Riyadh: Shaping the future of cybersecurity

Something extraordinary happened at Black Hat MEA 2024. You could feel it in the air – a sense of momentum, of things changing, of a region stepping into a leadership role on the global cybersecurity stage. There was plenty of talk about zero-days, AI, incident response; but one recurring theme stood out. Riyadh isn’t just hosting a cyber conference – it’s becoming a focal point for the future of cybersecurity itself.

Riyadh: A new cyber hub?

The strategic importance of Riyadh came through loud and clear in our conversations with speakers on the ground. “If we look at Riyadh and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, it’s central within this region,” said Craig Jones (Immediate Past Director Cybercrime at Interpol). “The pull of different countries and organisations base themselves here…it’s becoming a hub, especially in cybersecurity.”

That sentiment was echoed by Charles Guillemet (Chief Technology Officer at Ledger), who noted, “Saudi Arabia is a growing country…and if your economy is getting bigger, then you also need to improve your cybersecurity.”

It’s a simple but powerful point. As the digital economy in the region scales rapidly, so too does the need to invest in infrastructure that can protect it.

More than just security infrastructure

But it’s not only about location or digital growth. What stood out at BHMEA24 was the level of engagement – from leadership, from young professionals, from women in tech, and from people across sectors. Caitlin Sarian (Cybersecurity Girl and Serial Entrepreneur) shared, “This conference has the most women I’ve seen in a cybersecurity conference ever. It’s women in every area too, which is incredible.”

Inclusivity isn’t just a buzzword here. Saudi Arabia has been actively working on empowering women and protecting vulnerable groups in cyberspace. As Jones pointed out, “If we look back to 2019 when Saudi Arabia had the G20 presidency, they’re still continuing that work of empowering women in cybersecurity, and also protecting children in cyber space…not just in words, but in actions.”

And a fresh perspective on innovation

Dr. Leila Taghizadeh (Head of Cyber Risk Management and CISO at Allianz) was struck by the diversity and energy at the event. “It’s quite impressive…there’s a young population here who understand the global market. These could be our future vendors or partners.”

That newness brings with it a fresh approach. As she put it, "Whenever we have a fresh breath in any domain there is always innovation." There’s something unique about a region that’s not only embracing cybersecurity, but helping redefine it.

Ugo Vignolo Lutati (CISO at Prada Group) summed it up succinctly: “There’s a desire to innovate and transform.”

Beyond the tech, it’s about people

Some of the most forward-thinking insights at the event weren’t about emerging technologies, but about how people use them. “What’s exciting me now is the use of technology by the people,” said Jones. “You can do some great work using the tech even if you don’t fully understand it… but we do need checks and balances.”

Justin Ong (CISO and Chief Privacy Officer at Panasonic) made a similar point, saying AI is exciting not just for what it can do, but because it helps bring cybersecurity conversations to the boardroom. “With AI, you can produce insights I can take to stakeholders…without all the technical jargon.”

What happens next? 

Black Hat MEA 2024 showed that Riyadh isn’t just a location – it’s becoming a symbol. A symbol of regional leadership, of inclusive innovation, and of a future where cybersecurity is not just reactive, but proactive, strategic, and human-centric.

As Sarian said, “Everyone here wants to help each other. Everyone wants to learn from each other, help you, guide you, mentor you — and build the best product ever.” That kind of collective ambition and collaboration is exactly what the cybersecurity world needs. And it might just be that Riyadh is the place leading the charge.

Are you joining us for Black Hat MEA 2025 in December? We’ll see you in Riyadh.