Black Hat MEA opened today in Riyadh, drawing global CISOs, founders, policymakers, and researchers to explore the next wave of cyber risk.

Day one delivered high-pressure intelligence, live research, and practical lessons across the Executive Summit, Briefings, Deep Dive, and Campus stages. This year’s event marked a 55% increase in size from last year, reinforcing Saudi Arabia’s role as a hub for cybersecurity innovation and commercial growth.

The Opening Ceremony featured remarks from Eng. Muteb Alqany, CEO of the Saudi Federation for Cybersecurity, Programming and Drones. He reported that attendees came from over 163 countries, representing 500 global brands, with 300 speakers sharing insights. He said the event aims “to make the digital world safer, smarter, and stronger.”

Key industry leaders highlighted the Kingdom’s cybersecurity progress. Faisal Al-Khamisi, Chairman of SAFCSP, revealed that Black Hat MEA reflects Saudi Arabia’s commitment to building an advanced ecosystem with national expertise and global partnerships.

Steve Durning, Portfolio Director of Black Hat MEA, noted that the event fosters collaboration, resilience, and practical solutions, with discussions focused on real-world cyber threats.

Highlights from day one included:

• Briefings and Deep Dive sessions uncovering new vulnerabilities and research breakthroughs.
• Black Hat Campus featuring rising talent, including 17-year-old cybersecurity specialist Bandana Kaur.
• Hands-on activities with a SAR 1 million prize fund supported by Arsenal Labs, the Terminal, and the Root Lounge.

Executives praised the event’s impact. Annabelle Mander, Executive VP at Tahaluf, reported that Riyadh is now shaping the future of government and enterprise cybersecurity. Devon Bryan of Booking Holdings discussed strategies to detect network weaknesses before attackers exploit them.

Other speakers, including Ricardo Lafosse, Gary Hayslip, Dr. Chenxi Wang, Lance James, and Jaya Baloo, explored the cyber shift from 2020 to 2025. Their discussions focused on operational realities, AI tooling, and attacker strategies.

Jennifer Ewbank and Rich Baich shared insights from the CIA’s digital transformation and resilience lessons. Later, Bjorn Watne of INTERPOL and Abdullah AlQahtani from the Ministry of Investment unpacked the economics of cyber threats and national strategy priorities.

Organizers reported that day two will focus on AI-powered defense, financial-sector risk, live research, and technical briefings from global experts.

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