As Saudi Arabia continues its transformation into a data-driven digital economy under Vision 2030, the collection and use of personal data has become an increasingly important legal and business concern. Organisations across sectors routinely process customer, employee, financial and identification information. To establish a comprehensive framework for protecting such information, Saudi Arabia introduced the Personal Data Protection Law (PDPL).
The PDPL was originally issued under Royal Decree No. M/19 in 2021 and was subsequently amended by Royal Decree No. M/148 in 2023. The framework is supported by its Implementing Regulations and the Regulation on Personal Data Transfer Outside the Kingdom. The Saudi Data and AI Authority (SDAIA) is the competent authority overseeing the implementation of the PDPL.
What is the KSA PDPL?
The PDPL establishes rules governing the processing of personal data and seeks to protect individuals’ privacy while enabling organisations to use data responsibly.
The law applies to the processing of personal data relating to individuals that takes place within Saudi Arabia. It can also apply where parties outside the Kingdom process personal data relating to individuals residing in Saudi Arabia. The law also provides specific treatment for information relating to deceased individuals where the data could identify them or members of their family.
Personal data is broadly defined and can include names, identification numbers, addresses, contact information, financial information, photographs, videos and other information that can directly or indirectly identify an individual.
Key Principles of Data Protection
The PDPL incorporates several fundamental data protection principles. These include lawfulness, fairness and transparency, purpose limitation, data minimisation, storage limitation, accuracy, integrity and confidentiality, and accountability.
This means that organisations should have a legitimate reason for processing personal data, clearly identify the purpose of processing and avoid collecting information that is unnecessary for that purpose.
Businesses should also ensure that personal data remains accurate and is not retained for longer than necessary, unless a longer retention period is required by applicable law.
Rights of Data Subjects
The PDPL provides individuals with rights concerning their personal data. Depending on the circumstances, Data Subjects may exercise rights relating to access to their personal data, obtaining copies, requesting correction and requesting destruction of data where the applicable requirements are satisfied.
These rights reinforce the principle that individuals should have meaningful control over information relating to them.
Responsibilities of Organisations
Businesses processing personal data must establish appropriate organisational and technical measures to protect it. This includes protecting information against unauthorised access, loss, destruction, alteration or disclosure.
Organisations should also consider maintaining records of their processing activities, implementing appropriate privacy policies and procedures, and establishing mechanisms through which individuals can exercise their rights. SDAIA has issued specific guidance on maintaining records of personal data processing activities.
Cross-Border Data Transfers
The PDPL also regulates transfers and disclosures of personal data outside Saudi Arabia. The applicable framework seeks to ensure that transferred data continues to receive an adequate level of protection and imposes conditions and safeguards for international transfers. SDAIA has issued additional regulations, guidelines and standard contractual clauses concerning transfers outside the Kingdom.
Conclusion
The KSA PDPL represents an important development in Saudi Arabia’s data protection landscape. It places privacy, security and accountability at the centre of how organisations handle personal information.
For businesses, compliance should begin with understanding what personal data is collected, why it is processed, where it is stored, who has access to it and when it should be deleted. A proactive approach to data governance can help organisations meet their legal responsibilities while strengthening trust in Saudi Arabia’s rapidly developing digital economy.
