Understanding　the　influence　of　spatial　variability　in　soil　friction　angle　on　trapdoor　stability　remains　crucial,　particularly　in　commonly　encountered　shallow　active　trapdoor　configurations　within　sandy　deposits.　This　study　presents　a　probabilistic　stability　assessment　of　shallow　active　trapdoors　in　spatially　random　sands,　employing　Random　Adaptive　Finite　Element　Limit　Analysis　(RAFELA)　integrated　with　Monte　Carlo　simulations　(MCs).　The　numerical　solutions,　expressed　in　terms　of　stability　number,　are　validated　through　both　deterministic　and　probabilistic　analyses.　A　comprehensive　parametric　study　examines　the　effects　of　cover　depth,　soil　friction　angle,　and　spatial　variability　parameters　(including　coefficient　of　variation　and　horizontal/vertical　correlation　lengths)　on　the　probability　of　failure　(PF)　corresponding　to　selected　factors　of　safety　(FoS).　The　observed　failure　mechanisms　reveal　distinctively　variable　sliding　surfaces,　highlighting　the　nature　of　random　field　problems　in　geomechanics.　The　study　culminates　in　the　development　of　practical　contour-based　design　charts　for　a　quick　assessment　of　PF　in　active　shallow　trapdoors　embedded　in　spatially　random　sands.　These　research　outcomes　offer　valuable　guidance　for　engineers,　facilitating　informed　decision-making　during　preliminary　design　of　buried　structures.　©　2025　Elsevier　Ltd