Black Hat MEA 2024 To Bring Cybersecurity Innovation To KSA

The KSA capital of Riyadh is set to host Black Hat MEA, the world’s fastest-growing cybersecurity event, from November 26-28 at the Riyadh Exhibition and Convention Centre in Malham. Now in its third year, Black Hat MEA 2024 will put Riyadh alongside established shows in Las Vegas, San Francisco, and Singapore, with more than 40,000 attendees expected to visit this year’s edition — 62 percent of them coming from within Saudi Arabia.

The expanded program will feature hacking villages, fresh activity streams, and an expanded knowledge-sharing program, with more than 330 cybersecurity influencers and experts, 30 Black Hat trainers, and hundreds of ethical hackers converging to deliver 250 hours of content. Trainers and speakers will discuss topics like safeguarding critical infrastructure from criminal networks, actionable prevention strategies, and cyber tactics, with keynotes from industry pioneers like Todd Conklin, Chief Artificial Intelligence Officer and Deputy Assistant Secretary of Cyber at US. Department of the Treasury, as well as Ugo Vignolo Lutati, chief information security officer (CISO) of the Prada Group.

“Black Hat MEA 2024 will cement Riyadh’s status as a critical global player in the cybersecurity landscape, with an unprecedented lineup of global influencers, expert trainers, ethical hackers, and decision-makers from some of the world’s most security-conscious organizations,” said Annabelle Mander, senior vice president of Tahaluf, which organizes the event in partnership with the Saudi Federation for Cybersecurity, Programming, and Drones (SAFCSP). “The event’s rapid growth highlights Saudi Arabia’s ambition to lead in cybersecurity innovation as part of the Kingdom’s Vision 2030.”

The 2024 event will feature a record-breaking 53,000 square meters of floor space — a 51 percent increase on the previous edition — making it the largest cybersecurity expo by space. It will feature more than 450 exhibiting brands, of which 240 are making their first appearance this year, representing a 28 percent uptick in international and local representation, and 30 startups.

With its expanded floorspace already sold out, Black Hat MEA has seen an influx of first-time exhibitors, including Axonius, Zscaler, and Threatlocker. More than 130 countries will be represented, with six national pavilions from the USA, Canada, India, Turkey, Egypt, and Pakistan, all of which have been sold out. 

From a previous edition of Black Hat MEA. Courtesy of Tahaluf. 

This year’s edition will also introduce the CyberSurge Bootcamp, an initiative aimed at fostering the growth of cybersecurity startups in Saudi Arabia. The program provides aspiring entrepreneurs with the tools, resources, and mentorship needed to bring their innovative ideas to life. Other new streams include the SIRAR cyber activation and the Announcement Segment, where organizations will unveil impactful news that could shape the cybersecurity landscape on the main stage.

Black Hat MEA 2024 has also added its own GROUP IB Network Operations Center (NOC), following the successful implementation of NOCs across other global iterations of Black Hat. The NOC will be the central hub for monitoring and managing the event’s network infrastructure and ensure that it runs smoothly and securely throughout the event, complete with real-time monitoring of traffic, potential security threats, and technical issues. It will also provide visitors with a behind-the-scenes look at how major cybersecurity events are managed from a technical perspective.

Fostering Cybersecurity Talent: Black Hat MEA Campus

Black Hat MEA Campus, a focal point at this year’s show, has seen a 75 percent increase in sessions for 2024, with organizers focusing on creating a knowledge-sharing platform and peer-to-peer education. The Campus will feature a dynamic content-led environment and bring together renowned vendors, universities, and consultancies in sessions that are designed to educate and empower the next generation of cybersecurity professionals.  

Black Hat MEA Campus will allow visitors to engage in live demonstrations, explore advanced open-source tools, and participate in interactive showcases led by industry experts. Leaders from Fortune 500 companies and US federal agencies like Bayer, Unilever, Jaguar, Coca-Cola, and Wendy’s are set to speak at the campus.

The exhibition’s director, Steve Durning, said, “By providing local students with access to industry leaders and invaluable knowledge, we aim to bridge the gap between education and real-world application and cultivate the next generation of cyber leaders. It is here that university students looking to embark on an exciting cyber industry career or entry-level professionals seeking to advance their cybersecurity career can network with decision-makers and press their advancement and recruitment cases. They can immerse themselves in a landscape replete with relevant firsthand demos, exhilarating arsenal-style sessions, and engaging activities that will ignite their cybersecurity passions.”

From Black Hat MEA 2023. Courtesy of Tahaluf. 

Iryna Volnytska, president of SET University and one of this year’s speakers, added, “The future of cybersecurity isn’t just about defending against threats; it’s about reshaping the landscape for a safer, more connected world. With the pace of change accelerating and the lifespan of skills shrinking, we need a new kind of education — one that’s hands-on, practical, and evolves as quickly as the challenges we face. That’s what Black Hat Campus is all about. It’s where the next generation of leaders will rise, ready to challenge the status quo and rewrite the rules. In my sessions, we won’t just prepare them to lead — we’ll inspire them to create meaningful change, for the good of all in this complex world.”

The Campus will also feature exclusive, closed-door mentorship roundtable workshops that offer the local community direct training and guidance. Each day, up to 25 local students will have the chance to register for these private mentorship classes, empowering them with insights and skills that can significantly shape their careers and contribute to the growth of the cybersecurity field while helping to fulfill Saudi’s Vision 2030 objectives.

Lance James, founder and chief innovation officer at cybersecurity provider Unit 221B, reflected on his experience as a key speaker at last year’s event, calling it “a vital space for nurturing future cybersecurity talent.”

He said, “Hosting a training session for high school and college students allowed me to witness firsthand how mentorship can spark new passions in cybersecurity. Watching young minds evolve from curiosity to confidence, knowing they are better equipped to tackle real-world cyber challenges, was incredibly rewarding. The program is a testament to how early exposure and guidance can make a meaningful impact, driving the next generation towards impactful careers and ensuring the continuity of our field’s growth and resilience.”

Black Hat MEA returns to Riyadh from November 26-28, 2024. For further information and to stay up to date, visit: www.blackhatmea.com.

Inc. Arabia is a Media Partner for Black Hat MEA 2024.