Black Hat 2025 in Riyadh: Million-dollar competitions and the future of cybersecurity
Riyadh, the capital of Saudi Arabia, continues today with the fourth edition of the Black Hat Middle East and Africa 2025 exhibition and conference, the largest technology event of its kind in the region. The event is jointly organized by the Saudi Federation for Cybersecurity, Programming and Drones, and Alliance (a joint venture between the Federation, the Investment Events Fund, and Informa International). The event is witnessing broad international participation, underscoring the Kingdom's growing position as a pivotal global hub for the cybersecurity industry.
Global context and ambitious vision
Riyadh's hosting of this event holds significant strategic importance, as the Black Hat conference series is the most renowned and established brand in the global cybersecurity community, having been founded decades ago. Localizing the event in Saudi Arabia aligns perfectly with the goals of Vision 2030, which prioritizes digital transformation and building a secure digital infrastructure. Previous editions in Riyadh have broken attendance records, making the Middle East and Africa edition one of the most important technology gatherings globally, surpassing other international editions in terms of momentum and participation.
Day 2 details: Artificial intelligence and digital defense
The second day of the event featured intensive panel discussions and specialized technical workshops. A significant focus was placed on the latest proactive digital defense methods and the dual role of artificial intelligence technologies: both in strengthening organizational firewalls and in their use by attackers to develop more sophisticated attacks. Experts also discussed the rapid advancements in financial and corporate security, and the latest developments in cross-border cyberattacks.
In the specialized sessions, international experts delivered detailed technical presentations via the “Deep Dive” track, revealing previously unknown software vulnerabilities and showcasing practical solutions based on real-world operational experiences from diverse work environments. Simultaneously, the “Black Hat Campus” platform continued its vital role in attracting young talent, offering interactive sessions and demonstrations designed to hone the skills of the next generation and prepare them for the cybersecurity job market.
Million-dollar competitions and advanced laboratories
On the challenges front, competition intensified in the activities area, with ongoing technical tracks offering substantial financial rewards totaling one million Saudi Riyals, reflecting the Kingdom's commitment to motivating innovators and security researchers. The events included:
- Arsenal Labs: which showcased the latest open-source security tools developed by independent researchers.
- Terminal area: which provided realistic and complex simulation environments, allowing participants to test their skills in digital forensics and ethical hacking in a safe and legal environment.
Strategic impact and international standing of the Kingdom
The overwhelming turnout and significant engagement on the second day reflect the qualitative leap the Kingdom has achieved in building a comprehensive cybersecurity infrastructure. This success is a culmination of the Kingdom's efforts, which have placed it first globally in the 2024 Global Cybersecurity Index (GCI) issued by the International Telecommunication Union, achieving a perfect score across all indicators. Hosting such events not only enhances national defense capabilities but also contributes to knowledge transfer, technology localization, and attracting foreign investment in the technology sector, thus supporting the national digital economy.
The “Black Hat 25” event is scheduled to conclude tomorrow with closing sessions that will review advanced future attack scenarios and how to employ generative artificial intelligence applications in the immediate response to cyber incidents, thus outlining the future of cybersecurity in the region and the world.
