Who Holds the Record · country brief · data as of 2026-10-02Who holds the health record in Saudi Arabia?
In 2026, Saudi Arabia scores 53 of 100 on a person's right to see, control and share their own health record: rank 41 of 65 countries, in the Mixed band (45 to 64). Who holds the keys: State. Source: Who Holds the Record, SuperTruth, data as of 2026-10-02.
A national record links over 30 million people and Sehhaty shows much of it, but patients have no working say over sharing.
Published · updated · data as of 2026-10-02 · research tool, not legal advice
Can I get my health records in Saudi Arabia?
Access to the full record scores 64 of 100 in Saudi Arabia, against a median of 62 across 65 countries. The PDPL gives a right to a copy in a common electronic format within 30 days, and Sehhaty passed 31 million users in 2025. How much of the full chart it displays was not verified, so the cell sits low in its band.
Can I control who sees my health record in Saudi Arabia?
Control and consent scores 32 of 100 in Saudi Arabia, against a median of 52 across 65 countries. Data flows into the national record by default and no live opt-out was found, so a 2015 policy's opt-out earns nothing. The cell sits at 32, above Egypt's 25, because the PDPL regulation gives that policy force and consent-withdrawal rights exist on paper.
Eight rights, against United Arab Emirates, Israel, Egypt and the EU
| Patient access to the full record20% | 64 | 35 · 66 · 30 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Patient control and consent20% | 32 | 48 · 50 · 25 | |
| Privacy and security15% | 50 | 50 · 58 · 36 | |
| Connected care journey15% | 70 | 80 · 78 · 35 | |
| Protection from commercial use10% | 54 | 56 · 56 · 40 | |
| Clinician access at the point of care10% | 54 | 76 · 75 · 30 | |
| Research and trial consent5% | 46 | 46 · 49 · 50 | |
| Clinical AI governance5% | 58 | 64 · 50 · 40 |
Black dot: Saudi Arabia. Hollow dots: United Arab Emirates, Israel, Egypt (scores on the right, same order). Grey line: median of all 65 countries. Dashed teal line: EU median. Overall: Saudi Arabia 53, EU median 61. Scores move in steps of about 5; gaps of 4 or less are ties.
What would Saudi Arabia need to change to score higher?
Saudi Arabia sits in Mixed (45 to 64); Strong starts at 65. The two rights furthest below the 65-country median, weighted, are patient control and consent (32, median 52) and privacy and security (50, median 55). The published rubric reads:
- Patient control and consent: An opt-out or opt-in, a patient-visible access log and granular choices together put control at 60 to 80.
- Privacy and security: Health-sector enforcement on the record: an independent regulator deciding health-data cases, breach notification and penalties applied.
Which laws give health record rights in Saudi Arabia?
- Personal Data Protection Law (Royal Decree M/19, amended by M/148) (2021): Health data is sensitive; access and copy rights; marketing ban for sensitive data; prison and fines.
- Implementing Regulation of the Personal Data Protection Law (2023): 30-day request deadline, electronic copies, 72-hour breach notice, extra health data controls.
- IS0303 Saudi Health Information Exchange Policies (2015): Opt-out sharing model, disclosure reports, break-the-glass, ethics approval for research, bans market studies.
Strain and split context, not scored
- Doctors per 10,000
- 34.1 2023
- Nurses and midwives per 10,000
- 65.6 2023
- Private insurance + out-of-pocket
- 14.1% 2023
- Record reaches private care?
- unknown
Compulsory private insurance, counted separately: 6.1% of health spending (2023).
Published stories
- 2026-09-18 · Al Watan (Saudi Arabia) Ministry penalised practitioners who filmed patients during care and posted the clips
- 2024-11-10 · Okaz Health ministry refers practitioners who posted improper clips, including one with an inpatient
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