Privacy Notification Template for Saudi Arabia

A Privacy Notification is a fundamental legal requirement for any organization that collects, processes, or stores personal data in Saudi Arabia. This document serves as your primary communication tool with data subjects, informing them about how their personal information is handled and their rights under Saudi Arabian data protection law.

When do you need this document?

You must provide a Privacy Notification whenever you collect personal data from individuals in Saudi Arabia. This includes when customers register for services, employees provide employment information, website visitors submit forms, or any third parties share personal data with your organization. The notification must be provided at or before the time of data collection, whether through digital platforms, physical forms, or verbal collection processes. Organizations processing existing personal data must also ensure current data subjects receive updated notifications reflecting current practices.

Key legal considerations

Your Privacy Notification must include specific mandatory elements under the PDPL. These include identifying your organization as the data controller, specifying the types of personal data collected, clearly stating the purposes for processing, and explaining the legal basis for each processing activity. You must detail data subject rights including access, rectification, erasure, and objection rights, along with procedures for exercising these rights. The notification should specify data retention periods, security measures implemented, and any international data transfers including safeguards and recipient countries. Additionally, you must provide contact information for your Data Protection Officer and explain complaint procedures including the right to lodge complaints with the Saudi Data & Artificial Intelligence Authority (SDAIA).

Legal requirements in Saudi Arabia

Saudi Arabia's Personal Data Protection Law and its implementing regulations establish strict requirements for Privacy Notifications. The document must be written in clear, plain Arabic language that data subjects can easily understand, though English translations may be provided for international operations. You must ensure the notification is easily accessible and prominently displayed on websites, mobile applications, and physical locations where data is collected. The PDPL requires that notifications be provided free of charge and updated whenever processing activities change materially. Organizations must maintain records demonstrating that notifications were provided to data subjects and implement technical measures to ensure notifications remain current and accurate. Cross-border data transfers require specific disclosure of destination countries, adequacy decisions, and appropriate safeguards implemented under PDPL Article 25.