PDPL-Saudi Arabia Compliance
The PDPL and The implementing Regulation set out the bases for the protection of personal data, the rights of data subjects, and the obligations of controllers in Saudi Arabia.
Privacy & Data Protection Law - KSA
Marking a pivotal development in its regulatory framework, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) introduced the Personal Data Protection Law (PDPL) on September 14, 2023. PDPL is non-certifiable aims to protect the personal data of individuals.
Key Provisions of the Personal Data Protection Law (PDPL):
- Scope of Application: PDPL applies to all entities that process personal data in Saudi Arabia, including public and private sectors, as well as entities outside the Kingdom if their activities involve Saudi residents.
- Data Controller and Processor Roles: The law clearly distinguishes between the roles of the Data Controller (decision-maker) and Data Processor (executor).
- Sensitive Data: Special attention is given to sensitive data, which includes genetic, health, religious, or biometric information.
- Cross-Border Transfers: Strict guidelines are in place for the transfer of data outside Saudi Arabia to ensure it aligns with national security and privacy standards.
- Penalties: Non-compliance can lead to fines of up to SAR 5 million, imprisonment, or both, depending on the severity of the breach.
Who Should Comply With PDPL-KSA?
The PDPL has a broad scope and applies to any entity that processes the personal data of individuals residing in the Kingdom. This includes:
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Entities located within KSA: Any public or private entity established within Saudi Arabia that collects, accesses, processes, stores, or handles personal data must comply.
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Entities located outside KSA that process data of KSA residents: The law also extends to organizations located outside of Saudi Arabia if they process the personal data of individuals who reside in KSA, particularly when offering goods or services to them or monitoring their behavior within the Kingdom.
Essentially, any organization, regardless of its location, that handles personal data related to individuals in Saudi Arabia falls under the purview of the PDPL and must comply with its requirements to ensure the lawful and secure processing of that data.
Need more details? Review the PDPL-KSA:
If you cannot find what you want, please visit the SDAIA website
You can also read other related documents:
- The Implementing Regulation of the PDPL
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The Rules Governing the National Register of Controllers Within the Kingdom
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Guidelines for Binding Common Rules (BCR) For Personal Data Transfers
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Personal Data Destruction, Anonymization, and Pseudonymisation Guideline
Remember you can always refer to SDAIA Regulations Page for any updates.
How Cyberatos Can Help You ?
Navigating the specific requirements of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia's Personal Data Protection Law (PDPL) requires a detailed understanding of data handling principles and legal obligations. Cyberatos provides expert assistance to organizations seeking to achieve and maintain compliance with the Saudi PDPL.
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Our services begin with a comprehensive gap analysis & Security Testing to assess your current data processing activities and privacy practices against the PDPL's mandates.
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We then guide you in developing and implementing the necessary privacy policies, procedures, and consent mechanisms required by the law.
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Cyberatos assists in data mapping and inventory to help you understand where personal data resides and how it is processed, and conducts privacy risk assessments to identify and mitigate potential compliance issues.
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We also support the implementation of appropriate technical and organizational safeguards, provide training and awareness programs for your staff on PDPL requirements, and help establish processes for handling data subject rights requests.
With our understanding of the Saudi regulatory landscape, Cyberatos helps your organization build a robust privacy program that meets PDPL requirements, ensuring the lawful and secure handling of personal data.
