Perceptions and Awareness of Healthcare Professionals Regarding FAIR Data Principles and Health Data Sharing in Saudi Arabia

Background/Objectives: The FAIR (Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, and Reusable) data principles are guidelines for managing data assets. While applied globally, no prior research has examined healthcare professionals’ perceptions and awareness of FAIR principles in Saudi Arabia’s healthcare context—a critical knowledge gap requiring investigation. Methods: To address this gap, this two-part mixed-methods study assessed practitioners’ awareness, perceptions, and expectations regarding the implementation of FAIR principles within the Saudi healthcare system. The first stage involved administering a cross-sectional survey to a random sample of 153 healthcare professionals working in the Saudi health sector. The second stage comprised three follow-up focus group discussions that further explored insights derived from the survey data. Results: The survey revealed that over half of the participants (52.9%) were unfamiliar with the FAIR data principles and 84.3% had not applied them in managing health data. Thematic analysis identified three key themes: awareness of FAIR data principles, perceived benefits and drivers of implementation, and challenges in current data management practices. Conclusions: This study provides the first theoretically grounded examination of FAIR adoption in Saudi healthcare. The findings offer actionable insights for policymakers to strengthen data governance, promote a culture of data stewardship, and align national digital health strategies with FAIR principles—thereby supporting sustainable, interoperable, and responsible data practices across the Saudi healthcare system.