AI Ethics Principles: requirements, deadlines and compliance actions
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
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AI Ethics Principles
Saudi Data and Artificial Intelligence Authority · 1 May 2025 · Tier 1 source
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AI Ethics Principles version 1.0 issued (September 2023)
Saudi Data and Artificial Intelligence Authority · 1 Sep 2023 · Tier 1 source
Change history
- — Updated 2025 edition published (document dated May 2025)
- — AI Ethics Principles version 1.0 issued (September 2023)
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.. Full edit history is in the GitHub repository.
Informational only, not legal advice. Verify every claim against the linked official sources and consult qualified counsel before acting.