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Quest Training

Cross-Border Data Transfer Mechanisms & Localization Training Course

Goes beyond general privacy compliance to transfer mechanisms, transfer risk assessments and localization rules for flows across the Gulf, Europe and Africa.

DPGP · Data Privacy, Governance & ProtectionAll Levels#3022ClassroomEnglish , Arabic
Duration
5 Days
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Free substitution at any time · 30+ days' notice: full refund minus 10%. Cancellation policy

Sectors:Data, Analytics & Digital TransformationCategories:Data Privacy, Governance & Protection

Course Overview

This advanced practical course goes beyond general data protection compliance to focus on cross-border transfers of personal data and data localization. It examines how transfer mechanisms, transfer risk assessments and residency rules operate under the Saudi Personal Data Protection Law (PDPL) and its regulation on personal data transfers outside the Kingdom, the EU General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), other Gulf laws and African frameworks. The program covers adequacy decisions, standard contractual clauses, binding common and corporate rules, certification and permitted exceptions, together with transfer risk assessments, supplementary technical and contractual measures, cloud data residency, and sectoral localization requirements set by cybersecurity, banking and government data regulators. It also explores the Malabo Convention and the AfCFTA Protocol on Digital Trade. Participants map real data flows, select and document transfer mechanisms, assess cloud and outsourcing arrangements, and build a transfer register and governance model shared by legal, procurement, privacy and IT teams.

Learning Objectives

  • Analyze what counts as a cross-border transfer, including remote access.
  • Compare transfer rules under the Saudi PDPL, the GDPR and other Gulf laws.
  • Evaluate adequacy decisions and level-of-protection assessments.
  • Apply standard contractual clauses to controller and processor scenarios.
  • Assess binding common rules and certification for intra-group transfers.
  • Identify the limited exceptions that permit transfers without safeguards.
  • Conduct transfer risk assessments that weigh destination laws.
  • Interpret localization requirements set by cybersecurity, banking and government regulators.
  • Evaluate cloud hosting, key control and support access against residency rules.
  • Analyze the Malabo Convention and AfCFTA digital trade rules on data flows.
  • Develop contractual and vendor controls for international data flows.
  • Design a transfer register and governance model for ongoing compliance.

Who Should Attend

This course is designed for Data Protection Officers, Privacy Managers, legal counsel, compliance professionals, data governance leads, and cloud and IT security managers who approve or operate international data flows. It is also suitable for procurement and vendor management specialists, outsourcing and contract managers, internal auditors, and risk professionals in multinational groups, banks and financial institutions, ministries and government entities, telecommunications operators, and oil and gas companies. The program is particularly relevant to organizations using cloud services, shared service centers, overseas vendors or group-wide systems across the Gulf, Europe and Africa. Prior grounding in PDPL or GDPR principles is helpful.

Learning Outcomes

  • Determine whether a data flow is a cross-border transfer under applicable laws.
  • Produce a complete inventory of international data flows and destinations.
  • Select the right transfer mechanism for controller and processor scenarios.
  • Prepare standard contractual clauses and supporting annexes.
  • Assess binding common rules and certification for group transfers.
  • Apply transfer exceptions only within their permitted conditions.
  • Document transfer risk assessments with proportionate supplementary measures.
  • Evaluate cloud and outsourcing arrangements against localization rules.
  • Specify encryption, key control and access restrictions supporting residency.
  • Explain how the Malabo Convention and AfCFTA rules affect African data flows.
  • Embed transfer controls in vendor and intra-group contracts.
  • Operate a transfer register with clear ownership and review cycles.

Course Outline

Day 1

Transfer Concepts, Data Flow Mapping & the Regulatory Landscape

  • What constitutes a transfer: export, remote access and onward transfer.
  • Transfers versus disclosure, sharing and processing on behalf of others.
  • Data localization, data residency and data sovereignty.
  • Transfer provisions in the Saudi PDPL and other Gulf laws.
  • GDPR Chapter V and its influence on regional regimes.
  • Roles of SDAIA, the European Commission and national authorities.
  • Mapping data flows, systems, vendors and destinations.
  • Hidden transfers in support, backup, analytics and group services.
  • The transfer inventory as a decision basis.
  • Practical Application: Map a simulated multinational's data flows and classify each by transfer type and destination.
Day 2

Adequacy, Standard Contractual Clauses & Binding Common Rules

  • Adequacy and level-of-protection assessments.
  • Criteria applied when assessing destination countries.
  • Structure, modules and annexes of standard contractual clauses.
  • SDAIA standard contractual clauses alongside the EU clauses.
  • Processor, sub-processor and onward transfer scenarios.
  • Binding common and corporate rules for intra-group transfers.
  • Certification and codes of conduct as safeguards.
  • Permitted exceptions and the conditions for relying on them.
  • Documenting the chosen mechanism and its justification.
  • Practical Application: Select and justify transfer mechanisms for given scenarios and complete clause annexes.
Day 3

