The global cybersecurity market is experiencing rapid growth, driven by increasing cyber threats, regulatory requirements, and the digital transformation of businesses. As of 2024, the market is projected to exceed $200 billion, with significant investments in advanced technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML).
Key trends include the rise of zero-trust architectures, increased focus on endpoint security, and the growing importance of threat intelligence and incident response.
The Middle East cybersecurity market is expanding swiftly, with projections suggesting it will reach around $25 billion by 2025. This growth is fueled by increasing cyber threats, regulatory requirements, and the region's focus on digital transformation and smart cities.
Major drivers include rising cyberattacks, regulatory frameworks like the UAE’s National Cybersecurity Strategy, and the region's investments in smart infrastructure and digital services.
The UAE has made substantial investments in cybersecurity, including the establishment of the National Cybersecurity Strategy, which aims to protect critical infrastructure, enhance cyber resilience, and foster innovation. The UAE’s National Cybersecurity Council, Dubai Electronic Security Center, Critical Infrastructure and Coastal Protection Authority (CICPA) and other regulatory bodies play a key role in shaping the country’s cybersecurity landscape.
The UAE government and private sector are heavily investing in cybersecurity to safeguard critical infrastructure, including energy, finance, and transportation sectors. These investments include deploying advanced threat detection systems, enhancing incident response capabilities, and developing a skilled cybersecurity workforce.
Critical infrastructure is a top priority in cybersecurity due to its essential role in national security and economic stability. Protecting sectors such as energy, water, transportation, and telecommunications is crucial for ensuring operational continuity and national security.
Critical infrastructure in the Middle East, including the UAE, faces unique challenges such as sophisticated cyberattacks, outdated legacy systems, and the need for enhanced resilience against both physical and cyber threats.
The UAE is focusing on building robust defenses for its critical infrastructure through initiatives like the Smart Cities project and partnerships with international cybersecurity firms. The country is also enhancing its cyber capabilities through regional collaborations and technology adoption.
Securonix is leading the transformation of cybersecurity with the industry’s first Unified Defense SIEM powered by agentic AI, purpose-built to decide and act across the threat lifecycle with a human-in-the-loop philosophy. Built for scale, precision, and speed, our cloud-native platform empowers global enterprises to shift from reactive security to proactive, autonomous operations. Recognized as a Leader in the Gartner® Magic Quadrant™ for SIEM and a Customers’ Choice by Gartner Peer Insights™, Securonix is driving the next era of intelligent, autonomous security operations.
ManageEngine is the enterprise IT management division of Zoho Corporation. Established and emerging enterprises—including 9 of every 10 Fortune 100 organizations—rely on ManageEngine’s real-time IT management tools to ensure optimal performance of their IT infrastructure, including networks, servers, applications, endpoints and more. ManageEngine has offices worldwide, including the United States, the United Arab Emirates, the Netherlands, India, Colombia, Mexico, Brazil, Singapore, Japan, China and Australia, as well as 200+ global partners to help organizations tightly align their business and IT. For more information, please visit manageengine.com, follow the company blog and get connected on LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
Ashraf Koheil is the Vice President Global Sales for Group-IB, META & ANZ responsible for overseeing Business Development and Execution strategies for direct sales, channel partners, distribution, and corporate businesses.
With over 25 years of experience in the high-tech industry, Ashraf has held key positions at FireEye, Microsoft, and Telstra, coaching, leading, and recruiting teams to deliver both outstanding business outcomes and strong partner insights and relationships.
In addition, he regularly attends technology and telecom commercialization forums, acting as a speaker and presenter to various regional forums and startup entrepreneurs.
Ashraf is a certified business coach and has been recognized for his execution and coaching excellence. He holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Business from Ain Shams University, Egypt, which he obtained in 1989.
Miguel is a seasoned cybersecurity management professional with over 20 years of international experience across Europe, the Middle East, and Africa (EMEA).
A global polyglot, he brings deep expertise across cybersecurity, service delivery, security architecture , GRC, program management , solution development, operations , commercial & contract management .
Known for his adaptive leadership style , Miguel thrives in complex, fast-changing environments . He fosters innovation , flexibility, and resilience within his teams, promoting a culture of continuous learning and agility to meet evolving business needs.
His career spans diverse sectors, including startups , energy, retail , telecommunications (ISP) , parking , government , including both managed service and managed security service providers (MSP/MSSP)
Miguel’s ability to bridge technical and strategic domains makes him a trusted leader in driving secure, scalable, and business-aligned solutions and Services.
