This article considers differences between managing the risk of occupational violence in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) and the West, particularly providing a Saudi perspective on occupational violence and risk management. Comparing risk management in a Muslim country with a western one is problematic. Of paramount importance are underlying religious/moral and cultural differences that impact upon all aspects of daily life. In the KSA, violence is a security and criminal matter rather than a workplace health and safety issue. The incidence of violence in most sectors (banking and health are used as exemplars here) is very low compared with the West. Hence, managing this specific risk is not an agenda item within the KSUnderstanding this position derives from considering religious, legal and criminal contexts. Information was gathered by interviewing Saudi and expatriate employees in Riyadh, capital of the KSRespondents were from the health, oil, safety and financial sectors