Transfer Risk Assessments & Supplementary Measures

  • When a transfer risk assessment is required and who owns it.
  • Assessment structure under SDAIA guidance and GDPR practice.
  • Destination laws, government access and enforceable rights.
  • Data sensitivity, volume, frequency and recipient profile.
  • Technical measures: encryption, pseudonymization and key control.
  • Contractual and organizational supplementary measures.
  • Residual risk evaluation and the transfer decision.
  • Reassessment triggers and periodic review.
  • Recording and approving assessment outcomes.
  • Practical Application: Assess the risk of a cloud analytics transfer and recommend supplementary measures.
Day 4

Data Localization, Cloud Residency & Sectoral Requirements

  • Policy drivers behind localization and data sovereignty.
  • Hosting requirements in the NCA Cloud Cybersecurity Controls.
  • Government data classification and National Data Management Office standards.
  • Banking sector outsourcing and data location requirements.
  • Telecommunications and cloud service provider regulations.
  • Cloud regions, backups, replication and disaster recovery sites.
  • Customer-held encryption keys and remote support restrictions.
  • Reconciling localization with group-wide systems and shared services.
  • Exit planning, data repatriation and evidence of residency.
  • Practical Application: Test a proposed cloud migration against localization rules and define hosting and access controls.
Day 5

African Frameworks, Contracts & Transfer Governance Program

  • Malabo Convention principles on transborder data flows.
  • The AfCFTA Protocol on Digital Trade and cross-border data.
  • Transfer rules in Egypt, Nigeria, Kenya and South Africa.
  • Transfer clauses in procurement and outsourcing contracts.
  • Sub-processor approval, audit rights and onward transfer controls.
  • Transfer register, ownership and approval workflow.
  • Linking transfers to processing records and impact assessments.
  • Regulatory monitoring, metrics and management reporting.
  • Building a prioritized implementation roadmap.
  • Final Workshop: Develop a transfer governance program covering inventory, mechanisms, risk assessments, localization, contracts and priorities.

Upcoming Dates

Selected date

Cairo · 17 – 21 Jan 2027 · Classroom

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MadridScheduled
2 – 6 Nov 2026€5,400—
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MakkahScheduled
2 – 6 Nov 2026€4,200—
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ManamaScheduled
9 – 13 Nov 2026€4,700—
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MuscatScheduled
16 – 20 Nov 2026€5,300—
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MarbellaScheduled
16 – 20 Nov 2026€5,400—
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OnlineScheduled
22 – 26 Nov 2026€1,700€1,530until 2 Nov
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ParisScheduled
30 Nov – 4 Dec 2026€5,700€5,130until 9 Nov
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SalalahScheduled
7 – 11 Dec 2026€5,300€4,770until 16 Nov
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AbujaScheduled
7 – 11 Dec 2026€5,100€4,590until 16 Nov
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AccraScheduled
14 – 18 Dec 2026€5,100€4,590until 23 Nov
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AmmanScheduled
20 – 24 Dec 2026€3,100€2,790until 30 Nov
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AmsterdamScheduled
21 – 25 Dec 2026€5,400€4,860until 30 Nov
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BangkokScheduled
28 Dec 2026 – 1 Jan 2027€6,100€5,490until 7 Dec
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BarcelonaScheduled
4 – 8 Jan 2027€5,400€4,860until 14 Dec
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BeirutScheduled
10 – 14 Jan 2027€4,000€3,600until 21 Dec
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BerlinScheduled
11 – 15 Jan 2027€5,800€5,220until 21 Dec
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CairoScheduled
17 – 21 Jan 2027€3,300€2,970until 28 Dec
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CasablancaScheduled
25 – 29 Jan 2027€4,300€3,870until 4 Jan
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Cape TownScheduled
25 – 29 Jan 2027€5,100€4,590until 4 Jan
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DammamScheduled
31 Jan – 4 Feb 2027€4,200€3,780until 11 Jan
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DubaiScheduled
7 – 11 Feb 2027€4,400€3,960until 18 Jan
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DohaScheduled
7 – 11 Feb 2027€4,400€3,960until 18 Jan
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ErbilScheduled
14 – 18 Feb 2027€3,100€2,790until 25 Jan
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IstanbulScheduled
22 – 26 Feb 2027€4,700€4,230until 1 Feb
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JeddahScheduled
28 Feb – 4 Mar 2027€4,200€3,780until 8 Feb
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KigaliScheduled
1 – 5 Mar 2027€5,100€4,590until 8 Feb
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Kuala LumpurScheduled
8 – 12 Mar 2027€4,400€3,960until 15 Feb
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LisbonScheduled
8 – 12 Mar 2027€5,400€4,860until 15 Feb
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LondonScheduled
15 – 19 Mar 2027€5,600€5,040until 22 Feb
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MadinahScheduled
22 – 26 Mar 2027€4,200€3,780until 1 Mar
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Available in: Istanbul · Dubai · London · Doha · Amsterdam

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