Navigating the Cyber Landscape: Saudi Arabia’s Cybersecurity Standards and Implementation Barriers

As technological advancements transform modern society, cybersecurity has emerged as a critical concern for governments and industries worldwide. In Saudi Arabia, the rapid pace of digital transformation driven by Vision 2030 has intensified the need for robust cybersecurity governance. However, there remains a lack of consolidated insight into the frameworks adopted within the Kingdom and the challenges surrounding their implementation. To address this gap, we conducted a systematic literature review focused specifically on Saudi Arabia’s cybersecurity standards and compliance landscape: synthesizing the findings from 37 peer-reviewed publications and official reports, categorizing the national and international frameworks in use (such as NCA ECC, SAMA CSF, ISO/IEC 27001, NIST CSF), and identifying key barriers such as regulatory fragmentation, skill shortages, and limited evaluation mechanisms. The review adheres to the PRISMA methodology and includes a critical quality assessment using the CASP tool. Our findings offer a comprehensive baseline for policy refinement and strategic planning and highlight the need for unified regulatory alignment and workforce development to improve cybersecurity resilience in Saudi Arabia.