The Black Hat Middle East and Africa 2025 (Black Hat MEA 2025) has wrapped up in Riyadh, reinforcing Saudi Arabia’s position as a global hub for the cybersecurity industry.
The Black Hat MEA 2025 event was organized by the Saudi Federation for Cybersecurity, Programming and Drones (SAFCSP) and Tahaluf Company, a partnership between the Federation, the Investment Events Fund, and Informa International.
It was one of the most prominent cybersecurity events globally, attracting 40,000 visitors from 160 countries to the 60,000-square-meter venue.
This year’s edition featured over 500 exhibitors, 300 international speakers, more than 200 hours of technical content, and the Capture the Flag hacking competition with 500 participants.
Black Hat MEA 2025 underscored the Kingdom’s attractiveness for investment, witnessing a turnout of investors managing $3.71 billion (SAR13.9) billion in assets. This reflects growing international confidence in the Saudi digital market, further evidenced by the announcement of more than 25 investment deals.
Specialized events at Black Hat MEA 2025
Specialized sessions addressed key challenges in 2026, including expanding attack surfaces, the influence of AI on decision-making, complex supply chains, and pressures on digital identity systems.
Experts from the National Security Institute, the UK Ministry of Defence, and global tech companies emphasized the importance of cybersecurity investments in the AI era, along with the need for enhanced operational discipline and improved supply chain due diligence.
Image credits: SPA | Cropped by GBN
The Activity Zone at Black Hat MEA 2025 has served as a dynamic proving ground for cybersecurity capabilities, where emerging threats and cutting-edge solutions converge. Participants sharpen their skills through realistic simulations of attacks targeting critical sectors.
With this year’s event, Black Hat MEA confirms its role as a platform for knowledge exchange and developing modern tools, aligning with Vision 2030’s goals for the technology sector. The strong turnout highlighted the Kingdom’s progress in developing world-class cybersecurity infrastructure and its capability to host major international specialized events.
