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Saudi Arabia Recording Laws: All-Party Consent, PDPL, and Penalties (2026)

By Recording Law Editorial TeamReviewed May 15, 202625 min read
Saudi Arabia Recording Laws: All-Party Consent, PDPL, and Penalties (2026)

Frequently Asked Questions

Is it legal to record a phone call in Saudi Arabia?

Recording a phone call in Saudi Arabia without the consent of all parties is illegal under Article 3 of the Anti-Cybercrime Law (Royal Decree No. M/17, 2007). Penalties reach up to one year in prison and a fine of up to SAR 500,000 (approximately USD 133,000). The only exception is lawful interception authorized by the Public Prosecutor under Article 57 of the Criminal Procedure Law, which requires a warrant and may only last 10 days per authorization period.

Can I take photos or videos in public places in Saudi Arabia?

Photography and filming in public places are generally permitted in Saudi Arabia unless a sign prohibits it. However, you cannot photograph or film identifiable individuals without their prior consent even in a public setting. Capturing a person's face or identifying features without permission can result in criminal charges under Article 3 of the Anti-Cybercrime Law. Commercial filming in public areas requires permits from the General Commission for Audiovisual Media (GCAM) and local municipal authorities.

What are the penalties for filming someone without consent in Saudi Arabia?

Filming someone without consent in Saudi Arabia can result in imprisonment for up to one year and a fine of up to SAR 500,000 under Article 3 of the Anti-Cybercrime Law. If the recording impairs public order, religious values, or the sanctity of private life, penalties increase to up to five years in prison and SAR 3 million under Article 6. Sharing the recording on social media or online platforms constitutes an additional and separately charged offense.

Are employers in Saudi Arabia allowed to use surveillance cameras in the workplace?

Saudi employers may install surveillance cameras in the workplace, and many business types are required to do so under the Law of the Use of Security Surveillance Cameras (Royal Decree No. D/34, 2022). However, cameras are strictly prohibited in restrooms, changing rooms, prayer rooms, and other areas where employees have a heightened privacy expectation. Employers must display visible signage and should address monitoring in employment contracts to comply with the PDPL.

Does Saudi Arabia's Personal Data Protection Law (PDPL) apply to audio and video recordings?

Yes. The PDPL, fully enforced since September 14, 2024, defines personal data to include any information that can directly or indirectly identify a person, which covers audio recordings, video footage, photographs, and biometric captures. Organizations recording customers, employees, or visitors must obtain explicit documented consent, provide a purpose-specific privacy notice, and honor data subject requests for access and deletion. Violations can result in fines up to SAR 5 million, with doubled fines for repeat offenses.

Does Saudi Arabia's Anti-Harassment Law cover recording or filming?

Yes. The Anti-Harassment Law (Royal Decree No. M/54, 1439H / 2018) criminalizes any verbal, physical, or electronic act of a sexual nature targeting an individual's body or modesty, including using technology such as cameras or smartphones to film or photograph a person for purposes of harassment or humiliation. Penalties reach two years imprisonment and a SAR 100,000 fine for standard offenses, and five years and SAR 300,000 where the victim is a child or disabled person.

Can I record a government official or police officer in Saudi Arabia?

Saudi law does not provide a general right to record police officers or government officials in the performance of their duties. The Anti-Cybercrime Law contains no public-official recording exception. Filming security operations, military personnel, or government infrastructure may also attract prosecution under state security and public order statutes. Foreign nationals face particular risk of device confiscation and detention. When in doubt, refrain from recording.

What are the rules for AI-generated deepfakes using recorded voices or images in Saudi Arabia?

SDAIA published Deepfakes Guidelines (Version 1.0) in September 2024. The guidelines require explicit, auditable consent before using a person's recorded voice, face, or biometric data to generate synthetic media. All AI-generated content must carry a visible tamper-resistant watermark. Developers must maintain comprehensive documentation. Creating deepfake content using a person's recorded likeness without consent may also constitute a violation of Article 3 of the Anti-Cybercrime Law and the PDPL.

Can businesses transfer Saudi customer recordings outside the Kingdom?

Cross-border transfer of recordings or any personal data out of Saudi Arabia requires compliance with the PDPL Transfer Regulation issued by SDAIA in August 2024. The recipient country must provide an adequate level of data protection, or appropriate safeguards such as Standard Contractual Clauses must be implemented. Ongoing or large-scale transfers of sensitive data also require a formal risk assessment under SDAIA's February 2025 Risk Assessment Guideline. Violations carry penalties of up to one year imprisonment and SAR 1 million in fines.

What should I do if I have been recorded without consent in Saudi Arabia?

If you have been recorded without consent in Saudi Arabia, you may file a complaint with local police or the Public Prosecution for Anti-Cybercrime Law or Anti-Harassment Law violations, with SDAIA via the National Data Governance Platform for PDPL violations, with the Communications, Space and Technology Commission for telecommunications interception, or with the Ministry of Interior for surveillance camera violations. Preserve any available evidence including screenshots, copies of published content, witness information, and device logs before filing.

Sources and References

  1. Anti-Cybercrime Law, Royal Decree No. M/17, 2007(laws.boe.gov.sa).gov
  2. Personal Data Protection Law (PDPL), Royal Decree No. M/19, 2021 as amended 2023(sdaia.gov.sa).gov
  3. PDPL Executive Regulations (2023) - SDAIA(sdaia.gov.sa).gov
  4. Basic Law of Governance, Royal Decree No. A/90, 1992 - Bureau of Experts at the Council of Ministers(laws.boe.gov.sa).gov
  5. Criminal Procedure Law - Saudi Ministry of Justice(moj.gov.sa).gov
  6. Anti-Harassment Law, Royal Decree No. M/54, 1439H (2018) - Saudipedia(saudipedia.com)
  7. Law of the Use of Security Surveillance Cameras, Royal Decree No. D/34, 2022 - Saudipedia(saudipedia.com)
  8. SDAIA Deepfakes Guidelines Version 1.0, September 2024(istitlaa.ncc.gov.sa).gov
  9. Regulation on Personal Data Transfer Outside the Kingdom, SDAIA, August 2024(dgp.sdaia.gov.sa).gov
  10. Saudi Data and Artificial Intelligence Authority (SDAIA)(sdaia.gov.sa).gov
  11. Saudi Public Prosecution Clarifies Law on Wiretapping - Gulf News(gulfnews.com)
  12. Saudi Arabia: Jail Time, SAR 500,000 Fine for Filming People - Gulf News(gulfnews.com)
  13. SDAIA Guide to the Saudi PDPL for Controllers and Processors(dgp.sdaia.gov.sa).gov
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