The Kingdom Joins OECD Recommendation on Artificial Intelligence

The Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) announced the accession of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, represented by the Saudi Data and Artificial Intelligence Authority (SDAIA), to the OECD Recommendation on Artificial Intelligence, the first international standard in this field. It aims to promote innovation and build trust in artificial intelligence technologies through responsible governance of these technologies, including generative and general artificial intelligence. The Kingdom is one of ten non-OECD countries to have joined this recommendation. This accession is an extension of the Kingdom’s efforts, represented by the Saudi Data and Artificial Intelligence Authority (SDAIA), to promote global AI governance. In partnership with the OECD, the Kingdom launched the AI ​​Risk Observatory in Arabic for the Middle East during the third edition of the Global AI Summit held in Riyadh. The Kingdom also ranked third globally—after the United States and the United Kingdom—in the OECD’s AI Policy Observatory. The Kingdom is also one of the first countries to adopt the UNESCO Recommendation on the Ethics of Artificial Intelligence for 2021 and completed the readiness assessment, which was officially published by UNESCO in December 2024.

This achievement is a result of SDAIA’s efforts to adopt a comprehensive approach to the development, governance, and regulation of AI by establishing an integrated system that combines legislation, regulations, ethical frameworks, and national and international initiatives. This is in addition to its ongoing efforts to support research, development, and innovation in the field, as SDAIA continues its efforts to develop regulations. Related to artificial intelligence, ensuring the application of ethical principles, promoting responsible use, and governing its various uses, in accordance with global best practices, in line with the goals of Saudi Vision 2030.

In this regard, SDAIA issued several regulatory principles that enhance the governance and regulation of AI uses, including: the General Principles of Generative AI, the General Principles of Generative AI for Government Agencies, the AI ​​Adoption Framework, the Deepfakes Principles, and the Personal Data Protection Law. SDAIA also granted accreditation to more than 45 AI companies in the Kingdom as part of its efforts to stimulate the AI ​​market and enhance the reliability of its various applications.

SDAIA played an active role in the United Nations High-Level Advisory Panel on Artificial Intelligence and hosted the largest global consultation session in Riyadh on the “Governance of AI for Humanity” report. These efforts culminated in the establishment of the International Center for Research and Ethics in Artificial Intelligence (ICAIRE) in Riyadh, under the umbrella of UNESCO, which devotes its efforts to: To advance AI ethics research, enhance international cooperation, and consolidate the Kingdom’s role in shaping the future of responsible AI governance.