The Kingdom Cyber Security Meeting has successfully concluded its 4th edition at the Mövenpick Hotel Riyadh. The event hosted more than 200 leading regional and international information security and cyber-defense experts.
They deliberated on issues that continue to challenge the business leaders of today and forces them to rethink their defense strategy to counter the threat of cyber-attacks. As cybercriminals increasingly profit from brazen attacks, the corporation’s cyber-risk strategy is under the microscope.
The event is a landmark annual event in Saudi Arabia that witnesses key government agencies and major stakeholders collaborate on issues like cyber-security governance and adoption of recognized information security frameworks.
Saudi Arabia has made substantial progress toward addressing cyber-threats.
Asif Savvas, partner at Simeio Solutions, said: “The Kingdom has recently initiated a number of digital initiatives to deliver services to its citizens. Simeio therefore sees the need for these services to be powered by one digital identity, so more of them can be delivered online.
“A number of public sector entities and banks across the Middle East have also been a target of hacks. This has affected institutions financially and eroded customer trust. We see our customers investing more and more in both cybersecurity and digital identity,” he added.
However, there is still much ground to be covered, all of which will require increased action and prioritization by government and businesses leaders in the region.
“Spain considers that ICTs provide immense opportunities and continue to grow in importance for the international community. However, there are disturbing trends representing risks for international peace and security.
Countries should therefore cooperate effectively in order to prevent harmful practices in cyberspace,” said Ricardo Mor Solá, ambassador at large for cybersecurity at the ministry of foreign affairs and cooperation in Madrid, Spain.
“The Kingdom Cyber Security Meeting was an excellent opportunity to explore experiences from Saudi Arabia and other partner countries in the development of public and private partnerships in this area,” he added.
Manhal Musameh, head of IT advisory at KPMG, Saudi Arabia, said: “In a rapidly changing world that is becoming more digitized, it becomes more critical to apply the right measures to protect an organization’s most important assets — that is the information. This is an ongoing holistic effort and should be seen as the responsibility of everyone in the organization.”
Annual Kingdom Cyber Security Meeting concludes 4th edition
Annual Kingdom Cyber Security Meeting concludes 4th edition
Schneider Electric launches academy in Saudi Arabia to build future-ready talent
Schneider Electric has announced the launch of the Energy Tech Academy Middle East and Africa in Saudi Arabia, a regional capability platform dedicated to skilling, upskilling, and knowledge sharing.
The launch comes at a critical moment as the Kingdom accelerates energy transition, industrial localization, and human capability development under Vision 2030. The academy reinforces the Kingdom’s leadership role in building future-ready talent while supporting industrial and energy transformation across the wider Middle East and Africa region.
The Energy Tech Academy Middle East and Africa is not a traditional training center; it is a regional platform translating Schneider Electric’s global energy technology expertise into applied capability for Saudi Arabia and the broader region. Anchored in Riyadh, the academy is designed to serve as a benchmark for skills development and enablement across the MEA.
The launch reflects Schneider Electric’s long-term commitment to investing in people and capabilities, and to supporting national priorities across energy, industry, and digital infrastructure.
Mohamed Shaheen, cluster president of Schneider Electric Saudi Arabia and Yemen, said: “This launch reflects our long-term commitment to Saudi Arabia and to building capability that lasts. After more than 40 years in the Kingdom, we continue to invest where impact matters most: in people. Launching the Energy Tech Academy Middle East and Africa from Riyadh underscores our belief that sustainable transformation is built on local capability and trusted partnerships.”
The academy directly supports Saudi Arabia’s focus on human capability development, localization, and Saudi-made outcomes by enabling the skills behind advanced energy systems, industrial automation, and digital infrastructure. Capabilities developed through the academy will support Saudi manufacturing, national projects, and resilient supply chains, while also strengthening regional industrial ecosystems.
“The Energy Tech Academy Middle East and Africa is designed to enable real outcomes,” said Walid Sheta, zone president for the MEA at Schneider Electric. “By equipping talent with future-ready skills across electrification, automation, and digital intelligence, we are strengthening Saudi and regional capability to design, operate, and lead the energy and industrial systems of the future.”
The launch event in Riyadh brought together senior government representatives, industry partners, customers, and Schneider Electric’s leadership, highlighting the importance of cross-sector collaboration in aligning education, skills development, and labor market needs.
Designed as a long-term platform, the Energy Tech Academy Middle East and Africa will continue to evolve through partnerships, programs, and continuous capability development, reinforcing Saudi Arabia’s role as a regional hub for skills, knowledge, and industrial enablement.
