Saudi Arabia, represented by the Saudi Data and Artificial Intelligence Authority (SDAIA), has reiterated its strong commitment to adopting innovative solutions and leveraging artificial intelligence (AI) across various critical sectors.
SDAIA emphasized its dedication to implementing global best practices, ensuring compliance with laws, policies, and regulations related to AI management systems. The goal is to uphold ethical principles, promote responsible AI usage, and ensure sound governance as part of the Kingdom’s digital transformation efforts aligned with the Vision 2030 objectives.
This announcement comes amid rapid global developments in AI technologies and their increasing integration into all aspects of life—both institutional and individual. As AI grows more influential, it brings new challenges, prompting nations, especially Saudi Arabia, to establish ethical foundations for the responsible and beneficial use of these technologies for all humanity.
SDAIA has been working to raise awareness of the policies, systems, regulations, and decisions related to data and AI. As the national reference authority for data and artificial intelligence, SDAIA plays a central role in regulating, developing, and overseeing the sector within the Kingdom.
In 2024, SDAIA issued the AI Adoption Framework Document, a comprehensive guide designed to facilitate the responsible and effective adoption of AI across all sectors in Saudi Arabia. The document outlines strategic directions, offers best practice recommendations, and details key steps to ensure optimal and ethical implementation of AI technologies to deliver tangible benefits.
The framework also supports building a knowledge-driven society rooted in innovation and continuous development. It provides practical guidance and global benchmarks to help both the public and private sectors transition effectively to AI-powered tools that bring measurable impact.
SDAIA also became the first organization in the world to receive the ISO 42001:2023 certification for AI Management Systems, awarded in 2024. This global standard recognizes SDAIA’s application of rigorous AI management practices and highlights the Kingdom’s global leadership in data and artificial intelligence.
ISO 42001 is the world’s first AI management system standard, and SDAIA’s certification adds to the growing list of international credentials the organization has earned in the data and AI domains.
Further demonstrating Saudi Arabia’s global leadership, the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) recently confirmed a regional partnership with the Kingdom in the area of AI policy. The OECD is a global leader in trusted AI policies and initiatives, and this partnership strengthens Saudi Arabia’s role in both regional and international AI governance.
Moreover, SDAIA recently joined the OECD Recommendation on Artificial Intelligence, the world’s first international standard in the field. This recommendation aims to foster innovation and build trust in AI technologies through responsible governance practices—including for general and generative AI systems.
On the local level, SDAIA launched a Self-Assessment Tool for AI Ethics through the National Data Governance Platform. The tool is designed to help government entities, private organizations, and individual developers assess their ethical compliance when developing and deploying AI technologies. It provides a structured and comprehensive analysis framework to gauge adherence to ethical standards.
This self-assessment tool enables organizations to enhance transparency and reliability in AI application development. It also promotes alignment with global best practices, ensuring that AI solutions serve societal needs and elevate the Kingdom’s international standing in the field.
Additionally, the tool focuses on delivering social and environmental benefits, protecting privacy, ensuring data security, and emphasizing trustworthiness and system safety. It promotes transparency and interpretability, allowing for a better understanding of AI models and their decision-making processes.
In a related effort, SDAIA published a specialized report on AI bias, addressing the challenges associated with AI adoption and development—especially as many countries, organizations, and global companies continue to rapidly implement AI across sensitive and critical sectors. The report highlights growing concerns about bias in AI systems, particularly those used in decision-making contexts.