Dr. Emir Vajzovic is an accomplished education leader, professor, and cybersecurity specialist with more than two decades of expertise in information security and contemporary security studies. His career spans academia, consulting, and strategic policy development, where he has successfully led programs that connect organizational needs with human-centric education and workforce empowerment. Through a multidisciplinary lens, Dr. Emir analyzes the intersections of digital transformation, security, media, and governance, offering actionable strategies for navigating complex multi-stakeholder environments. As a researcher and author, he contributes innovative insights that bridge education, technology, and security to address the most pressing challenges of our time. His work empowers organizations and individuals to develop resilience, foster competence, and align with evolving global security landscapes.
Ilya Leonov is an accomplished IT and cybersecurity executive with over a decade of experience delivering cutting-edge solutions and driving business growth across the Middle East and beyond.
Holding a Master’s degree in Telecommunications Engineering and advanced industry-recognized certifications in Cyber Threat Intelligence, Incident Response, and Computer Crimes Investigation, Ilya combines deep technical expertise with visionary leadership. His career spans roles from engineering to executive leadership, with a proven track record of building, scaling, and optimizing cybersecurity operations.
Strategic Leadership: Oversees regional go-to-market strategy, revenue growth, and enterprise-level cybersecurity engagements at Positive Technologies across MENA.
Technology Visionary: Spearheaded the creation and deployment of critical cybersecurity services, including SOC, Threat Intelligence, Vulnerability Management, and Security Awareness across Bahrain, UAE, KSA, and Qatar.
Academic Contributor: Played a pivotal role in developing a Master’s degree program in cybersecurity at a leading Middle Eastern technical university.
Ilya is a published author in cybersecurity media, providing expert insights on emerging threats, security architecture, regional trends, and operational resilience. His articles and thought pieces are valued by both practitioners and decision-makers seeking clarity in a rapidly evolving threat landscape.
He is also a frequent speaker and panelist at top cybersecurity events, conferences, and industry roundtables across the Middle East, where he shares frontline experience and strategic perspectives on SOC modernization, cyber defense frameworks, and regulatory compliance.
Managed Security Services (MSS)
Security Operations Center (SOC) Development & Maturity Models
Managed Detection & Response (MDR)
SIEM, SOAR, Threat Intelligence Platforms
ISO 27001, PCI DSS, NIST Framework
Risk Management & Vulnerability Assessment
Executive Cybersecurity Briefings & Awareness
Maher serves as a Lead Security Researcher within the Global Research & Analysis Team (GReAT) at Kaspersky. He possesses a robust background in threat intelligence, cybersecurity, digital forensics, and incident response, providing clients with critical insights into cyber risks and advanced persistent threats affecting the Middle East, Turkey, and Africa.
Before joining Kaspersky in 2018, Maher held a position as a cybersecurity specialist in the public sector and served as a Specialist Senior Manager at Deloitte Middle East. He led and participated in a variety of security assessments for clients across the UK, Middle East, and GCC region. His expertise includes red teaming, penetration testing, industrial control system security, mobile and web application security testing, and physical security assessments. Additionally, Maher has been involved in numerous incident response efforts addressing issues such as phishing attacks, ransomware incidents, cyber espionage, advanced persistent threats, POS malware, online banking fraud, and insider threats.
Maher holds a degree in Computer Science and a master’s degree in Intelligence Studies, along with several certifications in geopolitics, artificial intelligence, and cybersecurity.
With nearly two decades of experience at the intersection of control systems and cybersecurity, Hesham Abdulhadi brings deep technical expertise and strategic insight to the evolving landscape of industrial security. Since 2017, Hesham has served as Kaspersky’s Industrial Cybersecurity Technical expert for the Middle East, Turkey, and Africa (META).
Hesham plays a pivotal role in helping critical infrastructure sectors—including Power, Oil & Gas, and other industrial domains—integrate robust cybersecurity frameworks into their operations. Prior to joining Kaspersky, he held key roles with leading automation vendors such as EPM, Siemens, and Yokogawa, where he delivered innovative control system solutions and cybersecurity strategies.
A trusted advisor to industry stakeholders, Hesham is passionate about securing the technologies that drive industrial progress.
Jaifar Al Mamari is Vodafone Oman’s Cyber Security Lead, boasting over 17 years in cybersecurity leadership. He is recognized for initiating several firsts in the country, including Oman’s first bug bounty program, pioneering cloud container workload protections, and the proactive fortification of API security, setting new benchmarks in cybersecurity excellence.
In his pivotal role, Jaifar applies a deep knowledge of next-generation technologies to strengthen the organization’s digital defenses, ensuring robust protection against the dynamic and evolving landscape of cyber threats. With a focus on neutralizing advanced persistent threat (APT) groups, Jaifar brings a proactive and strategic approach to cybersecurity. His adeptness in anticipating and mitigating potential cyber threats has made him a respected figure in the field.
