How to Get IRB Approval in Saudi Arabia: Step by Step

Short answer

Research involving people, their identifiable data or their biological samples in Saudi Arabia needs review by an institutional research ethics committee (IRB) registered under the National Committee of BioEthics (NCBE) before it starts, as required by the Law of Ethics of Research on Living Creatures and its Implementing Regulations.

On this platform you prepare the application in guided steps, check its quality instantly, and submit it for review by qualified human reviewers. Screening starts the moment you submit, and the service target is a first review within 24 hours for complete applications.

Step 1 — Prepare before you start

Have your research question, study design, target population, sample size justification, consent approach and data protection plan ready.

Complete research ethics (bioethics) training accepted by your institution and keep the certificate for the declaration step.

Confirm who the principal investigator is, their institution and department, the funding source and the expected duration.

Step 2 — Declarations and study classification

Confirm the accuracy, training, consent and policy declarations.

Choose the study type (for example observational, retrospective, survey, clinical trial) and the review category you are requesting. The committee confirms the final category.

Step 3 — Write the protocol (or use the chat assistant)

Complete twelve protocol sections: objectives, methodology, sample size, target population, inclusion and exclusion criteria, data collection, informed consent, risks, benefits, confidentiality and conflict of interest.

Prefer a conversation? The chat application asks one question at a time and fills the same sections for you to review. Optional AI feedback suggests improvements; it never invents facts or approvals.

Step 4 — Check quality, then submit

Before submitting, the platform shows which required items are missing and gives instant quality tips on the points committees most often return applications for: a clear primary objective, a justified sample size, complete consent, safeguards for vulnerable groups, a PDPL-aligned data protection plan and risks with mitigation.

Tips never block submission. Addressing them usually means fewer questions and a faster decision.

Step 5 — Review and decision

After submission the application is screened and assigned to independent, appointed reviewers with a 24-hour review window. Lapsed assignments are renewed or reassigned automatically, and administrators are alerted if the 24-hour target is missed.

You are notified in the platform and by email if reviewers ask questions and when a decision is recorded. Every decision is made by authorized people; automated checks never approve research. Issued records can be checked on the Verify page.