Source: Rules Governing the Issuance of Accreditation
Certificates for Controllers and Processers (Issue 1.0,
2026)
Saudi Arabia's personal data protection framework has taken
another step towards a more structured compliance ecosystem. Saudi
Data & AI Authority (SDAIA), as the Competent
Authority for the Personal Data Protection Law
(PDPL), has issued the Rules Governing the
Issuance of Accreditation Certificates for Controllers and
Processers (the Rules). The Rules introduce a
formal accreditation certificate that can be issued to Controllers
and Processors following an independent assessment by a licensed
third party (a Licensee).
While accreditation is not positioned as a substitute for PDPL
compliance, it creates a more visible and potentially more
standardised way for organisations to evidence the maturity of
their privacy governance, particularly in regulated,
procurement-driven and cross-border operating models.
