Organisations in the Middle East are the most confident when it comes to tackling major cyber incidents, according to a new World Economic Forum report.
Nearly 72 per cent of organisations in the region are confident of their ability to thwart significant cyber attacks – ahead of North America (65 per cent), Oceania (50 per cent), Europe (50 per cent), Asia (40 per cent), Africa (36 per cent) and Latin America (18 per cent).
The findings come as the forum highlights growing challenges in cyberspace, driven by escalating complexities.
In its Global Cybersecurity Outlook 2025 report, the WEF emphasised that these complexities are widening the gap between large and small organisations, as well as between developed and emerging economies.
While 54 per cent of large organisations cite supply chain interdependencies as their top cyber resilience barrier, 35 per cent of small organisations believe their defences are inadequate – a seven-fold increase since 2022.
Disparities across regions are also stark. Only 15 per cent of respondents surveyed in Europe and North America lack confidence in their countries’ abilities to counter major cyber incidents, compared to 36 per cent in Africa and 42 per cent in Latin America.
The public sector is disproportionately affected, with 38 per cent of respondents reporting insufficient resilience, compared to just 10 per cent of medium-to-large private sector firms.
The report is based on a survey conducted between September 2 and October 11, collecting responses from 321 participants across 57 countries. To supplement quantitative findings, 43 one-on-one interviews with C-suite executives, industry leaders, and academics were also conducted.
Growing complexity
The cyberspace complexity arises from the rapid growth of emerging technologies, prevailing geopolitical uncertainty, the evolution of threats, regulatory challenges, vulnerabilities in supply chain interdependencies and the growing cyber skills gap, WEF found.
Geopolitical tensions have significantly influenced cybersecurity strategies, with nearly 60 per cent of organisations adjusting their plans to account for threats such as cyber espionage and intellectual property theft. One in three chief executives now considers these risks to be top concerns, while 45 per cent of cyber leaders are concerned about the disruption of operations and business processes.
“Cyberspace is more complex and challenging than ever due to rapid technological advancements, growing cyber criminal sophistication, and deeply interconnected supply chains,” said Jeremy Jurgens, managing director at WEF.
He emphasised the need for public and private sector collaboration to enhance resilience.
Supply chain complexities have emerged as one of the top risks, intensified by a lack of transparency into suppliers’ security protocols. The report showed how interconnectedness – while critical for global business operations – introduces vulnerabilities that can develop across networks.
Major concerns include software weaknesses introduced by third parties, and the ripple effects of cyber attacks. The increasing opaqueness of supply chains creates a risk landscape that is unpredictable and difficult to manage, the report said.
These challenges highlight the urgent need for businesses to adopt robust security measures and continuously monitor their supply chain ecosystems, it added.
Paradox of AI adoption
Artificial intelligence is a double-edged sword for cybersecurity. While 66 per cent of organisations expect AI to play a pivotal role in enhancing security measures, only 37 per cent have established processes to evaluate AI tools before deployment. This disconnect poses risks as AI-driven technologies are rapidly integrated into systems without sufficient safeguards.
The report also warned of AI’s role in augmenting cyber criminal activities, enabling faster and more targeted attacks. Ransomware attacks and phishing scams have surged, with 42 per cent of organisations reporting incidents in the past year.
The evolving threat landscape also reflects an alarming surge in the capabilities of criminals. The growing use of generative AI has made incidents involving ransomware, phishing and social engineering attacks more scalable and sophisticated. Nearly 47 per cent of organisations cited generative AI-powered adversarial advancements as a primary concern, with 72 per cent reporting an overall rise in cyber risks.
Fragmented regulations and workforce gaps
Although regulatory frameworks are seen as essential for bolstering cybersecurity, their fragmentation across jurisdictions creates compliance challenges.
More than 76 per cent of chief information security officers surveyed at WEF’s 2024 annual meeting on cybersecurity reported that the fragmentation of regulations introduces significant compliance challenges. Almost 71 per cent of cyber leaders at the meeting believe that small organisations have reached a critical tipping point where they can no longer adequately secure themselves against cyber risks.
Adding to the burden is a widening cyber skills gap. Since 2024, the gap has grown by 8 per cent, with two-thirds of organisations struggling to find the talent needed to meet their security demands. Only 14 per cent of organisations are confident they have the people and skills they need.
