“Saudi Arabia has become a cornerstone of OPSWAT’s growth in the Middle East,” said Sertan Selcuk, Vice President of METAP & CIS Region at OPSWAT. “The establishment of our local office in Riyadh is a significant step in our ongoing commitment to the Kingdom. As demand for advanced cybersecurity solutions continues to grow, this new office enables us to better support Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 and its ambitious digital transformation agenda. We will continue to strengthen our local partnerships and contribute to securing the Kingdom’s critical infrastructure as it builds a resilient and secure digital future.”

“The opening of our new office in Riyadh is a pivotal moment for OPSWAT,” said Amjad Quteifan, Regional Sales Director for Saudi Arabia, Central Gulf, and North Africa at OPSWAT. “It’s a significant step in our efforts to better serve our customers and partners in the Kingdom. With this office, we can more effectively support Saudi Arabia’s digital transformation, ensuring that our cybersecurity solutions are readily available to protect critical infrastructure from emerging threats. We are excited about the opportunities to engage more closely with local stakeholders and contribute to the Kingdom’s Vision 2030.”

OPSWAT has achieved a remarkable four-fold year-on-year growth in Saudi Arabia, with the Kingdom now standing as the top contributor to OPSWAT’s business in the MEA region. Through its partnerships with leading IT enterprises and key stakeholders, OPSWAT has built a strong reputation in the region for its innovative cybersecurity technologies. Its flagship Content Disarm and Reconstruction (CDR) technology is increasingly sought after in the Kingdom, neutralizing potential threats hidden within files without compromising data integrity.

The new Riyadh office will not only bring OPSWAT closer to its growing customer base but also support local talent development. Through OPSWAT Academy, the company aims to upskill Saudi cybersecurity professionals by providing certifications and training tailored to the region’s unique needs. The Academy’s initiatives align with OPSWAT’s global SAR 37.5 million scholarship program, further reinforcing its dedication to addressing the growing demand for certified CIP cybersecurity experts in the country.

The establishment of the Riyadh office is the beginning of OPSWAT’s long-term growth plans in Saudi Arabia. The company is committed to expanding its footprint across critical infrastructure sectors capitalizing on the increasing demand for advanced cybersecurity technologies and supporting the Kingdom’s efforts to enhance its cybersecurity infrastructure and safeguard its digital economy.

To be held from 8-12 February 2026 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, WDS will showcase the latest advancements in defense technologies across all five defense domains — air, land, sea, space, and security. Building on the success of its two prior editions, WDS 2026 will bring together global defense stakeholders to further foster collaboration, innovation, and international partnerships to strengthen global defense capabilities. WDS contributes to Saudi Arabia’s growth in the defense sector and is aligned with the goals of Saudi Vision 2030 to localize 50 percent of defense spending in the Kingdom.

World Defense Show 2026 will span 273,000 sqm of exhibition space, including a new fourth hall. Since its inception in 2022, the area of exhibition stands has seen a considerable 58% growth. WDS 2026, in its third edition, is set to be even bigger and has received global participation with 65% of exhibition stands already sold. Attendees can experience several world-class features, take part in strategic networking opportunities, engage in discussions on crucial topics transforming the defense landscape, and view dynamic live and static displays at the expanded 2026 venue.

Andrew Pearcey, CEO, said, “We are excited to announce that WDS 2026 is surpassing the success of the previous edition. The 2026 show will be larger in size and expanded in scope, with increased international and local participation, expanded exhibition space, and a stronger focus on technological advancements, zooming in on unmanned systems and naval. WDS has introduced a range of important new features to promote further integration across the full spectrum of defense operations and deliver attendees another unmatched experience.”

WDS 2026 has announced new groundbreaking show features in addition to the successful programs from the previous edition. In 2024, these will contribute to an even more inclusive environment, bring the most cutting-edge technologies, and ensure wider industry coverage.

