Aligning AI with Saudi Values: Ethics, Privacy & National Security

Aligning AI with Saudi Values: Ethics, Privacy & National Security

A Vision 2030 Priority That the World Is Watching

 

Saudi Arabia is moving fast to become a global leader in Artificial Intelligence (AI). With Vision 2030 as its guiding light, the country is not just adopting AI—it is shaping it in a way that matches its culture, religion, and national security needs.

 

Under the leadership of the Saudi Data and Artificial Intelligence Authority (SDAIA) SDAIA | سدايا and the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology (MCIT), Ministry of Communications and Information Technology of Saudi Arabia the Kingdom is proving that we can advance in technology while staying true to our roots.



🔍 AI That Reflects National Identity

 

Vision 2030 clearly connects AI with the country’s development goals. In fact, 69% of Vision 2030’s goals (66 out of 96) are linked to data and AI.

 

SDAIA’s National Strategy for Data & AI (NSDAI) has a clear roadmap:

 

  • 2021–2025 (National Enabler): Focus on AI in healthcare, energy, and transport.
  • 2025–2030 (Specialist): Build strength in niche technologies.
  • 2030 and beyond (Industry Leader): Join the top 15 AI countries in the world.

 

This plan aims to bring in $20 billion in investment and train 20,000 AI specialists. But success won’t just be measured by numbers—it depends on making sure AI fits with Saudi values and Islamic principles.


🧭 Ethics: Leading with Responsibility

 

Saudi Arabia is not waiting for the world to set the rules. It’s building its own standards.

In 2023, SDAIA introduced a National AI Ethics Framework. It uses a risk-based system like the EU AI Act, but adds local cultural and religious guidelines:

 

Risk Level Example Rules Unacceptable Social profiling Fully banned High Biometric face recognition Strict checks before and after launch Limited Technical support systems Must follow ethics rules Minimal Spam filters, simple tools Voluntary ethical practice

Saudi Arabia also introduced Generative AI guidelines and pre-checks for AI in high-risk areas like hospitals and transportation.

This makes the Kingdom a global example for responsible AI, especially for countries in the Global South.


 

🔐 Privacy & Data Sovereignty: Protecting People’s Information

 

Saudi Arabia understands that data is the oil of the digital age. And just like oil, it must be protected.

 

Here’s how the Kingdom is doing it:

 

  1. National Data Bank – Over 200 government entities securely share data, generating SAR 50 billion in 2023.
  2. Personal Data Protection Law (PDPL) – Controls how data moves outside Saudi Arabia.
  3. Data Localization – Important data stays in the country, stored on local cloud systems.

 

This approach keeps people’s privacy safe, while letting innovation grow in a controlled and secure way.


🛡️ National Security: Using AI Wisely

 

AI can help protect the country—but it can also be misused. That’s why the Saudi government is careful and strategic:

 

  • Cybersecurity: SDAIA works closely with the National Cybersecurity Authority (NCA) to protect AI systems.
  • Critical Sector Security: AI used in health, energy, and transport must pass strict security tests.
  • Smart Surveillance: AI-powered tools in smart cities are used with proper legal oversight.

 

One good example is Estishraf, a platform that gives leaders useful insights while keeping all data safe and secure.


🏛️ Strong Teamwork Between SDAIA & MCIT

 

AI in Saudi Arabia is not the job of one agency. It’s a joint mission.

 

Agency Main Role Key Work  SDAIA | سدايا   AI strategy and ethics NSDAI, AI Ethics, National Data Bank MCIT Infrastructure & training National Cloud, Digital Academy, E-Gov Programs NCA Cybersecurity for AI Security standards for AI systems

 

Together, they’ve built systems like Tawakkalna, Arabic NLP tools, and facial recognition that respect Islamic rules and social values.


🚀 What’s Next? 4 Key Steps

 

To lead globally, Saudi policymakers should focus on:

 

  1. Flexible Regulations – Review AI laws every 6 months to keep up with new tech.
  2. Sharia-compliant Procurement – Make sure public AI projects follow Islamic guidelines.
  3. Ethical AI Exports – Build and export Saudi-made, values-driven AI tools.
  4. Global Awareness – Use platforms like the Global AI Summit to share Saudi’s ethical model with the world.

 


 

✅ Final Thoughts: Innovation With Integrity

 

Saudi Arabia is showing that AI can move fast without losing values. As Dr. Abdullah AlGhamdi, President of SDAIA, said:

 

“Our vision is where the best of data and AI is made reality.”

 

This is a powerful message to the world: that AI doesn’t have to come at the cost of culture, privacy, or ethics. By leading with responsibility and faith, Saudi Arabia can become not just an AI user—but an AI leader for the world.

 

To All Policymakers: Now is the time to embed values into every AI decision. Ethics, privacy, and security are not roadblocks—they are your strength. Vision 2030’s success depends on it. 🇸🇦

 

Here’s a short, simple, and humanized conclusion in line with your views, keeping the tone aligned with the rest of the article and Indian-style English:


 

Our View: Build Frameworks, but Also Build Independent Muscles

 

All the above efforts are a strong step in the right direction. Saudi Arabia is building a solid framework for responsible AI—aligned with its values, secure in its approach, and ethical in its intent. But having frameworks alone is not enough. Implementation on ground requires independent institutions, AI startups, and even hackathons focused on governance, auditing, and oversight.

 

We also need a proper control and monitoring system for every critical AI decision, keeping in mind the long-term vision of the Kingdom. We must be careful not to fall into the trap many nations are facing now—where big AI players like OpenAI, DeepSeek, and others allow everyone to build on top of their systems freely at first. But over time, people become addicted to these platforms, and suddenly the cost of using their models and compute power increases sharply.

 

If 100% of our AI innovation is dependent on external layers, we lose control of our future.

 

That is why I strongly suggest we also invest in building homegrown foundational AI systems in parallel, while still engaging foreign expertise where needed. This is the only way we can secure our digital future and lead the world in ethical, sovereign AI.

Engage companies like Data Automation and many more to do the innovation along with government bodies, shift the mindset from copy paste innovation to real innovation using your infra.

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