Public sector organisations are particularly affected, with nearly half reporting insufficient staff to meet their cybersecurity objectives. However, medium-to-large private organisations face fewer workforce shortages, highlighting inequities in cyber resilience.
Calls for action
WEF is calling for a shift from traditional cybersecurity approaches to comprehensive cyber resilience strategies that focus on mitigating the impact of incidents rather than solely preventing them.
The forum emphasises the importance of assessing risks through a socioeconomic lens, ensuring resources are allocated effectively to address inequities.
The need for cross-border collaboration also emerged as a critical theme. Citing the 2022 cyber attacks on Costa Rica, Paula Bogantes Zamora, the country’s Minister of Science, Innovation, Technology and Telecommunications, emphasised the importance of regional partnerships.
These attacks “underscored the need for a fundamental shift in recognising cybersecurity as a critical investment for the future”, she said in the report, and called for collective efforts to build resilient systems.
WEF’s report emphasises the need for a comprehensive re-evaluation of cyber strategies, with a focus on bridging gaps between regions, sectors and organisations of different sizes.
Israel Palestine on Swedish TV 1958-1989
Director: Goran Hugo Olsson
Rating: 5/5
The specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo
Power: 261hp at 5,500rpm
Torque: 405Nm at 1,750-3,500rpm
Transmission: 9-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 6.9L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh117,059
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The specs
Engine: 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbo
Power: 268hp at 5,600rpm
Torque: 380Nm at 4,800rpm
Transmission: CVT auto
Fuel consumption: 9.5L/100km
On sale: now
Price: from Dh195,000
ITU Abu Dhabi World Triathlon
MATCH INFO
Uefa Champions League semi-final, first leg
Barcelona v Liverpool, Wednesday, 11pm (UAE).
Second leg
Liverpool v Barcelona, Tuesday, May 7, 11pm
Games on BeIN Sports
Who is Allegra Stratton?
- Previously worked at The Guardian, BBC’s Newsnight programme and ITV News
- Took up a public relations role for Chancellor Rishi Sunak in April 2020
- In October 2020 she was hired to lead No 10’s planned daily televised press briefings
- The idea was later scrapped and she was appointed spokeswoman for Cop26
- Ms Stratton, 41, is married to James Forsyth, the political editor of The Spectator
- She has strong connections to the Conservative establishment
- Mr Sunak served as best man at her 2011 wedding to Mr Forsyth
The National's picks
4.35pm: Tilal Al Khalediah
5.10pm: Continous
5.45pm: Raging Torrent
6.20pm: West Acre
7pm: Flood Zone
7.40pm: Straight No Chaser
8.15pm: Romantic Warrior
8.50pm: Calandogan
9.30pm: Forever Young
What can victims do?
Always use only regulated platforms
Stop all transactions and communication on suspicion
Save all evidence (screenshots, chat logs, transaction IDs)
Report to local authorities
Warn others to prevent further harm
Courtesy: Crystal Intelligence
More from Rashmee Roshan Lall
The Perfect Couple
Starring: Nicole Kidman, Liev Schreiber, Jack Reynor
Creator: Jenna Lamia
Rating: 3/5
Volvo ES90 Specs
Engine: Electric single motor (96kW), twin motor (106kW) and twin motor performance (106kW)
Power: 333hp, 449hp, 680hp
Torque: 480Nm, 670Nm, 870Nm
On sale: Later in 2025 or early 2026, depending on region
Price: Exact regional pricing TBA
Company Profile
Name: Thndr
Started: 2019
Co-founders: Ahmad Hammouda and Seif Amr
Sector: FinTech
Headquarters: Egypt
UAE base: Hub71, Abu Dhabi
Current number of staff: More than 150
Funds raised: $22 million
Other ways to buy used products in the UAE
UAE insurance firm Al Wathba National Insurance Company (AWNIC) last year launched an e-commerce website with a facility enabling users to buy car wrecks.
Bidders and potential buyers register on the online salvage car auction portal to view vehicles, review condition reports, or arrange physical surveys, and then start bidding for motors they plan to restore or harvest for parts.
Physical salvage car auctions are a common method for insurers around the world to move on heavily damaged vehicles, but AWNIC is one of the few UAE insurers to offer such services online.
For cars and less sizeable items such as bicycles and furniture, Dubizzle is arguably the best-known marketplace for pre-loved.