Among the highlights is Future Defense Lab, a revolutionary platform showcasing a new era of innovators, from startups to global primes, presenting never-before-seen cutting-edge technologies. In addition, the Unmanned Systems Zone brings the latest advancements in autonomous technology to the forefront, offering attendees the opportunity to experience the next phase of unmanned developments across all defense domains. Further, the new Naval Zone offers a comprehensive look at the future of maritime defense, underscoring the integral role of naval capabilities in maintaining global stability and securing economic interests.

A key new feature that reflects the Kingdom’s growing defense sector capabilities is the Saudi Supply Chain Zone, which enables small- and medium-sized Saudi enterprises the opportunity to connect with key players in the global defense supply chain, thereby strengthening local and international partnerships.

Pearcey added, “We’ve received resounding positive feedback from the previous two editions, with 2024 exceeding our expectations across the board. In response, we’ve set even more ambitious goals for 2026. By extending the show to offer more networking opportunities, greater deal-making potential, and enhanced collaboration between startups, local SMEs, and global industry leaders, we are committed to strengthening industry connections across the entire supply chain.”

In his new role at Snowflake, Ali will be responsible for the growth of the company’s operations in Saudi Arabia, including developing relationships with customers and prospects — such as government entities and local businesses — expanding the local partner ecosystem, and growing the local Snowflake team. Ali will drive the adoption of Snowflake’s AI Data Cloud across various industries, including the public sector, financial services, oil and gas, manufacturing, and retail.

Ali Al-Ismail, Country Manager for Snowflake KSA, said, “Saudi Arabia is a dynamic growth market that is rapidly transitioning to a data-driven economy. Snowflake is really at the forefront of this technological shift and this was a key driver in my move to Snowflake. As country manager, my top priority is to empower our customers to harness the full potential of their data to drive successful and actionable business outcomes to support the Kingdom’s digital transformation through Vision 2030.”

Ali brings nearly 20 years of experience in sales leadership and business development having held senior roles at leading technology companies, including Oracle, Microsoft, Cisco, and Alcatel, with a focus on the oil and gas industries, utilities, and mid-market growth companies. Most recently, Ali served as senior sales leader for Oracle in Saudi Arabia, where he built high-performing SaaS sales and channel teams from the ground up and achieved double-digit growth for the company’s cloud solutions. Ali is a graduate with a computer engineering degree from the King Fahad University of Petroleum and Minerals (KFUPM).

Mohamed Zouari, General Manager for the Middle East, Africa, and Turkey at Snowflake, added, “Ali’s leadership comes at a pivotal time for Snowflake as we expand our footprint in Saudi Arabia to help customers in the Kingdom with their most important data challenges with faster, cost-efficient, secure, and compliant data solutions. His deep understanding of the local market and commitment to fostering innovation will play a vital role in enabling organizations to leverage Snowflake’s AI Data Cloud to drive business innovation while adhering to the highest standards of data security and sovereignty.”

Doubling down on Snowflake’s commitment to Saudi, and equipping the global workforce with essential skills for the AI-driven future, Snowflake has launched its One Million Minds + One Platform program to certify over 100,000 users globally on the Snowflake AI Data Cloud by 2027, and upskilling one million people on data and AI by 2029. The program offers free, live introductory training courses led by Snowflake-certified instructors, providing hands-on experience to empower participants to drive their organizations’ data transformation journeys. In a high-growth market like Saudi Arabia, where 67% of respondents in PwC’s Workplace Hopes and Fears survey believe upskilling will enhance their job performance in the next five years, this initiative aligns with the Kingdom’s vision to build a data-ready workforce and develop a data-driven economy.

Speaking about the One Million Minds program, Ali added, “Vision 2030 is focused on transforming the nation to a more diversified and innovative economy, and Snowflake’s One Million Minds + One Platform program is helping drive this aim forward. Data and AI are fundamental aspects of today’s business environment, and this program aims to democratise data and AI use, enabling people in the Kingdom the opportunity to build successful careers as the technologists and founders of tomorrow.”

