TOKYO: Japan’s SoftBank Group Corp. on Monday reported a 50.1 percent rise in first-quarter operating profit, after the company included the Saudi-backed Vision Fund, the world’s largest private equity fund, as a new reportable segment and booked a valuation gain.
The Internet and telecoms giant said profit for the quarter through June increased to 479.2 billion yen ($4.33 billion).
SoftBank has not released a forecast for the current business year ending in March, saying there are too many uncertain factors.
Thomson Reuters Starmine SmartEstimate puts full-year profit at 1.16 trillion yen, based on the estimates of 20 analysts.
SoftBank is a prolific investor in technology startups, with founder and chief executive officer Masayoshi Son instrumental in creating the Vision Fund.
Recent investments include US online lender Kabbage, which on Thursday said it had received a $250 million investment from SoftBank.
SoftBank also has a foothold in the US market through its wireless unit Sprint Corp., which last week reported a quarterly profit for the first time in three years as a result of cost-cutting efforts.
The fourth-biggest US wireless carrier by subscribers is exploring options to boost finances and better compete, through means such as merging with T-Mobile US Inc. as well as a tie-up with cable provider Charter Communications Inc.
SoftBank also said it would be interested in parking funds in ride-hailing firms Uber Technologies or Lyft Inc. in the future.
This is the first time Softbank has publicly indicated an interest in Uber, after having so far put funds into its rival Grab in Southeast Asia and China’s Didi Chuxing.
Last month, a media report said Uber shareholders and its board were mulling a stock sale to SoftBank and other investors.
“We are interested in discussing with Uber, we are also interested in discussing with Lyft, we have not decided which way,” said Son.
“Whether we decide to partner and invest into Uber or Lyft, I don’t know what will be the end result,” he told reporters at SoftBank’s first-quarter earnings briefing on Monday.
Vision Fund, backed by investors including Saudi Arabia’s sovereign wealth fund, Apple and Foxconn, has raised more than $93 billion.
Its backers expect technology investments that will match or beat the 44 percent internal rate of return that SoftBank says Son has delivered by investing in Internet firms in the last 18 years.
Longer term “if all goes well Vision Fund should contribute several hundred billion yen in annual revenue,” Son said.
Thomson Reuters Starmine SmartEstimate puts SoftBank’s full-year profit at 1.16 trillion yen, based on estimates from 20 analysts.
SoftBank, however, has not released a forecast for the current business year ending March, citing uncertainty.
SoftBank profit jumps 50% after inclusion of Saudi-backed Vision Fund
SoftBank profit jumps 50% after inclusion of Saudi-backed Vision Fund
Beyond government: how digital defense is becoming a priority across Saudi Arabia
RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s cybersecurity market is entering a decisive growth phase, driven by rapid digital transformation, expanding cloud and artificial intelligence adoption, and increasingly robust regulatory frameworks.
Sustained public and private investment under Vision 2030 is expected to propel the sector into one of the fastest-growing and most structurally advanced cybersecurity markets in the region.
According to Dimension Market Research, the Kingdom’s cybersecurity market size is expected to reach $11.3 billion by the end of 2033 at a compound annual growth rate of 14.2 percent.
Projected size of the cybersecurity market in Saudi Arabia
In recent years Saudi Arabia has experienced consistent and strategic growth in cybersecurity investments, largely fueled by the rapid adoption of digital services across organizations.
Samer Omar, cybersecurity and digital trust leader at PwC Middle East, said there was around SR15.2 billion ($4.05 billion) of investment in the sector in Saudi Arabia in 2024, and if current trends continue, most market assessments suggest the industry could reach between $7 billion and $9 billion by 2030.
“What matters most is how organizations are maturing. As more services move to the cloud and AI becomes embedded in day-to-day operations, security is increasingly part of early decision-making rather than an afterthought,” Omar told Arab News.
He added: “I expect the market to continue growing as organizations strengthen governance, modernize legacy systems, and invest in more advanced monitoring and response capabilities.”
This market expansion is not just reactive or trend-driven — Saudi Arabia’s cybersecurity growth is structurally anchored in Vision 2030’s digital-first agenda, mandatory regulatory frameworks, and the sheer scale of state-led investments in digital and infrastructure projects.
According to Maximilian Chowanetz, partner at Kearney Middle East, and his colleague San Jain, principal in the firm’s digital and analytics practice in Dubai, the market is currently valued at approximately SR17 billion, is projected to more than double to around SR35 billion by 2030, reflecting annual growth of over 15 percent.
“Unlike many emerging markets where cybersecurity adoption remains uneven, Saudi Arabia combines giga-projects, nationally deployed digital platforms, and expanding cloud infrastructure with increasingly stringent compliance requirements across sectors. This creates sustained, non-discretionary demand for advanced cyber capabilities, particularly in critical infrastructure protection, cloud security, and operational technology/information technology convergence,” Chowanetz and Jain said in a joint statement.
