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IDC Predicts ICT Expenditure in Saudi Arabia to Exceed $34.5 Billion This Year

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Saudi Arabia is propelling itself into a new era of digital innovation. Fueled by an influx of foreign direct investment and a colossal $7 trillion development plan for giga projects, ICT spending in the Kingdom is projected to soar beyond $34.5 billion this year. That’s according to the latest forecast from International Data Corporation (IDC), with the global technology research, consulting, and events firm predicting particularly strong compound annual growth rates (CAGRs) for software (11.4%) and IT services (8.7%) over the 2022–2026 period.

The government sector is spearheading IT spending in the Kingdom in 2023, with substantial investments being made in the areas of AI, IoT, cybersecurity, and big data analytics — the critical building blocks of an ‘Experience Economy’. The key sectors of finance, communications, energy and resources, and manufacturing will be the next biggest spenders in 2023; however, the healthcare, finance, retail/wholesale, professional services, and education sectors are expected to see the fastest rates of growth over the next five years.

The upcoming IDC Saudi Arabia CIO Summit 2023, which takes place at the Fairmont Riyadh on September 13-14, will explore these developments and much more as it plays host to the Kingdom’s most influential IT and telecom leaders, digital government pioneers, regulators, and industry thought leaders. “Saudi Arabia’s trailblazing transformation journey is a testament to the Kingdom’s visionary leaders and their unwavering commitment to building a resilient digital economy,” says Hamza Naqshbandi, IDC’s associate vice president for Saudi Arabia and Bahrain. “Guided by their ambition, Saudi CIOs now stand as the architects of tomorrow and will be pivotal in shaping an era where digital prowess empowers a nation’s aspirations. The IDC Saudi Arabia CIO Summit 2023 will celebrate the Kingdom’s remarkable evolution, providing a unique platform where collaboration, knowledge sharing, and technological innovation converge to lay the foundations for a future unbounded by limitations.”

Addressing the theme ‘Enabling the Digital Economy’s Leaders’, the IDC Saudi Arabia CIO Summit 2023, will explore the current digital landscape and evaluate its pervasive impact on citizens, customers, employees, and operations. There will also be a special guest appearance from Raha Moharrak, who carved her name in history as both the youngest Arab and first Saudi woman to climb Mount Everest and the Seven Summits. Her achievements align perfectly with the spirit of transformation that drives the summit, and her presence will inspire attendees to reach new heights in their own digital journeys.

The agenda will incorporate a series of fascinating presentations, dedicated CIO-led panel sessions, and technology focus groups addressing a diverse range of topics such as:

  • Strategies for Developing a Digitally Resilient Organization
  • Envisioning the Future Intelligent Enterprise
  • Shaping CISO Strategies for the Digital-First Organization
  • Data- and Platform-Led Strategies for Realizing Digital Outcomes
  • Digital Trust, Identity, and Security Strategies for the Digital-First Organization
  • Talent Development and the Demand for New Skills: Optimizing Team Structure
  • Sustainable Strategies and Technologies: Operationalization, Impact Measurability, Business Value Creation
  • Vendor Selection and Management: Best Practices and What to Look Out For
  • Cyber Protection for the Threats of Today, and Tomorrow: Dynamic Security Strategies to Minimize Risk
  • Connecting the Distributed Cloud: From the Edge to the Core
  • Enabling the Data-Driven Enterprise
  • Transitioning Through AI and Analytics: Winning in the Intelligent Economy

The event will also feature exclusive insights from IDC’s CIO Advisory Council for Saudi Arabia, whose members include some of the region’s most respected ICT leaders and experts, including:

  • Eng. Naif A. Sheshah, Assistant Deputy Governor for Planning & Development and CDO, Communications, Space & Technology Commission (CST)
  • Yousef Alsuhaibani, CIO, Mobily
  • Sundah Alsehali, CIO, Ministry of Defense
  • Eng. Ghada Albugami, CIO and Presidential Advisor for Digital Transformation, Princess Nourah Bint Abdulrahman University
  • Abdulaziz Abanmi, COO, Saudi Payments
  • Khaled Alhazmi, CIO, Saudi Airlines
  • Jason Roos, CIO, King Abdullah University of Science & Technology (KAUST)
  • Yasser Al Yousuf, Assistant Deputy Minister, CISO, CRO, and CDO, Ministry of Justice
  • Bandar Al Shahrani, Head of Digital & Innovation, PIF Projects, Public Investment Fund

