Saudi Arabia maintains top global ranking in cybersecurity
RIYADH — Saudi Arabia maintained its top global ranking in the Cybersecurity Index, according to the 2025 World Competitiveness Yearbook. The Yearbook is an annual report published by the International Institute for Management Development (IMD), based in Switzerland, on the competitiveness of nations. The yearbook benchmarks the performance of 63 countries based on 340 criteria measuring different facets of competitiveness.
Dr. Musaed Al-Aiban, chairman of the Board of Directors of the National Cybersecurity Authority, affirmed that this achievement "adds to the series of achievements and successes scored by Saudi Arabia in all fields since the launch of the leadership's insightful, proactive vision to establish the cybersecurity sector, in a comprehensive manner, encompassing both security and development aspects, with all its local and international dimensions."
He said that the cybersecurity system has witnessed significant development in record time since the establishment of the National Cybersecurity Authority (NCA) as the Saudi entity responsible for cybersecurity and the national authority for cybersecurity affairs and the establishment of the Saudi Information Technology Company (SITE) as its strategic and technical partner. "These are two fundamental pillars of the Saudi model for cybersecurity, the outcomes of which have contributed to strengthening national cybersecurity and technological sovereignty, localizing priority technologies, and enhancing information sharing and international cooperation," he said.
It is noteworthy that the NCA is the competent authority for cybersecurity in the Kingdom and the national authority for cybersecurity affairs. It aims to strengthen cybersecurity to protect the country's vital interests, infrastructure, and national security.
It is responsible for stimulating the growth of the cybersecurity sector in the Kingdom, encouraging innovation and investment in it, and developing policies, governance mechanisms, frameworks, standards, controls, and guidelines related to cybersecurity. This is to achieve a secure and reliable Saudi cyberspace that enables growth and prosperity.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Arab News
8 hours ago
- Arab News
Saudi communications minister urges decisive action, global cooperation to address AI divide
GENEVA: Saudi Arabia's minister of communications and IT has called for 'decisive international collaboration' to address the inequality in computing infrastructure that could leave other nations behind in this era of artificial intelligence. In a keynote address at the 160th anniversary of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) in Geneva, Minister Abdullah Al-Swaha cited the 'concentration of computing power in a few regions, the lack of AI infrastructure in many countries, and the limited participation of the Global South in shaping governance frameworks and regulatory policies.' 'Today, the world faces an 'existential gap' due to alarming disparities in access to AI technologies,' the minister said, according to the Saudi Press Agency. Alswaha said the world could learn lessons from the past phases of technological transformation: the analog era, which took over a century to connect 800 million people, and the digital era, which linked 5.5 billion individuals in just 50 years but still left 2.6 billion unconnected. In the AI era, he said, current gaps exist in computing infrastructure, data availability, and algorithms that could slow the advances needed to support human progress. Al-Swaha reiterated Saudi Arabia's 'unwavering commitment' to support and lead international efforts to close the emerging technological divides. He highlighted Saudi Arabia's efforts to address these gaps, citing the digital empowerment of women in the Kingdom — who now have a participation rate of about 35 percent — and the Kingdom's top global rankings in digital competitiveness for two consecutive years. He also noted that researchers at Saudi Arabia's King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST) rank among the top one percent globally in scientific citations, offering hope for the future of AI. He likewise underlined the Kingdom's progress in data protection regulations and the development of 'language models that promote inclusive access to technology for diverse communities.' Al-Swaha further cited the HUMAIN project launched by Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman "to provide the full spectrum of AI capabilities, from advanced processors to top talent, and to position the Kingdom as a global AI pioneer." 'The Kingdom's efforts are a direct response to urgent global challenges,' he said. Al-Swaha emphasized that the next 10 years will be critical for bridging the divides. He called for multination 'partnerships under the umbrella of the ITU to build a fair, safe, and inclusive AI ecosystem that supports sustainable development and enhances human well-being.'
