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Rules Governing the Issuance of Accreditation Certificates to Controllers and Processors

Type	Rule
Issuing authority	Saudi Data & AI Authority / National Data Management Office (SDAIA / NDMO)
Framework	Personal Data Protection (PDPL)
Tier	Rules, controls & standards
Legal status	In force
Issued	2025-12-16 (25/06/1447H)
In force from	2026-03-06
Version	1.0
Dates	Issue 1.0 (2026). Published in Umm Al-Qura on 6 March 2026; in effect on publication.
Last verified	2026-10-20

Issue 1.0 (2026). Published in Umm Al-Qura on 6 March 2026 and in effect on publication. Basis: PDPL Art 33(2).

• Applicants: must be registered in the National Register, have a designated DPO and qualified staff, and have no pending violation proceedings.
• Term: certificates last 2 years; renew 30 business days before expiry.
• Transfers: a certificate is a transfer safeguard under Transfer Regulation Art 4.
• Issuers: licensed under the licensing and audit rules.
• Proposed: the October 2026 draft deletes Implementing Regulation Art 35; PDPL Art 33(2) remains the basis.

Documents

• Hosted official text (PDF, English)
• Official source (sdaia.gov.sa)

In this framework

• Personal Data Protection Law (PDPL)
• Implementing Regulation of the Personal Data Protection Law
• Draft Amendments to the Implementing Regulation of the PDPL (October 2026)
• Draft Amendments to the Implementing Regulation of the PDPL (April–May 2025)
• Regulation on Personal Data Transfer Outside KSA
• Rules Governing the National Register of Controllers within the Kingdom
• Draft Requirements for Practising Personal Data Protection Activities (April 2025)
• Rules for Appointing a Personal Data Protection Officer
• Standard Contractual Clauses (SCCs)
• Guidelines for Binding Common Rules (BCR) for Personal Data Transfer
• Rules Governing the Licensing to Issue Accreditation Certificates to Controllers and Processors, and the Auditing and Inspection of Personal Data Processing Activities
• Rules of Procedure on Committees for Reviewing Violations of the Provisions of the PDPL and its Implementing Regulations
• Draft standards guides for PDPL certification and audit providers
• Privacy Policy (Notice) Guideline
• Destruction, Anonymisation and Pseudonymisation Guideline
• Personal Data Disclosure Cases Guideline
• Records of Processing (RoPA) Guideline
• Personal Data Breach Incidents Procedural Guide
• Risk Assessment Guideline for Transferring Personal Data Outside the Kingdom
• Self-Assessment Guideline (incl. DPO-need tool)
• Minimum Personal Data Determination Guideline
• Guide to the PDPL for Controllers and Processors

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