Black Hat MEA lit up Riyadh for its second day, drawing thousands of cybersecurity specialists, founders, CISOs and researchers. The event focused on critical questions shaping 2026, with discussions spanning the Executive Summit, Briefings and Deep Dive stages.

Speakers addressed current threat realities, including attack surfaces that shift by the minute, AI-driven decision-making, supply chain dependencies, and pressures on identity security. Anne Marie Zettlemoyer of the National Security Institute highlighted the evolving speed and complexity of defenses. She revealed that AI has moved from an emerging idea to a critical infrastructure. She added, “If anyone can define responsible AI security, it is this community.”

Charles Forte, Director General and CIO at the UK Ministry of Defence, explained leadership challenges using a ‘Surfing the Digital Tsunami’ analogy. He reported that effective response requires discipline, AI-era investments, and scrutiny of supply chains alongside internal systems.

Career-focused sessions also drew attention. Derek Cheng, CISO at Deliveroo, led “Mastering the CISO Maturity Model,” revealing benchmarks for modern security leadership. He discussed how CISOs scale governance, measure influence, and evolve into high-impact decision-makers shaping board-level risk agendas.

Hands-on experiences were a highlight. The Ship Spoofing simulation demonstrated how modern vessel navigation systems can be manipulated. Participants watched in real time as spoofed coordinates redirected ships, emphasizing maritime transport as a high-value target.

The world’s largest Capture the Flag (CTF) competition continued on day two, testing ethical hacking skills in web, PWN, forensics, reverse engineering, and cryptography. Thousands of specialists competed in the jeopardy-style tournament, with every challenge having the potential to change the leaderboard.

Running alongside the CTF, the Bug Bounty Cup saw elite hunters identifying critical vulnerabilities on live targets. Organizers reported that top discoveries and bragging rights will be determined on the final day.

Steve Durning, Portfolio Director of Black Hat MEA at Tahaluf, noted that activity-led experiences are proving invaluable, allowing teams to test theory against real attacks. Annabelle Mander, Executive Vice President of Tahaluf, added that day two revealed how quickly the community moves when the pressure is real.

As Black Hat MEA moves into its final day, advanced research, strategy discussions, and the closing rounds of the CTF and Bug Bounty Cup will take center stage. Organizers revealed that day three will define the risks, capabilities, and decisions shaping global cybersecurity in the coming year.

For registration and the full agenda, visit blackhatmea.com.

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