Cyber Security

DESC to Highlight Dubai’s Cyber Defense Strategies as GISEC 2025 Government Partner

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The Dubai Electronic Security Center (DESC) is set to participate as the official government cybersecurity partner for the eighth consecutive year in the 14th edition of the Gulf Information Security Expo and Conference (GISEC Global 2025), taking place from May 6-8 at the Dubai World Trade Centre. The Center’s participation in GISEC Global 2025, which gathers over 25,000 cybersecurity professionals representing more than 160 countries, aligns with its strategic objectives aimed at advancing the Dubai Cyber Security Strategy and reinforcing Dubai’s position as one of the world’s digitally safest cities.

This participation reflects the Center’s commitment to safeguarding digital infrastructure, fostering innovation, enhancing cyber resilience, and promoting robust cooperation at both the local and international levels. During the three-day event, DESC will spotlight a number of key initiatives, including the “Dubai Cyber Challenge”, an exclusive competitive simulation designed to enhance the cyber readiness of Dubai government entities, and the “School of Cyber Defense” CTF competition, which attracted registrations from over 300 university students, engaging them in technical challenges and hands-on training. These programs form a key part of DESC’s ongoing efforts to build a pipeline of skilled cybersecurity professionals equipped to navigate evolving digital threats.

H.E. Yousuf Hamad Al Shaibani, CEO of the Dubai Electronic Security Center, commented, “DESC’s participation in GISEC Global 2025 reflects our steadfast commitment to securing Dubai’s digital future through proactive cybersecurity measures, innovation-driven initiatives, and an integrated ecosystem that fosters collaboration by building partnerships across public and private sectors. GISEC continues to serve as a dynamic platform where industry leaders, experts, and innovators come together to shape the future of cybersecurity.”

“GISEC 2025 provides a critical platform for strategic engagement with global cybersecurity innovators, allowing us to gain insights into emerging technologies and anticipate future threats. These interactions directly support our efforts to create forward-looking policies, develop advanced cyber solutions, and empower national talent to lead in this field. Through such initiatives, we continue to strengthen Dubai’s position as a global hub for cybersecurity excellence and digital innovation,” Al Shaibani added.

DESC experts will also take part in high-level panel discussions addressing key challenges and emerging trends in the cybersecurity landscape. The Center will also formalize strategic partnerships and Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs), aimed at enhancing cross-sector collaboration and strengthening national efforts to secure the cyber space.

Visitors to GISEC Global 2025 are invited to explore DESC’s initiatives at Stand A80 in Hall 7, where DESC will showcase its latest projects, including future-ready cybersecurity guidelines and certification programs designed to keep pace with the evolving digital landscape and strengthen national capabilities. The stand will also serve as a unique opportunity for attendees to engage with DESC’s experts and explore opportunities for joint collaboration.

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Events

OPSWAT Joins GISEC 2025 as Middle East Confronts AI-Driven Cyber Threats

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OPSWAT has announced its diamond-level sponsorship of GISEC Global 2025, the Middle East and Africa’s premier cybersecurity event. Scheduled for 6-8 May at Dubai World Trade Centre, the exhibition will be hosted by the UAE Cybersecurity Council in partnership with the Dubai Electronic Security Center.

This year’s participation underscores OPSWAT’s commitment to strengthening regional cybersecurity resilience as organizations face increasingly sophisticated threats. Attendees will have multiple opportunities to engage with OPSWAT’s cybersecurity experts through interactive demonstrations, thought leadership sessions, and specialized training programs.

Sertan Selcuk, Vice President for METAP and CIS, OPSWAT

“Our main focus at GISEC Global 2025 will be critical infrastructure, the lynchpin of economic progress and an increasingly popular target for threat actors,” said Sertan Selcuk, Vice President for METAP and CIS, OPSWAT. “Our partnerships will involve devising ways of protecting the interconnected systems and technologies that drive the Fourth Industrial Revolution. Through our demonstrations and discussions at GISEC 2025, OPSWAT experts will show how our solutions directly address the latest cybersecurity challenges, especially the ongoing merger of IT and OT.”

