Data Protection (PDPL) in Saudi Arabia
We build PDPL compliance that holds — gap assessments, privacy programs, SDAIA registration, breach response, and cross-border transfer — for every business that collects or processes the personal data of people in Saudi Arabia. The Personal Data Protection Law is fully in force and SDAIA is enforcing it; we build compliance that holds up under a regulator's review and a live incident.
The legal landscape
Trust in data is infrastructure for the digital economy Vision 2030 is building, and the PDPL (Royal Decree M/19, as amended by M/148) is how the Kingdom hardened it. The law reaches any controller or processor handling the personal data of individuals in the Kingdom — including entities abroad processing the data of people inside it. The obligations that bite: a personal-data breach must be notified to SDAIA within 72 hours; administrative penalties reach SAR 5 million, with criminal sanctions for intentional disclosure of sensitive data; controllers must keep records of processing and register on SDAIA’s platform; a Data Protection Officer is required in defined cases; and cross-border transfers must run through the permitted mechanisms under the Data Transfer Regulation.
Who we act for
Companies of every sector — the PDPL doesn’t care what business you’re in, only that you process personal data; multinationals moving Saudi data through global systems; technology and SaaS companies whose product is data processing; and organizations in the worst week of their year: a live breach with the 72-hour clock running.
What we do
- Gap assessment and compliance program — an honest map of where you stand against the PDPL, then a prioritized program built around your operations.
- Privacy notices and lawful basis — consent flows and notices that are defensible, in the language your users actually read.
- SDAIA registration and records — controller registration and records of processing kept audit-ready.
- DPO advisory — determining whether you must appoint one, and supporting the function once you do.
- Cross-border transfer — structuring transfers through standard contractual clauses or SDAIA authorization, coordinated with residency rules through our cloud & technology practice.
- Breach response — the 72-hour notification, the internal investigation, and the coordination with cybersecurity obligations through our cybersecurity practice.
How an engagement runs
We assess the current state; agree the remediation program and its priorities; implement the documents, registrations, and processes; and stay on as privacy counsel — new products, new transfers, and the incident drills that make the 72-hour clock survivable.
Why Temairik for PDPL
Data protection here is practiced alongside cybersecurity and cloud regulation as three separate specializations that constantly touch. When your data question is really a residency question, or your breach is also an NCA matter, the counsel doesn’t change hands.
Assessing your exposure, or managing a live incident? Discuss your matter with our data protection team →
Related reading: who the PDPL applies to · the 72-hour breach notice · cross-border transfer · SDAIA registration.
Frequently asked questions
What is the PDPL and who does it apply to?
Saudi Arabia's Personal Data Protection Law (Royal Decree M/19, amended by M/148), applying to any controller or processor handling the personal data of individuals in the Kingdom — including from abroad.
How long do I have to report a data breach?
A personal-data breach must be notified to SDAIA within 72 hours.
What are the penalties for breaching the PDPL?
Administrative penalties of up to SAR 5 million, with criminal sanctions for intentional disclosure of sensitive personal data.
Does my company need a Data Protection Officer?
A DPO is required in defined cases depending on the nature and scale of processing; a gap assessment confirms whether your organization must appoint one.
Can I transfer personal data outside Saudi Arabia?
Yes — through the permitted mechanisms, including standard contractual clauses and SDAIA authorization, under the Data Transfer Regulation.
Does the PDPL apply to companies outside Saudi Arabia?
Yes — it applies to entities outside the Kingdom that process the personal data of individuals inside it.
Tell us about your matter.
A few sentences are enough. We respond within one business day. Please leave out confidential details at this stage.