Riyadh – 01 October 2025 | BETH

Under the patronage of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, the 5th edition of the International Cybersecurity Forum 2025 opened in Riyadh under the theme “Enhancing Shared Gains in Cyberspace.” The two-day program brings together senior policymakers, government leaders, and international experts for high-level dialogues and strategic meetings that approach cybersecurity holistically.

The Forum’s Five Pillars

Bridging Global Divides: Harmonizing policies in a rapidly transforming cyber world.

Toward a New Cyber Economy: Maximizing gains and fostering growth for shared prosperity.

Social Inclusion in Cyberspace: Enabling people and communities to thrive securely online.

Understanding Cyber Behaviors: Applying behavioral insights to strengthen cyber defense.

High-Value Opportunities: Leveraging technological progress to confront challenges and create opportunities.

A UN-Partnered Global Capacity-Building Initiative

The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia—through the National Cybersecurity Authority (NCA), in cooperation with the Saudi Information Technology Company (SITE) and the International Cybersecurity Forum Foundation—and in partnership with the United Nations and its specialized agencies, announced the launch of the Global Initiative for International Capacity Building in Cyberspace. The initiative responds to strategic global challenges, notably the workforce gap of 2.8 million professionals (per the Forum’s “Cybersecurity Workforce 2024” report).

Five Workstreams:

Research & Development

Cyber Simulations and Exercises

Training Programs

Policy Development

Workshops

Beneficiaries: Policymakers, law-enforcement agencies, diplomats, and cybersecurity practitioners.

High-Level Remarks

UN Secretary-General António Guterres: Stressed that today’s world is more interconnected than ever; cyberspace drives innovation and opportunity, yet vulnerabilities threaten trust, disrupt societies, and endanger peace. He called for global solidarity, investments in people and skills, and an open, secure, and international-law-anchored cyberspace—with no country or community left behind. He thanked Saudi Arabia for adopting the global capacity-building initiative and highlighted the Forum’s focus on child protection and women’s empowerment.

H.E. Eng. Majid bin Mohammed Al-Mazyed, Governor of the NCA and Acting Chair of the Forum Foundation’s Board of Trustees: Praised the leadership’s support for cybersecurity and for unifying international efforts. He noted that Saudi Arabia’s experience has become a recognized global model, referencing HRH the Crown Prince’s global initiatives on Child Protection in Cyberspace and Women’s Empowerment in Cybersecurity as levers for collective action and global cyber resilience.

Strategic Background

The International Cybersecurity Forum Foundation was established by Royal Order (2023) as an independent, globally oriented platform for year-round dialogue and action.

Saudi Arabia helped establish the GCC Ministerial Committee for Cybersecurity and the Council of Arab Cybersecurity Ministers under the Arab League, advancing regional and international coordination.

BETH Analytical Read (Brief)

From “threat management” to “capability engineering”: By launching a global initiative that tackles the human bottleneck (skills gap), the Forum links cybersecurity to economic and societal value chains early and directly.

Standards over fragmentation: Partnering with the UN provides an institutional channel for collaboration and knowledge-sharing, reducing the patchwork of regional rules.

Turning compliance into growth: Reframing cybersecurity from a cost of compliance into a driver of growth hinges on capacity building, inclusion (women & youth), and connecting security with innovation and entrepreneurship.

Saudi as facilitator: Riyadh cements its role as a global convenor, advancing implementable programs—skills, policies, and measurable impact—beyond communiqués.