Global organisations continue to operate within complex regulatory landscapes defined not by a single dominant standard, but by the coexistence of regional and domestic frameworks that reflect cultural, political, and economic priorities. Saudi Arabia’s Personal Data Protection Law (PDPL) is a prominent example. 

At a surface level, the PDPL appears closely aligned to the EU GDPR in the sense that it similarly reinforces individual privacy rights, strengthens organisational accountability, and aims to increase trust in data governance. But this familiar structure can be misleading. Substantive differences in governance approach and cross-border rules mean that GDPR compliance does not guarantee PDPL compliance. The PDPL reflects Saudi Arabia’s own priorities and sovereignty-driven approach to data governance, and should be treated as a distinct, standalone framework rather than a carbon copy of the GDPR. 

The PDPL is a distinct framework - why does it matter? 

Saudi Arabia’s PDPL must be understood in the context of national interests. The law reflects the Kingdom’s ambition to build a world-leading digital ecosystem, encourage data-driven innovation, and assert sovereign control over locally generated data. These motivations drive four major areas of divergence from the GDPR, which present meaningful consequences for businesses. 

  1. Regulatory independence vs. state-supervised enforcement: The GDPR relies on independent supervisory authorities operating at arm’s length from government. By contrast, the PDPL is enforced by the Saudi Data and Artificial Intelligence Authority (SDAIA) and the National Data Management Office (NDMO), both government-linked. This centralised model supports national sovereignty but limits the independence required for EU adequacy recognition. 

  1. Consent as the default legal basis: Where GDPR offers six lawful bases for processing, the PDPL places consent at the centre of data governance. Such a consent-heavy approach requires operational redesign in areas such as employee monitoring, marketing, automated decision-making and data analytics, which are areas where businesses typically rely on legitimate interest under GDPR. 

  1. A localisation-first transfer framework: The PDPL’s cautious stance on cross-border transfers prioritises data retention within the Kingdom. Outbound transfers require explicit regulatory approval or limited exemptions, which demand significantly more justification than GDPR’s Standard Contractual Clauses (SCCs), Binding Corporate Rules (BCRs) or adequacy decisions allow. 

  1. A developing enforcement and remedies ecosystem: The PDPL already carries significant penalties, yet enforcement precedent is still emerging. Organisations face both uncertainty and heightened responsibility to demonstrate accountability proactively, without relying on established case law. 

As regulatory ecosystems continue to diversify worldwide, privacy compliance has become significantly complex. Businesses expanding into Saudi Arabia must therefore shift their thinking from “Is PDPL equivalent to GDPR?” to “How do we operationalise both in parallel?” 

The organisations best positioned to succeed in Saudi Arabia are those that: 

  • Understand local expectations rather than assuming GDPR compatibility 

  • Adapt operations to a consent-driven, state-supervised compliance culture 

  • Build data localisation strategies early, rather than retrofitting later 

  • Treat PDPL as a strategic enabler for market expansion, not an obstacle 

Practical steps to bridge the GDPR–PDPL divide 

Successfully navigating both the GDPR and the PDPL requires more than policy updates; it demands structured oversight and informed decision-making. This is where Data Protection Officers (DPOs) add tangible value. Acting as strategic advisors, DPOs help organisations translate regulatory expectations into practical actions, ensuring compliance frameworks are aligned, operationally realistic, and continuously monitored. 

With DPO guidance, a proactive compliance roadmap should include: 

  • PDPL gap assessment: Identify areas where GDPR controls fail to meet PDPL requirements, especially relating to consent, notification, and localisation 

  • Consent-centric processing frameworks: Move away from reliance on legitimate interest, and ensure consent is explicit, granular, documented and revocable 

  • Local representation and support: Establish an authorised representative or engage an external DPO to liaise with SDAIA and support regulatory submissions/liaison 

  • Cross-border data mapping: Understand where data touches Saudi infrastructure and build clear, regulator-ready justifications for any outbound transfer 

  • Continuous regulatory monitoring: Keep up to date with applicable regulatory developments as SDAIA continues to issue clarifications that directly impact business operations 

Opportunity in a new digital market 

Saudi Arabia is rapidly emerging as a global digital powerhouse, with major investments in AI, cloud computing and smart city innovation. The PDPL is part of the country’s broader strategy to build a trusted environment for digital growth. 

While an EU adequacy decision may appear to be unlikely for now, an opportunity exists for organisations that approach PDPL proactively rather than reactively. Early compliance strengthens customer trust and supports long-term commercial strategy in the country. 

At HewardMills, we recognise that global privacy compliance is complex, spanning multiple jurisdictions, diverse stakeholders and a constantly evolving regulatory landscape. Our international team of privacy and compliance specialists helps organisations build strong governance frameworks and ensure compliant representation across jurisdictions globally, including Saudi Arabia.  

If you’re preparing to expand into Saudi Arabia or want to assess your organisation’s PDPL readiness, we’re here to support you. Reach out to our team today.