Latest news with #GulfRegion
Arab News
9 hours ago
- Business
- Arab News
How Saudi Arabia is leveraging AI to strengthen cybersecurity and combat cybercriminals
RIYADH: As generative artificial intelligence reshapes industries and transforms daily life, it is also fueling a new generation of cybercrime — smarter, faster, and harder to detect. Across the Gulf region, governments and tech leaders are working hard to stay one step ahead. At the heart of this regional defense is Saudi Arabia's National Cybersecurity Authority and its Cybersecurity Toolkit, which offers a template to shield critical infrastructure and public services from digital threats. 'The Cybersecurity Toolkit offers public and private sector organizations a comprehensive suite of tools to enhance cyber readiness and reduce cyber risks,' Zainab Alamin, vice president of national digital transformation at Microsoft Arabia, told Arab News. Available in Arabic and English, the toolkit is part of the NCA's mission to embed cyber resilience across the Kingdom. But the NCA's efforts go beyond templates. Its national cybersecurity portal, HASEEN, helps manage and develop cyber services, while the CyberIC Program cultivates homegrown expertise to defend Saudi systems from evolving threats. 'Recognizing the importance of public awareness, the authority also launched the National Cybersecurity Awareness Campaign, which aims to raise cybersecurity awareness among all segments of society,' said Alamin. And the investment is substantial. 'Saudi Arabia has significantly increased its investment in cybersecurity, with spending reaching SR13.3 billion ($3.5 billion) in 2023, underscoring the Kingdom's commitment to safeguarding its digital infrastructure,' she added. But while Saudi Arabia is stepping up, so are cybercriminals. Generative AI has made it drastically easier to forge realistic emails, clone voices, and generate deepfake videos, giving fraudsters a dangerous new edge. 'As AI models improve, the output becomes more authentic, contextually accurate, and emotionally manipulative — making it increasingly difficult for traditional detection systems and even well-informed users to distinguish real from fake,' said Alamin. Gone are the clumsy phishing emails littered with typos. Today's scams are polished and personalized. 'AI is transforming impersonation scams by making them more convincing, more scalable, and harder to detect,' said Alamin. Microsoft Arabia's latest Cyber Signals report revealed the extent to which criminals are exploiting generative AI. 'In this new wave of fraud, AI is being used to produce everything from hyper-realistic images and fake videos to cloned voices, personalized phishing messages, and even entire fraudulent websites,' said Alamin. The threat is not theoretical. 'Imagine receiving a voicemail that sounds exactly like your manager asking you to urgently transfer funds, or an email that looks and reads just like one from your bank, complete with branding and a personalized message,' said Alamin. 'These are no longer far-fetched scenarios; they are happening right now.' Deepfakes can hijack video calls. Voice clones mimic family members or executives. Even phishing links now use language models to tailor tone and content. 'Thousands of phishing emails can now be tailored with just a few prompts, mimicking tone, language, and even regional nuances,' said Alamin. In response, Microsoft is deploying its own AI-powered defenses. From April 2024 to April 2025, its systems blocked $4 billion in fraud attempts and prevented over 49,000 fraudulent partnership enrolments. 'We also work closely with law enforcement and industry partners to share threat intelligence and combat criminal misuse of AI,' said Alamin. 'Scammers are evolving fast, but so are we.' Microsoft's platforms, such as Defender for Cloud and Entra, use AI to detect and neutralize cyber threats across email, chat, and cloud infrastructure. Edge, the company's browser, now offers typo and domain impersonation protection, as well as a 'Scareware Blocker' to shut down alarming pop-up scams. 'In addition, our identity and access management tools, like Microsoft Entra, help organizations enforce Zero Trust principles, ensuring that no one is trusted by default, whether human or AI-generated,' said Alamin. Yet the battle is not just technical — it's also behavioral. 'In the age of AI-assisted scams, both individuals and organizations need to adopt a more proactive, layered approach to cybersecurity. This means combining technology, awareness, and policy to build digital resilience.' Education remains key. 'Scammers often try to short-circuit your judgment with fear or pressure. A perfect example of this is 'limited-time' deals and countdown timers when online shopping,' said Alamin. Other signs of AI-generated deception include overly formal language, generic greetings, or unusual phrasing. 'If something 'feels' off, trust your instincts and immediately stop engaging,' she added. For deepfakes and voice clones, look for unnatural lip-sync, poor lighting, or glitchy visuals. Subtle typos in domain names or email addresses can also be giveaways. And always verify communications that involve sensitive information — especially money. 'If you receive a call, video, or email that seems unusual — even from someone you know — double-check it via another trusted channel,' said Alamin. 'Also, avoid direct bank transfers or cryptocurrency payments, which lack fraud protections.' Saudi Arabia is not alone in its response. Gulf nations, from the UAE to Oman, are advancing cybersecurity frameworks aligned with global standards. The UAE recently launched its Green Bond and Sukuk Framework, with cybersecurity embedded in its digital finance architecture. Microsoft's regional partnerships reflect this shared urgency to modernize defenses without stifling innovation. 'Tools that generate text, synthesize voice, or create hyper-realistic imagery can empower innovation in education, accessibility, and customer service,' said Alamin. 'However, in the wrong hands, they can be weaponized for scams, misinformation, and manipulation.' That dual-use challenge is at the heart of the cybersecurity conundrum. 'A key challenge is intent. AI doesn't have ethics, but its users do.'