The Honeywell Himaya Center, located in the company’s Jubail office, underscores the alignment of Honeywell’s portfolio to three compelling megatrends including automation. It is designed to strengthen industrial cybersecurity capabilities in the Kingdom by offering more robust Operational Technology (OT) security solutions to address today’s evolving threats while helping businesses maintain regulatory compliance.

The centre will provide in-country Managed Security Services (MSS) to key sectors including energy, manufacturing and utilities. This includes Honeywell’s flagship Cyber Insight and Cyber Watch software solutions, which help businesses maintain continuous compliance with the National Cybersecurity Authority (NCA) OT Cybersecurity Controls (OTCC) regulations, and aim to support the use of automation and artificial intelligence (AI)-enabled technologies.

“The launch of the Honeywell Himaya Center is a testament to our dedication to supporting Saudi Arabia’s localization and industrial transformation objectives, and the ambitious vision set forth by the IKTVA program,” said Abdullah Al-Juffali, president, Honeywell Saudi Arabia and Bahrain. “The new centre will bring critical local cybersecurity capabilities to the Kingdom, and support the growth of a resilient and self-reliant industrial ecosystem.”

Saudi Arabia’s cybersecurity market is expected to grow from $3.6 billion today to $10.5 billion by 2032. This growth is driven by digital transformation, rising cyber threats, and initiatives like Vision 2030. The increasing reliance on cloud technologies and focus on data protection are fueling demand for advanced security solutions across key industries.

“Industrial automation and AI are pivotal in driving operational efficiency and business resilience across critical industries,” said George Bou Mitri, president, Honeywell Industrial Automation for the Middle East, Turkey, Africa, and Central Asia. “The target of the Honeywell Himaya Center is to provide unparalleled support to businesses, helping them navigate the complexities of industrial cybersecurity and leverage the benefits of advanced automation technologies.”

Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030, which emphasises the importance of cybersecurity to drive digital transformation and economic diversification, has pushed the growth of the Saudi cybersecurity market which is projected to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 12.5%, reaching SAR 15 billion by 2025. The industry still faces a significant shortage of cybersecurity professionals, with an estimated gap of 500,000 experts across the Middle East. OPSWAT’s solutions, combined with its educational initiatives through OPSWAT Academy, aim to address this skills gap by upskilling local professionals and reducing dependency on highly specialised in-house expertise through the solutions provided in collaboration with TCC.

“The demand for advanced cybersecurity solutions in Saudi Arabia has surged throughout 2023 and 2024, driven by the Kingdom’s ambitious digital transformation initiatives,” said Amjad Quteifan, Regional Sales Director at OPSWAT. “Through our partnership with TCC, we are uniquely positioned to deliver comprehensive security solutions that protect the critical infrastructure, empowering Saudi organisations to innovate and scale securely in support of Saudi Vision 2030.”

TCC has been a trusted provider of cutting-edge security solutions across Saudi Arabia since 2008. Commenting on the partnership, Mohammed AlMarri, TCC’s General Manager of Cybersecurity Services, stated, “With the growing convergence of IT and OT environments, the demand for advanced cybersecurity solutions is at an all-time high. At TCC, we leverage decades of expertise to deliver tailored cybersecurity services that protect critical infrastructure and sensitive data. Through our partnership with OPSWAT, we enhance our ability to provide comprehensive, scalable solutions that empower organisations to navigate the evolving threat landscape and safeguard their most valuable assets with confidence.”

Ali brings more than 24 years of IT industry experience to the role, previously holding managerial positions at AmiViz, Intel Security, and 3Com spanning across locations including Egypt, the KSA, and North Africa. As Regional Director for the Gulf Region, he will oversee operations, develop strategic initiatives, and deliver tailored solutions to address unique cybersecurity challenges in the Gulf. He will apply his security information and event management (SIEM) industry expertise to enable local organizations to access the most innovative security operations solutions.

