Data Protection and Privacy: Saudi Arabia's Regulatory Framework

Sun, 22 Feb 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Overview

Saudi Arabia data protection and privacy regulation now centres on the Personal Data Protection Law (PDPL), SDAIA supervision, cybersecurity controls, and cross-border data-transfer rules. The framework reflects the Kingdom’s rapid digitisation and its ambition to become a regional hub for technology, artificial intelligence, and the digital economy.

The PDPL, administered by the Saudi Data and Artificial Intelligence Authority (SDAIA), represents the Kingdom’s first comprehensive data protection legislation. It establishes individual data rights, corporate compliance obligations, cross-border data transfer rules, and data localisation requirements that collectively bring Saudi Arabia’s data governance framework into alignment with international standards. Complementing the PDPL, the National Cybersecurity Authority (NCA) administers a parallel regulatory framework governing cybersecurity across critical infrastructure, government, and private-sector entities.

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Data Protection and Privacy: Saudi Arabia's Regulatory Framework

Overview