Every customer interaction generates data, and a compliance obligation

Saudi retail is undergoing rapid digital transformation, e-commerce growth, loyalty programmes, personalised marketing, and omnichannel customer experiences are all generating personal data at scale. Since September 2024, every retailer that collects, stores, or uses the personal data of individuals in the Kingdom is subject to full PDPL enforcement. For consumer-facing businesses, where data collection is embedded into the customer journey and marketing is driven by behavioural analytics, the compliance gap is often wider than organisations realise.

Key challenges

  • Loyalty programmes and customer databases holding large volumes of personal and behavioural data collected under consent mechanisms that do not meet PDPL standards
  • Personalised marketing and third-party advertising platforms processing customer data without a clearly documented lawful basis or opt-out mechanism
  • E-commerce platforms and mobile apps collecting data through cookies, tracking pixels, and account registration with no compliant consent management layer
  • Cross-border data transfers to global e-commerce platforms, payment gateways, and international marketing technology vendors without SDAIA-recognised safeguards
  • No structured process for handling customer data subject requests like access, correction, and deletion, within the timeframes the PDPL requires

How RSM Can Help

We conduct a retail-focused PDPL gap assessment across your customer data ecosystem - loyalty platforms, e-commerce infrastructure, marketing technology, and point-of-sale systems, mapping data flows and identifying where consent, retention, and transfer obligations are not being met. We then build the consent frameworks, privacy notices, and cookie management solutions your customer-facing channels require, and develop data processing agreements for your marketing and payments vendor network. Our DPO as a Service handles ongoing SDAIA interactions, customer DSAR fulfilment, and breach notification, giving your marketing and commercial teams a compliant foundation to operate from without slowing down campaign delivery.