“We are thrilled to have Yasser join our team as Regional Director for the Gulf Region. His extensive understanding of the Middle East’s cybersecurity landscape combined with his leadership expertise will play a vital part in driving forward our commitment to the region,” said Mazen Adnan Dohaji, Vice President and General Manager, IMETA, LogRhythm | Exabeam. “Yasser’s proven track record of driving growth and fostering local innovation will undoubtedly be a tremendous asset to our team as we focus on expanding our presence to serve the evolving needs of the market.”

Within his role, Ali will provide expert guidance, enabling LogRhythm | Exabeam customers to benefit from its self-hosted LogRhythm SIEM, cloud-native New-Scale Security Operations Platform, and advanced behavioural analytics products. His knowledge of the region will help organizations leverage localized solutions that align with the unique regulatory and technological needs of the Gulf.

“I am excited to take on this role at such a pivotal time for cybersecurity in the Gulf. As rapid digitalization accelerates, the demand for advanced, AI-driven solutions continues to grow,” said Yasser Ali, Regional Director, Gulf Region, LogRhythm | Exabeam. “It is clear that LogRhythm | Exabeam is committed to driving new value in the Middle East through recent launches, updates, and innovation. I look forward to building on this continuous momentum and empowering the Gulf with dedicated security tools and strategies that strengthen threat detection, investigation, and response (TDIR).”

The strategic hire follows the recent availability of the cloud-native New-Scale Platform in the KSA. Built on Google Cloud, the platform leverages the Dammam Google Cloud region (me-central2) to meet the demand for growing cloud-native security requirements.

According to the research, cybercriminals remain focused on the two largest economies in the region—the UAE (40% of all posts) and Saudi Arabia (26%). The spotlight on darknet forums is on the public sector, which accounted for 21% of all analyzed posts. Most of the data (63%) related to regional government institutions was published for free as part of hacktivist attacks. Next in line for most popular on the dark web are commerce (16% of all ads), the service sector (15%), and financial institutions (13%).

Amid geopolitical tensions, hacker groups have ramped up calls for DDoS attacks and breaches to disrupt government institutions in the region. In the first half of 2024, the number of reports on the results of DDoS attacks on the dark web surged by 70% compared to the same period in 2023. Beyond the public sector, hacktivists also targeted the financial and transportation sectors.

According to the research, 33% of all the analyzed ads were linked to data breaches. One-third of these messages were about selling information. In these ads, criminals primarily offered databases stolen from major commerce companies, with an average cost of $2,300.

Positive Technologies analyst Anastasiya Chursina commented, “When compared to our previous research over a similar period, the share of freely distributed data almost doubled (up to 59%). This allows criminals to broaden the profiles of potential victims for targeted attacks. If the victim refuses to pay the ransom, both ransomware groups, as well as hacktivists (whose goal is to draw public attention to a political stance rather than just receive financial gain), can distribute data for free.”

Accessing company information resources is the second most common type of dark web ads, making up 21% of all listings. According to the research, in 70% of all cases, access can be bought for less than $1,000. The vast amount of access-for-sale ads on the darknet and their low cost make it easier for cybercriminals to gain initial access and launch attacks on organizations in the region.

Positive Technologies recommends that companies build their defences based on result-driven cybersecurity, using modern tools such as application-level firewalls, including cloud versions, network traffic analysis systems, solutions for monitoring information security events and managing incidents, as well as metaproducts.

OPSWAT, a global leader in CIP solutions with headquarters in Florida, United States, has seen a significant expansion of its presence in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, marked by tremendous business and overall economic growth of the country over the past two years. The Kingdom’s Vision 2030 sets certain goals for the sector and as a contributor to the success of the global and Saudi cybersecurity space, OPSWAT has specific commitments to support and be part of the country’s development.

In alignment with Vision 2030, which also focuses on enhancing the resilience and preparedness of critical national infrastructure and cybersecurity education and awareness in the Kingdom. OPSWAT’s expansion in Saudi Arabia is dedicated to protecting the Kingdom’s essential services against an evolving landscape of cyber threats as well as addressing the need for improved educational and technical training.

