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A National Big Data Governance Framework for Digital Government Transformation in Saudi Arabia
Subject area: Management and Commerce · Area of research: Big Data Governance in Digital Government
DOI: https://doi.org/10.64388/IREV9I10-1716527
Abstract
The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is undergoing a rapid transformation toward a data-driven digital economy under Vision 2030, where big data has emerged as a critical enabler of government efficiency, innovation, and citizen-centric service delivery. Despite significant investments in digital infrastructure and the establishment of regulatory bodies such as the Saudi Data and Artificial Intelligence Authority (SDAIA) and the National Data Management Office (NDMO), challenges persist in achieving unified, scalable, and policy-compliant data governance across government entities. This study proposes a comprehensive National Big Data Governance Framework designed to support digital government transformation in Saudi Arabia. The framework integrates five foundational dimensions: governance structure, data lifecycle management, regulatory compliance, technological infrastructure, and value-driven analytics. It aligns with national regulations, including the Personal Data Protection Law (PDPL), and incorporates global best practices to ensure interoperability, data quality, security, and ethical use of data. The proposed model introduces a multi-layered governance architecture that bridges policy, operational processes, and advanced analytics capabilities. It enables improved data sharing, enhanced decision-making, and optimized public service delivery. This research contributes to the advancement of national data governance by offering a scalable, policy-aligned, and implementation-ready framework tailored to the Saudi digital government ecosystem.
How to cite this paper
@article{1716527,
author = {Sofian Ouahchi},
title = {A National Big Data Governance Framework for Digital Government Transformation in Saudi Arabia},
journal = {Iconic Research And Engineering Journals},
year = {2026},
volume = {9},
number = {10},
pages = {2452-2465},
issn = {2456-8880},
url = {https://www.irejournals.com/formatedpaper/1716527.pdf},
abstract = {The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is undergoing a rapid transformation toward a data-driven digital economy under Vision 2030, where big data has emerged as a critical enabler of government efficiency, innovation, and citizen-centric service delivery. Despite significant investments in digital infrastructure and the establishment of regulatory bodies such as the Saudi Data and Artificial Intelligence Authority (SDAIA) and the National Data Management Office (NDMO), challenges persist in achieving unified, scalable, and policy-compliant data governance across government entities. This study proposes a comprehensive National Big Data Governance Framework designed to support digital government transformation in Saudi Arabia. The framework integrates five foundational dimensions: governance structure, data lifecycle management, regulatory compliance, technological infrastructure, and value-driven analytics. It aligns with national regulations, including the Personal Data Protection Law (PDPL), and incorporates global best practices to ensure interoperability, data quality, security, and ethical use of data. The proposed model introduces a multi-layered governance architecture that bridges policy, operational processes, and advanced analytics capabilities. It enables improved data sharing, enhanced decision-making, and optimized public service delivery. This research contributes to the advancement of national data governance by offering a scalable, policy-aligned, and implementation-ready framework tailored to the Saudi digital government ecosystem.},
month = {April},
doi = {https://doi.org/10.64388/IREV9I10-1716527}
}