Vision 2030's most ambitious programmes run on personal data

Public sector organisations and giga project developers occupy a unique position under the PDPL — they process personal data at a scale and sensitivity that few private sector entities match, while simultaneously operating under the expectation of NDMO alignment and broader digital government commitments. From citizen-facing service platforms and smart city infrastructure to workforce management across mega-developments, the personal data footprint of Vision 2030's most ambitious programmes is substantial. SDAIA's enforcement mandate applies equally to public and private entities, and the reputational consequences of non-compliance in this sector are particularly acute.

Key challenges

  • Citizen and resident data collected through public service platforms, smart infrastructure, and digital government initiatives processed at scale with limited privacy governance frameworks in place
  • Giga project workforces spanning dozens of nationalities, contractors, and subcontractors generating complex HR, biometric, and health data obligations across multiple sites simultaneously
  • Smart city and connected infrastructure systems — sensors, surveillance, access control, and mobility platforms — capturing data linked to identifiable individuals without established consent or DPIA processes
  • Multiple government and private sector stakeholders sharing personal data across project boundaries without data processing agreements or clearly defined controller and processor responsibilities
  • NDMO readiness requirements running in parallel with PDPL obligations, creating a dual compliance mandate that most entities are managing without dedicated privacy resource

How RSM Can Help

We conduct a public sector and giga project-specific PDPL gap assessment spanning citizen-facing platforms, workforce management systems, smart infrastructure, and inter-agency data sharing arrangements — mapping personal data flows and producing a compliance roadmap aligned to both PDPL and NDMO requirements. We develop data processing agreements for your contractor and stakeholder network, privacy-by-design frameworks for new smart city and infrastructure deployments, and DPIA processes for high-risk processing activities including surveillance systems and large-scale biometric programmes. Our DPO as a Service provides designated SDAIA contact, workforce and citizen DSAR management, and breach notification coverage — giving your project leadership a structured compliance function without the overhead of building one in-house.