Cybersecurity in the Arab World: Rising Threats and Strategic Responses

The Arab region is experiencing a surge in cyber threats targeting critical infrastructure such as energy grids, financial systems, and government platforms. Adversaries range from state-linked actors to organized cybercriminal groups, exploiting outdated systems, weak information sharing, and lack of coordinated defense. Effective regional response requires establishing collective intelligence-sharing mechanisms, investing in national cyber capabilities (training, incident response, regular vulnerability assessments), and building public-private partnerships. Standardizing best practices and holding joint cybersecurity exercises can raise resilience, while regional forums help align threat perception and cooperative policy.