Argaam
11 hours ago
- Business
- Argaam
Integrated system afoot to back decisions: Wamid CEO
Wamid, which is owned by the Saudi Tadawul Group, is working on harnessing modern technologies to boost investor experience by providing accurate data and analytical tools that help in making more efficient investment decisions, said CEO Yazeed Al-Domaiji, in an interview with Argaam. He added that artificial intelligence has become an indispensable tool in supporting innovation and developing the market.
Trade Arabia
12 hours ago
- Business
- Trade Arabia
Saudi Pro League announces long-term partnership with Maaden
The Saudi Pro League (SPL) and Saudi Arabian Mining Company (Maaden) have agreed a long-term strategic partnership, with Maaden named the Official Platinum Partner of the SPL until July 2030. Omar Mugharbel, CEO of SPL, said: 'We are proud to welcome Maaden as a long-term partner of the Saudi Pro League. As a national champion and one of the region's fastest-growing companies, Maaden shares our commitment to excellence, innovation, and long-term impact. This partnership reflects the power of football to inspire and engage communities – including employees – and aligns closely with our shared goals under Vision 2030.' Bob Wilt, CEO of Maaden, said: 'Partnering with Saudi Pro League provides us with a unique platform for Maaden to bring our new brand to life and connect to a significant audience of passionate football fans across Saudi and internationally. We hope to engage our employees and inspire a new generation of mining talent as we evolve this partnership together with SPL.' The partnership will focus on strengthening Maaden's position as an employer of choice in Saudi Arabia, leveraging the reach and influence of the Saudi Pro League to drive employee engagement, promote career opportunities, and support the third pillar of Vision 2030: a thriving economy built on ambition and participation. The collaboration will also explore joint initiatives across community engagement and national talent development by harnessing the popularity of football to inspire the next generation of professionals in both sport and industry. By aligning Maaden's national presence with the SPL's growing domestic and international footprint, the partnership is set to create meaningful touchpoints with fans, employees, and future talent across Saudi Arabia.-
Argaam
14 hours ago
- Business
- Argaam
FIPCO signs MoU to fully acquire Bina Holding
Filling and Packing Materials Manufacturing Co. (FIPCO) signed a non-binding memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Bina Holding, under which both parties agreed to begin discussions for FIPCO's potential acquisition of 100% equity interest in Bina. In a statement to Tadawul, FIPCO said the MoU became effective upon signing and will remain in force for 180 days, subject to renewal by mutual agreement. The MoU aims to reach a final agreement on FIPCO's full acquisition of Bina, following discussions of preliminary mutual rights and obligations related to the proposed transaction. It also allows for financial and legal due diligence and the valuation of Bina's equity. The MoU outlines a general framework for the negotiation process and sets the obligations of each party in working toward a definitive agreement. It also includes customary provisions on confidentiality, exclusivity, and restrictions on certain material actions during the negotiation period. Completion of the transaction remains subject to several conditions, including obtaining necessary regulatory approvals in accordance with applicable laws and regulations. FIPCO confirmed it will undertake all required regulatory procedures related to related-party transactions, as stipulated by relevant laws. The transaction's execution is contingent upon the completion of financial and legal due diligence and final negotiations on the terms of a binding agreement. FIPCO will appoint an authorized financial advisor to oversee the due diligence process. The company noted that a related party is involved, as FIPCO Chairman Ahmed Abdulatif Albarrak also serves as CEO of Bina. FIPCO added that any material developments will be announced in due course.
Khaleej Times
20 hours ago
- Business
- Khaleej Times
Saudi officials in 'difficult' talks to keep Ronaldo next season
Saudi Arabian officials are in "difficult" talks to keep Cristiano Ronaldo in the country, a source with knowledge of the negotiations told AFP on Thursday, after the star footballer suggested he was leaving Al Nassr. "There is an ongoing difficult negotiation to convince Ronaldo to stay and play" in the Saudi Pro League next season, said the source from the Public Investment Fund (PIF), a major investor in Saudi football.
