Why the Middle East is winning the race to defend against AI cyber threats
Why the Middle East is winning the race to defend against AI cyber threats
Publish Date: 2026-06-24 06:34:00
Source Domain: economymiddleeast.com
Using an unordered list, summarize the following article with between 4 and 8 key points. Companies are accelerating investment in talent and advanced security technologies Middle East organizations are emerging as global leaders in preparing for AI-powered cyber threats, according to a new report by Boston Consulting Group (BCG), which found the region is making strong progress in cybersecurity investment, talent development, and the deployment of advanced defensive technologies.The findings indicate that the region is moving beyond viewing cybersecurity as a purely technical function, increasingly treating it as a strategic business priority as artificial intelligence reshapes the global threat landscape.The report comes as governments and businesses worldwide assess the implications of increasingly capable artificial intelligence systems, including Anthropic’s Claude Mythos, which is reportedly able to outperform humans in certain hacking and cybersecurity tasks while identifying vulnerabilities that have remained hidden for years. As these technologies rapidly reshape the threat landscape, the report suggests the Middle East’s proactive cybersecurity strategy is positioning the region to better confront emerging risks.Based on a global survey of 500 senior executives, BCG’s report, AI Is Raising the Stakes in Cybersecurity, examines how AI is transforming cyber risks while also creating new opportunities for organizations to strengthen their defenses. The study notes that AI-enabled attacks have already resulted in multimillion-dollar losses worldwide, including a $25 million deepfake chief financial officer fraud and ransomware attacks that disrupted hospital operations, highlighting the growing need for stronger cyber resilience. While AI is making cyberattacks faster, cheaper, and more sophisticated, it is also giving organizations new tools to detect threats, automate responses, and strengthen digital resilience.Region leadsAlthough AI-driven cyber risks are accelerating worldwide, the report suggests Middle East organizations have responded earlier than many of their global peers by investing in both technology and governance.More than 70 percent of organizations in the Middle East reported experiencing a suspected AI-enabled cyberattack during the past year. At the same time, 70 percent said they prioritize using AI to improve cybersecurity, the highest proportion globally. However, spending has not fully matched those ambitions. While 56 percent of companies increased cybersecurity budgets by between 25 percent and 75 percent over the past year, none reported budget increases exceeding 75 percent, compared with 3 percent in Africa and 4 percent in Latin America. The figures suggest that while organizations recognize the growing cyber threat posed by AI, many are still balancing investment priorities as they continue expanding their defensive capabilities.The report also found that 32 percent of Middle East organizations operate mature, widely adopted cybersecurity capabilities, the highest share of any region surveyed. Demand for cybersecurity professionals remains strong, with 64 percent of firms seeking additional talent to strengthen AI-driven security operations. Beyond technology spending, the report highlights human expertise as a critical component of cyber resilience, with organizations increasingly seeking specialists who can deploy and oversee AI-enabled security systems.Read more: AI drives cybersecurity transformation as strategic adoption cuts breach costs by $1.9 million, WEF report findsCybersecurity must evolveBCG Managing Director and Partner Shoaib Yousuf said organizations can no longer rely on passive cybersecurity measures because AI-enabled attacks are evolving faster than traditional defenses can respond. He said the Middle East’s early decision to treat cybersecurity as a board-level strategic priority is now proving increasingly valuable, with the gap between well-prepared organizations and those still building foundational capabilities expected to widen.The report argues that cybersecurity readiness is becoming an increasingly important competitive advantage as organizations integrate AI more deeply across their operations.Looking ahead, BCG warns that AI will continue to lower the barriers for cybercriminals while increasing the speed and scale of attacks, making continuous adaptation essential for both public and private organizations.The report concludes that organizations should strengthen board oversight, expand AI-powered security tools, protect AI systems themselves, and adopt flexible multi-vendor cybersecurity architectures to improve resilience against the next generation of cyber threats. BCG also emphasizes that cybersecurity can no longer be separated from broader AI adoption strategies, arguing that organizations must secure both their digital infrastructure and the AI systems increasingly embedded throughout their operations.
