The Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) has announced that Saudi Arabia, represented by the Saudi Data and Artificial Intelligence Authority (SDAIA), has officially joined its Recommendation on Artificial Intelligence—the first international standard in the field. This milestone aims to promote innovation while building trust in AI technologies, including generative and general AI, through responsible governance.
OECD, SDAIA
Saudi Arabia is one of only 10 non-OECD member countries to adopt the recommendation, further strengthening its global AI governance efforts under SDAIA’s leadership. The Kingdom has already collaborated with the OECD to launch the Arabic-language MENA Observatory on Responsible AI, unveiled during the third Global AI Summit in Riyadh.
The Kingdom continues to gain international recognition, having ranked third globally—behind only the United States and the United Kingdom—in the OECD AI Policy Observatory. Additionally, Saudi Arabia was among the first nations to adopt UNESCO’s 2021 Recommendation on the Ethics of Artificial Intelligence, successfully completing its readiness assessment published by UNESCO in December 2024.
Comprehensive AI Governance Framework
These accomplishments reflect SDAIA’s comprehensive approach to AI development and regulation through a cohesive framework of legislation, ethical standards, and international partnerships. As part of its commitment to Saudi Vision 2030, SDAIA supports cutting-edge AI research and innovation while reinforcing ethical and responsible AI deployment.
National AI Regulations, Industry Support
SDAIA has released several regulatory guidelines to oversee AI applications, including the Generative AI Guidelines for the Public, Generative AI Guidelines for Government Entities, the AI Adoption Framework, Deepfakes Guidelines, and the Personal Data Protection Law. To further stimulate the local AI ecosystem, SDAIA has accredited over 45 AI-specialized companies within the Kingdom, enhancing trust and fostering market growth.
Global Collaboration
Internationally, SDAIA plays a key role in the UN High-Level Advisory Body on Artificial Intelligence and recently hosted the world’s largest consultation session in Riyadh for the report “Governing AI for Humanity.” These initiatives led to the launch of the International Center for AI Research and Ethics (ICAIRE) in Riyadh, established under UNESCO’s umbrella. ICAIRE aims to advance global collaboration in AI ethics research and reinforce Saudi Arabia’s leadership in shaping the future of responsible AI governance.
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