Saudi Arabia moves from adopting standards to shaping them as SDAIA proposes flexible AI regulation at the UNESCO forum in Riyadh
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Riyadh hosted the fourth edition of the UNESCO Global Forum on AI Ethics from 14 to 17 September, marking the first time the forum was held in an Arab country. The hosting was not merely a protocolary occasion; it coincided with a clear announcement by the Saudi Data and AI Authority (SDAIA) that the Kingdom is moving from being an adopter of international standards to a partner in shaping them.
Liability for damages does not transfer to the system
Engineer Saeed bin Mohammed Al-Shahrani, spokesperson for SDAIA, said that legal liability for damages caused by intelligent systems remains with the developer and the operating entity, and does not shift to the system itself. This principle puts an end to attempts to waive responsibility by blaming the "algorithm" and establishes a clear chain of human accountability for every decision made by AI systems in high-risk contexts. Al-Shahrani added that the regulatory framework should include mechanisms to halt systems in emergencies, ensuring that responsible authorities can intervene when unforeseen risks arise.
From principles to measurable tools
Al-Shahrani believes that the core challenge is no longer setting ethical principles, fairness, transparency, accountability, but turning them into engineering requirements, standardized tests and regulatory controls that can be applied and whose compliance can be measured. This entails developing tools that enable regulators to assess systems before deployment, and to monitor their performance and associated risks during operation. In this vein, SDAIA adopts what Al-Shahrani calls "flexible regulation": continuous assessment of systems and tools, provision of self-assessment tools for companies, and the creation of regulatory sandboxes that allow supervised testing of applications before commercial release.
International cooperation without a unified law
As AI systems become more autonomous and capable of operating across borders, the need for international coordination mechanisms grows. Al-Shahrani outlined four main mechanisms: early-warning networks, exchange of technical incident information, mutual recognition of risk assessments from trusted bodies, and cross-border law-enforcement protocols. However, SDAIA does not expect a single global law, given the diversity of legal systems and economic priorities; the aim is a common baseline that focuses on safety, ethics and core safeguards, while leaving room for each country to develop rules that fit its own system.
International Center for AI Ethics Research in Riyadh
Within its institutional efforts, Saudi Arabia is establishing the International Center for AI Ethics Research (ICAIRE) in Riyadh. The center aims to support the shift from general principles to practical applications in research, education, standards, innovation and public policy, thereby strengthening the Kingdom’s presence in international debates on governance and ethics.
What this means for the region
The shift from adoption to formulation changes the Gulf’s position in the global governance equation: the region is no longer a recipient of standards but a participant in shaping them. For institutions and companies in Saudi Arabia and its surroundings, this means that self-assessment tools, organized sandboxes and locally developed measurement standards will soon become a binding reference or a competitive benchmark in government contracts and tenders. Those who follow these pathways today and build their capacity for "flexible regulation" and compliance measurement will be better placed when these tools move from voluntary to mandatory.