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Saudi Arabia has made remarkable progress in its digital transformation journey under the ambitious reform agenda of Saudi Vision 2030, aiming to turn the Kingdom into a digitally enabled trade, innovation, and investment hub.
Alongside building sophisticated digital infrastructure, the Kingdom is also scaling up its cybersecurity development and preparedness, earning a top spot amongst leading global economies for its digital capabilities.
As Saudi Arabia accelerates its digital ambitions, heightened awareness of threats and the urgent need to protect digital assets have led the Kingdom to strengthen its cybersecurity landscape through robust strategies, legislation, and a focused approach to data protection.
These efforts, spanning the digital ecosystem, resulted in Saudi Arabia being ranked first globally in cybersecurity in the World Competitiveness Yearbook by the Swiss-based Institute for Management Development.
The combination of a thriving economy, geopolitical tensions, and the rapid deployment of world-class technology solutions across industries has made Saudi Arabia one of the world’s most-attacked countries by online threat actors.
Globally, cyberattacks have more than doubled since the pandemic, with such crimes expected to cost the world over $23 trillion by 2027, up from $8.4 trillion in 2022. The increasing frequency and sophistication of attacks are taking a heavy toll, especially on Gulf economies.
Although the number of overall virtual threats in Saudi Arabia decreased by 19 percent in 2023 compared to 2022, the average cost of a cyberattack on an organization in the Kingdom and the UAE was $6.53 million — 69 percent more than the global average.
As the digital threat landscape grows more challenging, the need for skilled professionals is more critical than ever. To mitigate the severe consequences of such attacks, the Kingdom is not only investing in tools, services, and practices to monitor and respond to information security incidents but is also complementing its cyber resilience strategies through education and training programs aimed at building a skilled workforce capable of meeting the nation’s data protection needs.
The National Cybersecurity Authority is playing a pivotal role in driving many of the Kingdom’s digital efforts, ensuring that robust policies and initiatives are in place to safeguard national digital assets.
With plans for a $40 billion investment in AI, the Kingdom is actively working to prevent and detect virtual vulnerabilities in networks, software, databases, and cloud-based solutions to create a more secure and resilient digital environment.
Significant breaches across various sectors, especially in industries such as energy, finance, and healthcare that rely heavily on data and networks, underscore the urgent need for tech professionals to guard against digital threats and vulnerabilities.
The escalating demand for cybersecurity solutions will see the market in Saudi Arabia grow at a compound annual growth rate of 14 percent during 2024-2030, reaching $1.47 billion by 2030.
Currently, four of the top 10 fastest-growing job roles in Saudi Arabia fall within the fields of cybersecurity, data analysis, and software development. As the demand for such expertise far outstrips supply, the government, industry, and academia must collaborate to develop and expand pathways to nurture talent in this field.
Enhanced curricula and specialized programs will help upskill students in data protection, while partnerships with global tech companies can facilitate knowledge transfer and provide access to cutting-edge technologies and methodologies in public and private sector organizations.
The Saudi government’s investments in initiatives to enhance digital skills, including a $1.2 billion plan to train 100,000 youths by 2030 in critical fields like digital security, are a crucial step in this direction.
Saudi Arabia today outpaces the global average in cybersecurity trends, with 3.1 percent compared to the global average of 2.5 percent. An overwhelming 79 percent of Saudi employees anticipate substantial shifts in their work dynamics due to AI advancements. This is reflected in the rise of new learners in the Kingdom who are building skill proficiencies and acquiring new digital skills to boost their economic mobility.
Against the Middle East and North Africa region’s 17 percent year-on-year rise in cybersecurity enrollments in 2023, Saudi Arabia stood out with a 65 percent year-on-year increase, reiterating the Kingdom’s commitment to enhancing tech resilience and addressing growing threats in the digital landscape.
The government’s continued investments in advanced technologies, particularly AI, alongside robust regulatory frameworks, are yielding positive results. The Kingdom has climbed nine spots in the global rankings for attracting AI experts, now holding the 15th position globally for talent attraction in this sector relative to population size.
The Saudi Data and Artificial Intelligence Authority is playing a crucial role in positioning the Kingdom as a leader in data and AI, contributing to AI’s expected impact of $135 billion on Saudi Arabia’s economy by 2030.
However, the current lack of AI expertise in the workforce could exacerbate the cyber skills crisis, underscoring the need to build a competitive workforce and bridge the gap for skilled professionals.
Saudi Arabia’s ambitious vision and strategic investments in digital transformation and data protection are paving the way for a secure and resilient future. By fostering a culture of continuous learning and collaboration between government, industry, and academia, the Kingdom is well-positioned to navigate the complexities of the digital age and lead in the global cybersecurity landscape.
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Kais Zribi is the general manager for the Middle East and Africa at Coursera.