Kevlar or Dyneema blended yarns — are required. RAF Safety stocks PU-coated anti-cut gloves rated to EN 388 cut level D (equivalent to ANSI A4) for precision handling and EN 388 cut level F for sheet metal and glass.
Glove Selection by Saudi Arabia Industry Sector
- Oil & Gas / Aramco contractors — Leather welding gloves (EN 12477), chemical-resistant nitrile (for hydrocarbon exposure), anti-static gloves for explosive atmosphere zones
- SABIC / Petrochemical — Chemical-resistant gloves (specify per chemical), anti-cut for pipe and flange handling, leather welding for maintenance
- Construction / Vision 2030 giga-projects — Cotton dotted for general work, nitrile-coated for concrete and steel, leather welding for rebar tying and welding trades
- Manufacturing / Fabrication — Anti-cut for sheet metal, leather welding for welders, nitrile-coated for assembly
- Warehousing / Logistics — Cotton dotted or crinkle latex for handling, anti-cut for box cutters and strapping
Glove Sizing Guide for KSA Projects
Saudi Arabia’s diverse construction workforce — spanning South Asian, Southeast Asian, Arab, and Western nationalities — requires a wide size range. Size 8 (medium) and size 9 (large) account for roughly 70% of consumption on most sites. Always order at least 10% of your requirement in size 10 (XL) and 5% in size 7 (small) to avoid site stoppages when specific sizes run out.
Order Safety Gloves in Saudi Arabia — RAF Safety
RAF Safety is one of the few PPE suppliers in Saudi Arabia that both manufactures and distributes safety gloves. Our own-brand leather welding gloves are produced at our Pakistan facility and supplied factory-direct to KSA customers — eliminating distributor margins on your highest-volume glove purchase.
We supply all glove types listed in this guide from our branches in Riyadh, Al Jubail, Jeddah, and Abha. For bulk orders with CE documentation, contact +966 54 778 9997 or info@therafsafety.com.