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Risk Assessment Guideline for Transferring Personal Data Outside the Kingdom

Type	Guideline
Issuing authority	Saudi Data & AI Authority / National Data Management Office (SDAIA / NDMO)
Framework	Personal Data Protection (PDPL)
Tier	Guidelines & circulars
Legal status	In force
Version	February 2025
Dates	February 2025. Non-binding.
Last verified	2026-10-20

Risk Assessment Guideline for Transferring Personal Data Outside the Kingdom (February 2025). Non-binding four-phase method for the Transfer Regulation Art 7 risk assessment, including impact on the Kingdom's vital interests; companion tool on the National Data Governance Platform.

Documents

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

Updates for this instrument

• 2025-02-25 · Guideline on cross-border transfer risk assessment: SDAIA published a non-binding, four-phase methodology for assessing the risks of transferring personal data outside the Kingdom, with a companion risk-assessment tool on the National Data Governance Platform.

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 Issuance of Accreditation Certificates to Controllers and Processors
• 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
• Self-Assessment Guideline (incl. DPO-need tool)
• Minimum Personal Data Determination Guideline
• Guide to the PDPL for Controllers and Processors

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