Riyadh - Sharikat Mubasher: Saudi Data and Artificial Intelligence Authority (SDAIA) and the National Transformation Program launched today the National Data Index (NDI) which was designed to assess and monitor the implementation of data management practices across government entities, SDAIA announced in a statement.

The new index was launched during the Saudi Data Forum held in Riyadh.

The NDI is a dynamic, results-based monitoring and evaluation indicator to track government entities’ progress in data management (DM) practices maturity and compliance with national data management controls, specifications, and operational excellence indicators.

The index consists of three elements: data management maturity assessment questionnaire, compliance assessment, and operational indicators assessment.

Through launching the NDI, the Kingdom aims to improve data quality and credibility (DQ), implement data lifecycle management processes, and enhance data management culture through conducting employee training programs.

Furthermore, the NDI aims to develop compliance and audit reporting mechanisms, create a robust data governance framework and policies, and accelerate the efficiency and effectiveness of data management operations.

The NDI will cover 14 domains, including Data Governance (DG), Data Quality (DQ), Data Storage, Data Catalog and Metadata (MCM), Business Intelligence and Analytics (BIA), Data Value Realization (DVR), Open Data (OD), Freedom of Information (FOI), and Personal Data Protection (PDP). 

Moreover, SDAIA launched the Open Data Portal (ODP) which enables individuals, governmental, and non-governmental agencies to publish their open data and make it available to end users. It includes over 7,000 open databases and more than 190 open data publishers.