Founded in 2005, in recent years it has been joined by a plethora of Facebook community pages for shifting used goods, including Abu Dhabi Marketplace, Flea Market UAE and Arabian Ranches Souq Market while sites such as The Luxury Closet and Riot deal largely in second-hand fashion.
At the high-end of the pre-used spectrum, resellers such as Timepiece360.ae, WatchBox Middle East and Watches Market Dubai deal in authenticated second-hand luxury timepieces from brands such as Rolex, Hublot and Tag Heuer, with a warranty.
Biography
Favourite Meal: Chicken Caesar salad
Hobbies: Travelling, going to the gym
Inspiration: Father, who was a captain in the UAE army
Favourite read: Rich Dad Poor Dad by Robert Kiyosaki and Sharon Lechter
Favourite film: The Founder, about the establishment of McDonald's
Test squad: Azhar Ali (captain), Abid Ali, Asad Shafiq, Babar Azam, Haris Sohail, Imam-ul-Haq, Imran Khan, Iftikhar Ahmed, Kashif Bhatti, Mohammad Abbas, Mohammad Rizwan(wicketkeeper), Musa Khan, Naseem Shah, Shaheen Afridi, Shan Masood, Yasir Shah
Twenty20 squad: Babar Azam (captain), Asif Ali, Fakhar Zaman, Haris Sohail, Iftikhar Ahmed, Imad Wasim, Imam-ul-Haq, Khushdil Shah, Mohammad Amir, Mohammad Hasnain, Mohammad Irfan, Mohammad Rizwan (wicketkeeper), Musa Khan, Shadab Khan, Usman Qadir, Wahab Riaz
In numbers: China in Dubai
The number of Chinese people living in Dubai: An estimated 200,000
Number of Chinese people in International City: Almost 50,000
Daily visitors to Dragon Mart in 2018/19: 120,000
Daily visitors to Dragon Mart in 2010: 20,000
Percentage increase in visitors in eight years: 500 per cent
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
BIGGEST CYBER SECURITY INCIDENTS IN RECENT TIMES
SolarWinds supply chain attack: Came to light in December 2020 but had taken root for several months, compromising major tech companies, governments and its entities
Microsoft Exchange server exploitation: March 2021; attackers used a vulnerability to steal emails
Kaseya attack: July 2021; ransomware hit perpetrated REvil, resulting in severe downtime for more than 1,000 companies
Log4j breach: December 2021; attackers exploited the Java-written code to inflitrate businesses and governments
ESSENTIALS
The flights
Emirates flies from Dubai to Phnom Penh via Yangon from Dh2,700 return including taxes. Cambodia Bayon Airlines and Cambodia Angkor Air offer return flights from Phnom Penh to Siem Reap from Dh250 return including taxes. The flight takes about 45 minutes.
The hotels
Rooms at the Raffles Le Royal in Phnom Penh cost from $225 (Dh826) per night including taxes. Rooms at the Grand Hotel d'Angkor cost from $261 (Dh960) per night including taxes.
The tours
A cyclo architecture tour of Phnom Penh costs from $20 (Dh75) per person for about three hours, with Khmer Architecture Tours. Tailor-made tours of all of Cambodia, or sites like Angkor alone, can be arranged by About Asia Travel. Emirates Holidays also offers packages.
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Williams at Wimbledon
Venus Williams - 5 titles (2000, 2001, 2005, 2007 and 2008)
Serena Williams - 7 titles (2002, 2003, 2009, 2010, 2012, 2015 and 2016)
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Squid Game season two
Director: Hwang Dong-hyuk
Stars: Lee Jung-jae, Wi Ha-joon and Lee Byung-hun
Rating: 4.5/5
The%20specs
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EEngine%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E3.5-litre%20twin-turbo%20V6%20%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPower%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E456hp%20at%205%2C000rpm%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETorque%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E691Nm%20at%203%2C500rpm%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETransmission%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E10-speed%20auto%20%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFuel%20consumption%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E14.6L%2F100km%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPrice%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3Efrom%20Dh349%2C545%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EOn%20sale%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3Enow%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Dubai Bling season three
Cast: Loujain Adada, Zeina Khoury, Farhana Bodi, Ebraheem Al Samadi, Mona Kattan, and couples Safa & Fahad Siddiqui and DJ Bliss & Danya Mohammed
Rating: 1/5