Black Hat Middle East 2025 kicks off in Riyadh with the participation of 45,000 experts
Riyadh witnessed a strong start on Tuesday to the latest and largest edition of the Black Hat Middle East and Africa 2025 conference and exhibition, considered the most prominent technology event specializing in the cybersecurity sector in the region and the world. This exceptional event is being held at the Riyadh International Convention and Exhibition Center (Mulham), jointly and strategically organized by the Saudi Federation for Cybersecurity, Programming and Drones , and Tahaluf, a joint venture between the Federation, the Events Investment Fund, and Informa. The event will continue until December 4th.
Riyadh is the capital of global cybersecurity
The organization of this major event comes at a time when the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is undergoing a rapid digital transformation as part of its Vision 2030 . This edition is particularly significant given the Kingdom's recent prestigious standing, ranking among the top in the Global Cybersecurity Index (GCI), reflecting the maturity of its digital infrastructure and legislation. Black Hat represents the culmination of these efforts, bringing together leading global minds to exchange expertise and localize technology.
Record numbers and unprecedented international participation
The 2025 edition shattered all previous records, with the event welcoming over 45,000 specialists and visitors interested in the technology sector, and featuring over 450 exhibitors . These exhibitors represent leading technology and cybersecurity companies from 140 countries , making Riyadh the premier meeting point for experts from East and West to discuss cross-border security challenges.
Strategic approaches to address future challenges
The event goes beyond the traditional presentation, delving into the critical issues facing cyberspace, particularly in light of the Fourth Industrial Revolution. The agenda focuses on:
- Artificial intelligence challenges: How hackers exploit artificial intelligence in attacks, and how it can be used in turn to strengthen defenses.
- Autonomous security operations: The move towards self-managed defense systems to reduce human error.
- The post-quantum computing era: preparing to break traditional encryption and build quantum-resistant algorithms.
- Internet of Things (IoT) security: Protecting smart cities and connected devices that have become the lifeblood of modern life.
A platform for empowering talent: The Million Riyal Challenge
As an integral part of Black Hat's identity, the Capture the Flag competition returns as its most exciting event, where hundreds of ethical hackers compete in a realistic simulation environment. With prizes reaching one million Saudi Riyals , it is one of the most lucrative competitions in its field globally. These competitions aim to discover and nurture young Saudi talent in reverse engineering, cryptography, and vulnerability discovery, providing the job market with highly trained national professionals.
Technology giants and thought leaders
The accompanying exhibition features industry giants such as Fortinet, Cisco, Huawei, Google Cloud Security, and Trend Micro , showcasing their latest defense solutions. In parallel, the Executive Summit and Deep Dive sessions will feature prominent speakers like Dr. Raman Chaudhry and Charles Forte, discussing the geopolitical dimensions of cybersecurity and its impact on national security.
In conclusion, Black Hat Middle East and Africa 2025 reinforces Riyadh’s position as a global center of gravity in the technology industry, underscoring the Kingdom’s commitment to building a secure and sustainable cyberspace that supports a thriving digital economy.
