AI Ethics Principles: requirements, deadlines and compliance actions
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- Verified
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- Source-linked
- — linked to the official source, not yet confirmed by a reviewer.
On this page 8 sections
In brief
AI Ethics Principles is a non-binding guidance of Saudi Arabia, issued by Saudi Data and Artificial Intelligence Authority (SDAIA). Its current status is guidance. Scope is as set out in the official text linked below. Every record here links to its official source and states its verification status.
- Jurisdiction
- Saudi Arabia
- Instrument type
- Guidance
- Status
- Guidance
- Legal force
- Non-binding (guidance, strategy or standard)
- Issuing body
- Saudi Data and Artificial Intelligence Authority (SDAIA)
- Adopted
- 1 May 2025
- Official source
- AI Ethics Principles
- Verification
- Verified against the official source 26 Sep 2026
What is AI Ethics Principles?
SDAIA's AI Ethics Principles set out ethical principles and associated controls for entities developing, deploying or affected by AI systems in Saudi Arabia, covering fairness, privacy and security, humanity, social and environmental benefit, reliability and safety, transparency, and accountability. The document assigns roles and responsibilities and marks certain controls as binding for public entities. The 2025 edition updates the September 2023 version 1.0.
Status note: The 2025 PDF is dated 'May 2025' (month only), so first of month used. sdaia.gov.sa rejects some automated fetchers but serves the PDF and pages with HTTP 200 to a browser user-agent.
Who does it apply to?
Scope is as set out in the official text linked below. Issued by Saudi Data and Artificial Intelligence Authority (SDAIA). Oversight: SDAIA issues and updates the principles and oversees adoption by public entities. Stated purpose: Ensure responsible, safe and rights-respecting AI development and use in the Kingdom.
When do the requirements apply?
2023-09-01: AI Ethics Principles version 1.0 issued (September 2023); 2025-05-01: Updated 2025 edition published (document dated May 2025)
Only the announcement or adoption date is recorded from the source; in-force and application dates are to be confirmed by a reviewer.
Official sources
-
AI Ethics Principles
Saudi Data and Artificial Intelligence Authority · 1 May 2025 · Tier 1 source
-
AI Ethics Principles version 1.0 issued (September 2023)
Saudi Data and Artificial Intelligence Authority · 1 Sep 2023 · Tier 1 source
Cite this record
AIPolicyTracker (2026). “AI Ethics Principles” [AIPT-POL-0163, record version 1, verified 26 September 2026 by Bhaskar Bhatt]. https://aipolicytracker.org/id/AIPT-POL-0163 (accessed 27 October 2026). Data licensed CC BY 4.0.
Permanent id AIPT-POL-0163: it never changes or gets reused, and its address keeps working if this page moves.
Cite the official text alongside it: AI Ethics Principles, Saudi Data and Artificial Intelligence Authority, https://sdaia.gov.sa/en/SDAIA/about/Documents/ai-principles.pdf.
BibTeX
@misc{aipolicytracker2026_aiethicsprinciples,
author = {{AIPolicyTracker}},
title = {{AI Ethics Principles}},
year = {2026},
howpublished = {\url{https://aipolicytracker.org/policies/saudi-arabia-ai-ethics-principles}},
url = {https://aipolicytracker.org/policies/saudi-arabia-ai-ethics-principles},
urldate = {2026-10-27},
note = {Data licensed CC BY 4.0. Accessed 27 October 2026}
}
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Markdown
[](https://aipolicytracker.org/id/AIPT-POL-0163)HTML
<a href="https://aipolicytracker.org/id/AIPT-POL-0163"><img src="https://aipolicytracker.org/badges/saudi-arabia-ai-ethics-principles.svg" alt="AIPolicyTracker: AI Ethics Principles, Guidance · verified 26 Sep 2026" height="20"></a>Change history
- — Updated 2025 edition published (document dated May 2025)
- — AI Ethics Principles version 1.0 issued (September 2023)
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Record history
No change to this record's tracked fields has been recorded since 15 October 2026, when field-level history began.
Record version 1: Imported from the source-backed legacy dataset (database/data/ai_policies.json); fields limited to what the official source page states. Reviewer to enrich scope, dates and obligations. Every earlier wording is in the GitHub repository.
Frequently asked questions
Is AI Ethics Principles in force?
AI Ethics Principles has the status "guidance"; it is not a binding law in force.
Is AI Ethics Principles legally binding?
No. AI Ethics Principles is a guidance; it sets expectations rather than legal requirements, unless another instrument gives it force.
Who does AI Ethics Principles apply to?
Scope is as set out in the official text linked below. Issued by Saudi Data and Artificial Intelligence Authority (SDAIA). Oversight: SDAIA issues and updates the principles and oversees adoption by public entities. Stated purpose: Ensure responsible, safe and rights-respecting AI development and use in the Kingdom.
When does AI Ethics Principles apply?
2023-09-01: AI Ethics Principles version 1.0 issued (September 2023); 2025-05-01: Updated 2025 edition published (document dated May 2025)
Where is the official text of AI Ethics Principles?
The official text is published by Saudi Data and Artificial Intelligence Authority at https://sdaia.gov.sa/en/SDAIA/about/Documents/ai-principles.pdf (AI Ethics Principles). This record links to it and is checked against it.
Disclaimer: informational only, not legal advice. Verify every claim against the linked official sources and consult a qualified lawyer before acting.