Compliance with Open Data Principles: A Longitudinal Content Analysis of the Saudi’s National Open Data Platform in 2016 and 2018

This study attempts to analyze the content of the National Open Data Platform (NODP) of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) in two time intervals with the aim of identifying the main developments occurred with regard to participants, available datasets and the aspects they cover, as well as the volume, quantity and quality of available data. The researchers attempted, through the study, to evaluate the applicability of the original eight principles of open data (OD) regarding data available on the Platform. The study concluded that the data that are now available through the NODP are timely, accessible, machine processable, non-discriminatory, and license-free. It also concluded that there are three OD principles that are not applied. These three principles relate to the data being complete, primary, and available in open formats. The study concluded with a set of recommendations that should enhance tendency towards implementing OD in the KSA.