Following the growth of digital infrastructure and shift to a data economy in Saudi Arabia, institutions such as the Saudi Central Bank (SAMA) and the Saudi Data and Artificial Intelligence Authority (SDAIA) have both published the necessary compliance guidelines. These are the SAMA compliance Saudi Arabia for banks and financial institutions and PDPL compliance Saudi Arabia, the highly adaptable Personal Data Protection Law KSA for all industries. But what are they, and why do they matter to your business? How do you keep up with the constantly shifting landscape of Saudi Arabian regulatory compliance?
This in-depth review by Cyber Quess addresses the most basic questions of SAMA compliance and PDPL compliance, providing a step-by-step approach to cybersecurity compliance Saudi 2025.
What Is SAMA Compliance and Who Needs It?
SAMA conformity pertains to the security rules of information provided by the Saudi Central Bank (SAMA) that apply to all the banks, insurance providers, finance companies, and allied service providers coming under its regulatory purview. Key features are:- Cybersecurity framework for controls
- Risk assessment procedures
- Incident response planning and management
- Third-party vendor management
What Is PDPL and Why Is It So Valuable in 2025?
The Saudi Arabia Personal Data Protection Law (PDPL) in its complete application since 2025 is applicable to all organizations handling personal data of individuals in the Kingdom irrespective of the organization’s location.- Compliance with PDPL Saudi Arabia includes:
- Obtaining explicit and unequivocal consent of data subjects
- Ensuring lawful processing of personal data
- Implementing sufficient data protection controls
- Facilitating individuals to exercise data rights (access, correction, erasure)
How Do SAMA and PDPL Differ—and How Do They Overlap?
SAMA and PDPL compliance may address different sectors (financial versus general) but share an overlap in that both aim to secure digital assets and personal information.- Criteria SAMA Compliance PDPL Compliance
- Scope Banks and financial institutions governed by SAMA All organizations processing personal data in KSA
- Focus Cybersecurity and risk control Maintenance of personal data and privacy
- Enforcement Body Saudi Central Bank Saudi Data and Artificial Intelligence Authority (SDAIA)
- Timeline Implemented in 2017, updated from time to time Implemented in full in 2025
- Companies must combine both frameworks into end-to-end KSA privacy compliance road map.
What Do You Need to Have on Your KSA Data Compliance Checklist?
Ensure your organization is compliant with PDPL as well as SAMA by using the following KSA data compliance checklist:- Perform Data Inventory: Determine what private data you store, process, and aggregate.
- Create Legal Foundations for Processing: Ensure any data processing activity is compliant with PDPL guidelines.
- Perform Risk Assessment: Perform SAMA and PDPL cybersecurity risk and data privacy threat assessment.
- Apply Technical Controls: Apply encryption, access control, and intrusion detection.
- Implement Policies & Procedures: Establish internal data protection, breach notice, and incident response protocols.
- Train Employees: Train your employees on Saudi Arabian data treatment and regulation compliance.
- Review Third-Party Contracts: Ensure third-party vendors comply with SAMA cybersecurity guidelines and PDPL standards.
- Employ Governance Frameworks: Appoint DPOs or compliance officers to maintain continual compliance.
What are the Most Significant Challenges in Compliance with SAMA and PDPL Regulations?
Compliance is not a project but rather an evolving process. Some of such challenges include:- No in-house local regulation knowledge
- Reduplication of SAMA and PDPL complexity
- Trans-border data transmission, which PDPL tightly inhibits
- Limited budget in developing strong cybersecurity infrastructure
- Availability of up-to-date documents to audit
What Are the Penalties for Non-Compliance?
Non-compliance with SAMA or PDPL may result in serious penalties:- PDPL Penalties and Enforcement:
- SAR 5 million maximum fine for non-compliance
- SAR 3 million and/or imprisonment for unauthorized disclosure of data
- Suspension of business for habitual breach
- SAMA Enforcement Actions:
- Fines and penalties
- Revocation of operating licenses
- Remediation order and mandatory audits
How Can Cyber Quess Assist Your Road to Compliance?
We understand the SAMA and PDPL regulation landscape. Our solutions are:- Regulatory Gap Analysis: Look where your existing operations are lacking.
- Privacy and Cybersecurity Audits: Check that you are complying with all technical and organizational requirements.
- Risk Assessment for SAMA/PDPL: Identify risks in individuals, procedures, and systems.
- Policy Development: Develop tailored data governance and cybersecurity policies.
- Staff Awareness & Training: Provide training sessions on personal data protection law KSA principles.
- Remediation & Reporting: Provide breach notices, regulator notice, and risk mitigation.
- Name a compliance leader
- Carry out data inventory and risk assessment
- Pinpoint quick-win gaps and remediate
- Create and implement policies
- Train internal staff
- Involve vendors on compliance alignment
- Automate data subject requests
- Incorporate compliance into business processes
- Audit-ready and regulator-ready
