Saudi Arabia Publishes Data Monetization Policy for Government Data

Saudi Arabia's Official Gazette published the details of a data monetization policy approved by the board of the Saudi Data and Artificial Intelligence Authority (SDAIA). The policy sets rules for how government data can be used to create products and services, aiming to grow the kingdom's data market and push toward a data-driven economy.

The policy applies to government data used in the development or utilization of data products and services, including data accessed by private-sector entities when performing tasks on behalf of government agencies. Data classified as "Confidential" or above is excluded.

SDAIA's framework seeks to regulate the market by establishing principles for commercializing data-based products derived from government-generated data, while maximizing economic value across sectors. It also lays out enablers such as registration mechanisms, regulatory sandboxes, data licensing frameworks, and market platforms.

The policy is built around seven core principles: recognizing data as a national asset, revenue generation, privacy by design, promoting open data, fostering a culture of data sharing, preventing monopolistic practices, and ensuring transparency.

No timeline for implementation was specified in the publication.