Saudi Arabia

NIST bloc Standard-taker

Saudi Arabia works to its own National Cryptographic Standards, issued by the National Cybersecurity Authority, which set minimum cryptographic requirements for national systems across MODERATE and ADVANCED levels and include a dedicated post-quantum cryptography appendix. The Authority has consulted on adding post-quantum algorithms to the standard, while the Communications, Space and Technology Commission guides the ICT sector to run pilots and build crypto-agility.

Governance credibility

Governance credibility scores for Saudi Arabia, each out of two. Hover or focus a row to highlight its axis.
Criterion	Score	Confidence
Relevance	1.5 / 2	Medium
Coherence	1.5 / 2	Medium
Effectiveness	0.5 / 2	Medium
Efficiency	2.0 / 2	Medium
Governance	2.0 / 2	Medium
Impact	2.0 / 2	Medium

Regulatory basis

NCA National Cryptographic Standards (NCS-1:2020) national Binding law
NCA consultation adding post-quantum algorithms, RNGs and QKD to the NCS national Soft law
CST Securing Data in the Quantum Computing Era (ICT sector) national Guidance

Legal status: Binding

Government entities and critical national infrastructure must meet the National Cybersecurity Authority's minimum cryptographic requirements set in the National Cryptographic Standards (NCS-1:2020), which the NCA is mandated to enforce. The standard already carries a post-quantum cryptography appendix, and the NCA has run a public consultation to add post-quantum algorithms; until that update is finalised, no specific post-quantum algorithm is yet mandated. Communications, Space and Technology Commission material for the ICT sector is advisory only.

Standards and algorithms

Standard families: National Cryptographic Standards (NCS-1:2020)

Hybrid stance

None stated

Migration timeline

No published migration timeline.

Governmental and standards bodies

NCA National Cybersecurity Authority, issues the National Cryptographic Standards with a post-quantum cryptography appendix and consulted on adding post-quantum algorithms
CST Communications, Space and Technology Commission, guidance for the ICT sector on the quantum threat and post-quantum cryptography

Key institutional documents

Securing Data in the Quantum Computing Era for the ICT Sector CST · T1
NCA seeks public feedback on updates to the National Cryptographic Standards adding post-quantum computing algorithms NCA · T1
The National Cryptographic Standards (NCS) - overview page NCA · 2020 · T1
National Cryptographic Standards (NCS-1:2020) - Arabic NCA · 2020 · T1
National Cryptographic Standards (NCS-1:2020) - English NCA · 2020 · T1

Advising on this transition, or your own sector's? Request a briefing →