Saudi Arabia’s Personal Data Protection Law

Saudi PDPL

The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s Personal Data Protection Law (PDPL), enforced by the Saudi Data and Artificial Intelligence Authority (SDAIA), marks a major milestone in strengthening data privacy and protection within the region. Designed to regulate the collection, processing, storage, and transfer of personal data, PDPL applies to all entities handling personal data of individuals residing in the Kingdom, whether operating locally or abroad.

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What is PDPL?

The Saudi PDPL was enacted to ensure the rights of individuals over their personal data while setting obligations for controllers and processors. It introduces specific rules around consent, cross-border data transfers, data subject rights, breach notification, and more.

The law’s scope applies to:

  • All organisations (public or private) processing the personal data of individuals in Saudi Arabia.

  • Foreign entities processing Saudi citizens’ personal data, regardless of location.
    • Saudi PDPL

    Core Compliance Requirements

    Under the PDPL, entities must establish clear governance over personal data through the following key measures:

    Lawful Basis for Processing

    Process personal data only for legitimate, specific purposes and with the individual’s informed consent.

    Data Subject Rights

    Ensure individuals can access, correct, or request deletion of their personal data at any time.

    Breach Notification

    Report any unauthorised data access or disclosure to SDAIA within the legally required time frame.

    Cross-Border Transfers

    Transfer personal data outside KSA only with strict safeguards and SDAIA approval or valid exemptions.

    Retention and Minimisation

    Collect and retain only the minimum data necessary for clear, defined, and lawful processing purposes.

    Data Protection Officer (DPO)

    Appoint a DPO to manage privacy risks, ensure compliance, and act as a central governance lead.
    Frameworks. Controls. Assurance.

    PDPL Compliance Services

    Risk Associates supports regulated entities across the KSA with tailored PDPL compliance engagements, helping you translate regulatory obligations into actionable implementation.
    Regulatory Readiness Review
    Assess your organisation’s alignment with the Saudi PDPL and identify regulatory exposure across data processing workflows.
    Privacy Risk Impact Analysis
    Analyse high-risk processing activities through targeted impact assessments tailored for PDPL compliance.
    Compliance Enablement and Execution
    Translate PDPL obligations into practical controls through tailored implementation support, policy drafting, and readiness action plans.
    Data Protection

    Is Your Organisation Subject to Saudi Arabia’s PDPL?

    The Saudi Personal Data Protection Law (PDPL) applies extraterritorially — meaning any organisation, whether located inside or outside the Kingdom, that processes the personal data of individuals residing in Saudi Arabia is subject to its provisions.

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