Leaders
17 hours ago
- Leaders
Saudi Road Code Now Supports Safe Autonomous Vehicles Integration
Saudi Arabia's Roads General Authority has unveiled that the Saudi Road Code is currently featuring advanced infrastructure standards to ensure the safe integration of autonomous vehicles across the Kingdom, according to Saudi Gazette. Now, self-driving vehicles can professionally operate under various conditions as the new update included requirements for road design and construction. Crucially, the authority has developed pavement layers to handle the repetitive routing patterns of autonomous vehicles and installed real-time communication systems along roadways to transmit critical data to vehicles. In order to promote traffic flow, parking areas now features automated guidance and self-parking capabilities. The adoption of these vehicles fosters the level of traffic safety on the roads, promotes the quality of life, and fulfills economic efficiency and sustainability in the road network. The code serves as a comprehensive technical guide for all road authorities in Saudi Arabia, including ministries, urban development authorities, regional secretariats, and city and governorate municipalities. Interestingly, the code provides stockholders with comprehensive procedural guides and evaluation tools to ensure that road projects meet the required standards of safety, sustainability, and economic efficiency. It will enable these entities to access the necessary information to plan, design, implement, operate, and maintain roads of all types across the Kingdom. The authority has previously introduced Saudi Road Code as a voluntary framework. However, it became mandatory on public sector entities at the beginning of this year. Meanwhile, the private sector is set to officially adopt the code mid-2025. Related Topics: Saudi Road Code Specifies Design Standards for Accessible Parking Hajj Season: Saudi Arabia Uses Self-Driving Vehicles for Delivering Orders Saudi Road Code Adopts Standards of Self-driving Vehicles Short link : Post Views: 7
Leaders
17 hours ago
- Leaders
Saudi Arabia Unleashes New Horizons for Mining Cooperation with Russia
Saudi Arabia's Minister of Industry and Mineral Resources Bandar Alkhorayef met on Thursday with Russian Minister of Natural Resources and Environment Alexander Kozlov in Moscow, according to the Saudi Press Agency. Saudi-Russian Cooperation During the meeting, both ministers discussed the Saudi-Russian cooperation and explored how to further boost the bilateral collaboration in mining sector. They also stressed the significance of international cooperation to unleash new horizons for mining industry address the global challenges to secure a sustainable future for this growing sector. Bandar Alkhorayef Crucially, the meeting also delved into possible opportunities for collaboration between both Russia and Saudi Arabia to expand mineral exploration and deploy advanced mining technologies. The meeting was an integral part of Alkhorayef's visit to Moscow to expand strategic economic partnerships with Russia, particularly in the industrial and mining sectors. Saudi Mining Sector After launching Vision 2030, the Kingdom has taken serious steps to end its dependency on oil and unleash new horizons of diversified economy. The Kingdom's comprehensive road map for economic development and diversification has singled out the mining sector as the potential third 'pillar' of the industry after petroleum and petrochemicals. The Ministry of Industry and Mineral Resources has brought together its visions and objectives under the umbrella of the National Industrial Development and Logistics Program (NIDLP). NIDLP NIDLP includes 4 main sectors: energy, industry, mining, and logistics. It marks the Kingdom's pursuit to becoming a pioneering industrial powerhouse and prestigious global logistics hub. The program primarily aims at positioning the Kingdom as an effective key player in the energy, mining, logistics as well as industry sectors. To this end, it set a comprehensive mining strategy that includes 38 initiatives designed to foster mining exploration and development. The initiative sheds light on Saudi Arabia's status as the fourth-largest net importer of these materials in the world. This fact represents a golden opportunity for this promising sector to drive the Saudi economic growth. Related Topics: Mining in Mauritania: A Leading Sector with Promising Horizons Saudi Arabia Showcases Mining Exploration Opportunities to Leading UK Firms Ministry of Industry Launches Women in Mining Non-Profit Organization Short link : Post Views: 8