The company will showcase its innovative solutions through two unique exhibits. The CIP Mobile Lab, operated by OP/X Labs, will provide live demonstrations of industry-leading technologies designed to protect critical infrastructure. Visitors can gain practical insights into securing vital operational systems against modern cyber threats.

Complementing this will be OPSWAT’s Nuclear Plant Model Reactor display, illustrating the company’s specialized capabilities in securing highly sensitive environments. The exhibit will demonstrate real-world applications of OPSWAT’s technology through an interconnected display with the mobile lab.

OPSWAT’s experts will present across multiple stages during the three-day event:

  1. On the opening day, security professionals can attend a live hacking demonstration on the Dark Stage, revealing current vulnerabilities in today’s threat landscape.
  2. Day two features two significant presentations. Founder and CEO Benny Czarny will deliver a keynote address titled “Breaking the Firewall: Revolutionizing Cyber Defense for a Connected World” on the Government Stage. His session will challenge conventional security paradigms and propose innovative approaches to counter AI-driven threats and encrypted attacks.
  3. Simultaneously, Director of Products and Solutions Kris Voorspoels will participate in a Critical Infrastructure Stage panel discussion examining security challenges in the regional oil and gas sector’s Industrial IoT (IIoT) ecosystem. The session will explore security implications of connected devices in petrochemical operations and strategies for protecting this vital economic sector.

Supporting the UAE National Cybersecurity Strategy’s capacity-building objectives, OPSWAT Academy will offer complimentary certification courses throughout the event. Professionals can earn credentials in File Security (OFSA), Secure Storage (OSSA), Email Security (OESA), Web Traffic Protection (OWPA), and Data Transfer Security (ODSA).

At GISEC Global 2025, OPSWAT will exhibit from Stand C55, Hall 7.

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Cyber Security

Kuwait Renews Cyber First Initiative to Strengthen Digital Defenses for Vision 2035

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In a time of accelerating digital transformation, the 3rd Cyber First Kuwait Edition took center stage at the Radisson Blu Hotel, Kuwait, bringing together over 300 technology leaders, cybersecurity professionals, and policymakers to address the country’s evolving digital threat landscape and cybersecurity vision. Organized by Events First Group, the conference supports the new Kuwait Vision 2035 and the nation’s ambitious National Cybersecurity Strategy.

The summit will feature keynote presentations, expert panel discussions, real-world case studies, and an exhibition showcasing cutting-edge solutions. Topics will span AI-powered threat detection, OT/ICS infrastructure security, cloud resilience, Zero Trust frameworks, and national-level collaboration between public and private sectors.

Abdullah Al Shaheen, Director of Public Relations and Media Department at National cybersecurity center said, “This edition of the Cyber First Conference, held under the patronage of the National Cybersecurity Center serves as a platform for business leaders, professionals to come together and exchange experiences, share best practices, and explore the latest developments for security and protection against the rapidly evolving cyber threats and attacks. These challenges require us to remain informed and constantly evolving.”

“The National Cybersecurity Center in the State of Kuwait is working to build an effective system to protect the cyberspace by collaborating with both local and international entities in the field of cybersecurity. This is to create a safe digital environment, while maintaining the trust of technology operators and users. We hope this conference will serve as a gateway to more important meetings and events that focus on cybersecurity,” he added.

“Cyber First Kuwait is a national dialogue and strategic catalyst,” said Shyam Reddy, Partnerships Director. “With Vision 2035 and the National Cybersecurity Strategy serving as our guiding frameworks, this summit brings together government and enterprise to create actionable pathways toward a digitally secure and resilient Kuwait.”

The conference featured keynotes, panels, one-on-one networking sessions, a cybersecurity hackathon, and the Kuwait Cybersecurity Awards, recognizing trailblazers across innovation, leadership, and operational excellence. The event hosted over 300 delegates, including CISOs, risk management leaders, OT and cloud architects, regulators, leading solution providers, more than 20 sponsors, 15 media partners, and 10 ministries.

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