SDAIA joins GPA as a full member, marking a formal step in Saudi Arabia’s engagement with international personal data protection standards, the Saudi Data and Artificial Intelligence Authority said on April 10, 2026.
The Global Privacy Assembly brings together data protection and privacy authorities from around the world. Its primary goal is to encourage cooperation among members and keep pace with rapid developments in the field of personal data governance.
What SDAIA’s Membership Means
Through this membership, SDAIA will take part in shaping global directions for data protection and addressing challenges related to individual privacy. The authority oversees the implementation of Saudi Arabia’s Personal Data Protection Law and manages the national data portfolio.
SDAIA said the membership will also support international cooperation and the exchange of expertise with peer organizations globally. This positions the Kingdom as an active contributor to global privacy policy discussions, not merely an observer.
SDAIA Joins GPA Amid Year of Artificial Intelligence
The timing of this development is notable. Saudi Arabia designated 2026 as the Year of Artificial Intelligence, and SDAIA’s entry into the GPA aligns directly with that designation. The authority said the move reflects the Kingdom’s efforts to build its standing in data and AI regulation at the international level.
Regulators and policymakers globally are increasingly focused on how AI systems handle personal data. Saudi Arabia’s membership in the GPA places it within that conversation at a formal institutional level.
Connection to Saudi Vision 2030
SDAIA described the GPA membership as an extension of the goals set out in Saudi Vision 2030. The authority said the membership supports building a regulatory environment that allows for technological progress while protecting individual rights.
Saudi Vision 2030 includes digital transformation as a core pillar, and data governance sits at the center of that agenda. Membership in international bodies like the GPA gives the Kingdom direct access to global best practices and regulatory frameworks.
About the Global Privacy Assembly
The Global Privacy Assembly is one of the most prominent international bodies dedicated to data protection and privacy. It connects national data protection authorities and works to align standards across jurisdictions. Membership signals a country’s commitment to responsible data use and individual privacy rights.
SDAIA’s inclusion in the GPA adds Saudi Arabia to a network of regulators actively working to shape how personal data is governed in an era of rapid AI adoption and cross-border data flows.
