Introduction The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreak, caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), appears to have originated in Wuhan, China, in December 2019. Subsequently, it has spread dramatically, both inside and outside of China, and has grown to become an exceptional, global, public health problem. During the early stages of a potential pandemic, such as the COVID-19 outbreak, risk perceptions and efficacy beliefs are established in response to communications with and between individuals in the groups at risk. Risk perception plays a major role in estimating the extent of community awareness regarding the seriousness of this pandemic and the extent of the willingness to cooperate in the implementation of health preventive measures, at the individual, local, and international levels. A research gap exists regarding the extent of risk perception in response to health pandemics among various societies, especially Arab societies. Additionally, the identification of the level of awareness among society members regarding the COVID-19 pandemic, their intentions and abilities to apply preventive measures, and their sense of self efficacy in the application of recommended measures represent baseline levels of information that must be gathered during scientific research to determine how best to optimize community awareness through scientific interventions, media releases, and government channels. The aim of the study was to investigate risk perceptions regarding the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreak, among the general population. Methods: A descriptive, cross-sectional design was used with a convenience sample of 723 participants, recruited from the general population of Saudi Arabia, Egypt, and Jordan. Data collection was performed using a standardized risk perception assessment questionnaire, in April 2020. Results: The mean score for the perception of COVID-19 seriousness was significantly higher and the mean scores for the perception of disease susceptibility and extent of anxiety were also higher among Saudi Arabian participants than participants from Egypt and Jordan. Participants from Egypt had significantly lower mean scores for the perception of efficacy and self-efficacy to cope with COVID-19, and significantly lower intention to comply with COVID-19 precautionary measures than the other populations. A significant positive correlation was detected between the perception of COVID-19 seriousness and self-efficacy to handle COVID-19, for the entire sample. The primary reasons reported by participants driving their willingness to perform certain preventive measures against COVID-19 was a feeling of responsibility toward their own health, followed by preventing transmission to other people and the feeling that COVID-19 can be serious. Most of the study sample reported a desire to receive information about COVID-19 treatment, ways to prevent disease contraction, and the incubation period for the novel coronavirus. Also, most of the study sample reported that they prefer receiving COVID-19 updates from national authorities. Conclusions: The perception of COVID-19 seriousness was significantly higher among participants from Saudi Arabia and the perception of susceptibility to COVID-19 and the extent of anxiety among Saudi Arabians were also high compared with participants from Egypt and Jordan. In contrast, participants from Egypt had a lower perception of efficacy and self-efficacy for dealing with COVID-19 and performing preventive measures. Moreover, Egyptian participants reported a lower intention to comply with the recommended precautionary measures against COVID-19. Recommendations: Communications via various channels designed to promote the adoption of preventive behaviors among the public should focus on raising the public’s perceptions of disease seriousness and risks and promote the effectiveness of adopting behavioral measures to reduce the perceived risks, to improve the self-efficacy of COVID-19 outbreak control. Health education programs that aim to improve COVID-19 knowledge and perception are recommended to increase public awareness and compliance with advised preventive measures.