Arab News, 14 July 2026: The Saudi Data and Artificial Intelligence Authority has introduced a national framework for managing AI risks, providing government and private entities with a unified approach to safe and responsible adoption.
Announced on July 14, 2026, the framework aligns with Vision 2030 and serves as a national reference for identifying, assessing, treating and monitoring AI risks. The authority emphasised that AI systems pose unique challenges compared to traditional technologies, including unpredictable behaviour, evolving performance and difficulties in interpretation.
The framework is structured around a full risk management lifecycle: defining context and scope, identifying risks, assessing and treating risks, and continuous monitoring and review. Risk levels are calculated using a matrix that links likelihood with impact, enabling standardised comparisons and prioritisation across entities.
Seven guiding principles underpin the framework: integrity and fairness, privacy and security, humanity, reliability and safety, transparency and explainability, accountability and responsibility, and social and environmental benefit. Risks are classified into seven categories to ensure comprehensive coverage.
A scenario included in the framework demonstrates how a government entity using an AI model for internal reporting can identify, assess, treat and monitor risks across different levels of digital maturity.
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