Sertan Selcuk, OPSWAT Vice President METAP & CIS, emphasized the importance of this strategic expansion, stating, “Safeguarding Saudi Arabia’s critical infrastructure against the rising tide of cyber threats is essential to the nation’s security and economic stability. OPSWAT is dedicated to supporting Saudi Vision 2030 by fortifying the Kingdom’s defences through advanced cybersecurity training and innovative solutions. Our commitment is to ensure that Saudi Arabia’s vital assets remain resilient in the face of evolving cyber challenges.”

OPSWAT has been named the official educational partner for the MENA Information Security Conference 2024, which it is also a gold sponsor of. As part of this broader strategy, OPSWAT Academy, the educational arm of OPSWAT, will offer complimentary CIP certifications to all event attendees, tailored specifically to the needs of the region’s cybersecurity professionals.

“We are committed to equipping the next generation of cybersecurity professionals with the skills needed to safeguard critical infrastructure. Our partnership with MENA ISC 2024 opens new avenues for participants to access world-class CIP cybersecurity training,” said Irfan Shakeel, VP of OPSWAT Academy. “This initiative is part of OPSWAT’s global SAR 37.5 million (US $10 million) scholarship program, reinforcing our dedication to addressing the growing demand for certified CIP cybersecurity experts.”

Recent reports indicate a significant rise in state-sponsored cyberattacks targeting Saudi Arabia’s critical infrastructure, driven by the nation’s rapid digital transformation. With the average cost of a data breach in the Kingdom reaching approximately SAR 30 million (US $8 million), the need for robust cybersecurity measures and human resources has never been more urgent. OPSWAT’s initiatives directly address these challenges, ensuring that young aspiring Saudis receive world-class training and that the Kingdom’s essential services remain secure.

The data is drawn from a global study titled “How to Discover, Analyze and Respond to Threats Faster with Generative AI,” a commissioned study of 826 IT and cybersecurity professionals at large enterprises in Australia, Brazil, France, Germany, India, Mexico, Saudi Arabia, Japan, the UK and the US, conducted in October 2023 by Forrester Consulting on behalf of Tenable. The research sheds light on the growing adoption of GenAI within businesses, marking a significant pivot in their strategic focus.

The study reveals a sense of hopeful anticipation among security leaders regarding the capacity of GenAI to enhance security measures. Nevertheless, it also accentuates the intricate nature of the path towards AI integration, as organisations navigate the delicate balance between innovation and potential risks.

An aspect of concern highlighted by the study is the perception of GenAI as a greater security threat than an opportunity among 41% of organisations. This sentiment reflects widespread apprehension regarding cybersecurity risks associated with GenAI implementation. Additionally, internal misuse of GenAI emerges as a prominent concern, with 50% of respondents expressing worry about potential misuse within their organisations.

Moreover, the study emphasises the importance of data quality and integrity in the success of GenAI initiatives. A resounding 74% of respondents stress that GenAI’s effectiveness heavily depends on the quality of data utilised by organisations. This underscores the indispensable role of data governance and management in ensuring the efficacy of GenAI applications.

“While GenAI offers immense benefits, there are also serious concerns surrounding security, governance, and data quality,” says David Cummins, Senior VP of EMEA at Tenable. “GenAI can help bring data together from various sources, making it easier for organizations to understand and manage these complexities. However, these decisions must be based on reliable data. If you have unique data then you’re going to have unique intelligence guiding decisions — or “gold in, gold out.”

“Every organisation’s attack surface is expanding given the growing use of cloud services, virtualisation platforms, microservices, applications, and code libraries. This means organisations face vulnerabilities, cloud misconfigurations, and risks tied to identity access, groups, and permissions. Harnessed correctly, GenAI can help security teams quickly identify exposures, prioritise actions, and see connections across the entire attack surface.”