They added: “As digital services become embedded across the economy, cybersecurity is evolving from a supporting IT function into a core enabler of national resilience and economic competitiveness. These fundamentals position Saudi Arabia as one of the fastest-growing and most structurally advanced cybersecurity markets in the region.”
Investment beyond finance, government
Cybersecurity is increasingly emerging as a key priority across various rapidly evolving sectors.
In Saudi Arabia, cybersecurity investment is growing not only in finance and government but also across sectors such as healthcare, energy, and the broader digital economy, where fast-paced digitization is surpassing conventional security frameworks. These industries lie at the crossroads of national priorities, operational risks, and major technology rollouts under Vision 2030.
From PwC’s lens, Omar shed light on how in the energy and industrial sectors the integration of connected technologies is on the rise, heightening the demand for robust protection of operational systems. Similarly, healthcare providers are broadening their digital health offerings, making security and privacy essential components of daily clinical practices.
“Telecoms, cloud providers, and data centers are also strengthening their capabilities as they support the Kingdom’s growing digital infrastructure. Retail, e-commerce, and education are evolving quickly as well, each with their own requirements as they introduce new digital platforms and services,” he said.
The official added: “What ties these sectors together is the recognition that secure digital services are essential to future growth. As the Kingdom continues progressing toward Vision 2030, cybersecurity is becoming a core enabler for sectors that are modernizing at pace.”
From Kearney’s perspective, Chowanetz and Jain also highlighted how healthcare is digitizing at speed, with electronic health records, telemedicine platforms, and connected medical devices expanding the attack surface and making data protection and patient safety critical imperatives.
“In energy and critical infrastructure, the integration of smart grids, renewables, and industrial IoT is driving demand for advanced OT and industrial control systems security frameworks, an area where Saudi Arabia’s scale positions it as a global reference point. Alongside this, the rapid expansion of the digital economy, underpinned by cloud adoption and connected ecosystems, is elevating the need to secure data, networks, and edge devices,” they said.
The two spokespeople added: “Together, these sectors represent where cybersecurity is no longer discretionary, but foundational to service continuity, public trust, and economic resilience.”
Opportunities for local, global players
As with many other sectors in Saudi Arabia, cybersecurity presents a wealth of opportunities for both local and international players to tap into.
Omar from PwC highlighted that a major focus is growing cybersecurity talent, with rising demand pushing many organizations to rely on managed services and expert support.
He underlined that small and medium-sized businesses also present key opportunities, seeking affordable, user-friendly security solutions, ideally with Arabic-language support, to match their needs.
“As cloud adoption increases, there is rising demand for cloud security, identity management, and secure development practices. Industrial environments also need tailored support as they integrate older systems with modern technologies,” Omar said.
He added: “We’re also seeing interest in practical guidance related to the Personal Data Protection Law, along with locally relevant threat intelligence and training. These needs create space for both local and global providers to offer solutions that help organizations move forward with confidence as the digital economy continues to grow.”
From their side, Chowanetz and Jain shed light on how the Kingdom’s cybersecurity market holds major opportunities, with key gaps in capability, scale, and specialization — especially as demand expands beyond the public sector.
They went on to note that talent shortages are driving demand for managed services, automation, and upskilling to maintain resilience. Meanwhile, SMEs remain underserved, facing rising regulatory pressures but lacking affordable cybersecurity solutions — creating strong demand for scalable, compliance-ready offerings.
“Sector-specific solutions remain underdeveloped, particularly in areas such as health care device security, OT and ICS protection, cloud sovereignty, and IoT segmentation. Addressing these gaps will be critical not only to strengthening national cyber resilience but also to attracting investment, accelerating localization, and supporting sustainable growth across Saudi Arabia’s digital economy,” Chowanetz and Jain said.
Awareness increasing for individuals, SMEs
As digital services expand under Vision 2030, cybersecurity in Saudi Arabia is becoming a personal priority, with risks now extending to homes, devices, and daily transactions. At the same time, people are becoming more aware of protecting their personal data and managing their digital lives more securely.
From PwC’s side, Omar indicated that clearer data protection laws and educational initiatives have improved public awareness of cybersecurity, especially among younger audiences.
“Over time, this gradual change plays an important role in building long-term digital confidence and supporting the Kingdom’s wider digital ambitions,” he said.
On Kearney’s behalf, Chowanetz and Jain clarified that with national platforms like Absher and Tawakkalna and the rise of fintech and smart cities, cybersecurity in Saudi Arabia now directly affects individuals, expanding risks beyond organizations to personal data and daily life.
“As consumer awareness rises, driven by both local experience and global breaches, trust is becoming the critical currency of Saudi Arabia’s digital ecosystem. This shift is accelerating demand for user-centric security solutions, stronger data protection frameworks, and shared accountability between institutions and citizens to ensure confidence, resilience, and long-term digital adoption,” they said.
