The Middle East is emerging as one of the world’s leading AI tech hubs. In Abu Dhabi, large-
scale investments are transforming the city into an AI powerhouse, while in Dubai, the next
generation of fintech and banking is being supercharged.
In this report, we talk with local experts and business leaders with extensive experience in the
region. They share the inside story on the region’s tech growth, talk cybersecurity, compliance,
and governance, and explain what it takes for advertising and marketing investments to be
successful in the Middle East.
Key Takeaways:
● Advertising and marketing growth in the Middle East is tightly linked to cybersecurity,
compliance, and governance. Trust and data ethics are now the foundation for
sustainable ROI.
● Regional data protection laws, aligned with international frameworks, require
advertisers to adapt targeting, personalization, and programmatic strategies to local
rules.
● Strong compliance and governance don’t slow investment; instead, they attract larger
budgets by reinforcing credibility and building consumer trust.
● Brands and adtech vendors that integrate security, transparency, and localization
early gain a competitive edge in one of the fastest-growing digital markets.
Balancing Innovation Vs. Security: Is Cybersecurity a Top Priority in the Middle East?
Globally, executives from the boardroom to the C-suite face the same challenge: balancing IT
budgets to drive performance. The central question remains whether to prioritize security or
innovation. In the Middle East, the equation is no different. However, navigating this balance
requires knowledge of the regional market dynamics.
“Cybersecurity has evolved from a ‘nice-to-have’ to a business-critical imperative,” Shakel
Ahmed, from Pentera and Cybersecurity thought leadership at CyberDesserts, told us.
Nearly a quarter of Middle Eastern organizations plan to increase cyber budgets by at least
11% in 2025, compared to 20% globally. The reason why is clear. Cybersecurity incidents in
the Middle East cost an average of $8.05 million per breach, almost double the global average
of $4.45 million.
“This isn't reactive spending, it's strategic investment driven by the recognition that the region's
role as a global energy hub and a digital transformation leader makes it an attractive target for
sophisticated threat actors,” Ahmed said.
Fintech, E-Commerce, and High-Value Digital Infrastructure Security in the Middle East
Nigar Valiyeva, Executive Director of Strategic Procurement, Marketing & E-Commerce
Innovation at Shop Cart Trading FZE, in Abu Dhabi, agreed.
“Cybersecurity is a critical priority in the region, particularly for fintech, digital payments, and
cross-border e-commerce,” said Valiyeva.
Areas of focus include end-to-end encryption for payment transactions, tokenization of
sensitive financial data, real-time fraud detection using AI-ML algorithms, and advanced threat
intelligence integration, Valiyeva explained.
“Cybersecurity in the Gulf has become a board-level mandate. Energy grids, banks, and
sovereign AI programs all rely on its resilience,” Nic Adams, Co-Founder and CEO of 0rcus,
an offensive security company building autonomous AI systems for critical infrastructure and
finance, told us.
Adams said talent shortage in cybersecurity, particularly for elite offensive operators, creates
gaps that expose industrial networks. “Governments are investing heavily in sovereign cloud
and AI ecosystems. Both require stronger security foundations to scale,” Adams said.
Despite being a priority, cybersecurity is not the only concern.
“The biggest challenge — not just in the Middle East, but globally — is complexity,” Andrian
Budantsov, CEO of Hypersequent and Creator of QA Sphere, a software and productivity
solutions provider, told us.
Compliance and Governance Are Evolving Fast in the Region
We asked Ensar Seker, CISO at SOCRadar, a cybersecurity company with a strong presence
in the Middle East, if he could outline the regional governance, compliance, and ethical
landscape and how it is shifting as new technologies like AI are embraced.
"The governance landscape is fragmented but maturing,” Seker said.
The UAE, Saudi Arabia, and Qatar are leading the charge with data protection laws and
national cybersecurity authorities, while others are still drafting foundational frameworks, he
said.
“As AI becomes more embedded in operations, from biometric access controls to behavioral
analytics, the region is starting to ask deeper ethical questions around algorithmic
transparency, surveillance, and cross-border data flows," Seker added.
Initiatives like the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Cybersecurity Strategy and Saudi Arabia’s
National Data Management Office are steps toward a more unified and ethical digital
governance model.
On one hand, the UAE created the Ministry of AI back in 2020 — well before ChatGPT
launched, and that shows serious foresight, Budantsov from Hypersequent said.
“The region is developing quickly, and there's little desire to overregulate. The general mindset
is: set clear boundaries, but let innovation happen,” Budantsov added. “There are rules around
what's unacceptable, especially when it comes to data privacy and national interests, but
overall, the direction is supportive.”
How Cybersecurity, Compliance, and Governance Impact AdTech and Marketing in the Middle East
With cybersecurity and governance being top priorities, advertising and marketing companies
will only succeed if they adapt to the evolving landscape. How much is advertising investment
affected?
Security, compliance, and governance significantly affect advertising and digital marketing
because they are based upon trust and ethical data use, Anar Israfilov, Founder and CEO of
Cyberoon Enterprise, a cybersecurity company, told us.
Regional data protection frameworks, many of them aligned with the European General Data
Protection Regulation (GDPR), require advertisers to practice good governance to manage
customer data transparently and securely.
But regulations are not holding back investments. Strong compliance and governance attract
larger marketing budgets and establish long-term investment opportunities for advertisers and
clients, Israfilov said. “Ultimately, good governance enhances brand credibility and creates a
safe, sustainable ecosystem for digital marketing purposes.”
Seker from SOCRadar agreed. Seker said security, compliance, and governance play an
increasingly central role in shaping advertising and digital marketing investments across the
region.
“As data privacy regulations tighten and governments demand stronger localization and
protection of user data, global marketing platforms and adtech vendors must adjust how they
collect, store, and process user information, especially when targeting audiences in the
region," Seker said.
With fines up to SAR 5 million in Saudi Arabia or AED 5 million in the UAE, the cost of
compliance and reputation damage cannot be ignored.
"Lack of compliance not only risks regulatory penalties but also damages consumer trust,
something brands can’t afford in a competitive digital landscape,” said Seker. “Strong cyber
and compliance foundations are no longer optional; they’re now critical enablers of growth in
regional marketing strategies," Seker said.
Valiyeva from Shop Cart Trading FZ described the impact of compliance and governance as
“direct and strategic”.
“Firstly, data privacy and localization laws directly influence how, for instance, companies
collect, store, or leverage consumer data for advertising,” Valiyeva said.
With regulations like UAE PDPL, Saudi SAMA guidelines, and Bahrain’s data protection
frameworks, marketers must ensure that customer data remains within approved jurisdictions
and is processed in compliance with extremely strict consent requirements, Valiyeva said.
“This means advanced targeting, personalization, and programmatic ad strategies are very
often constrained, unless the underlying infrastructure, such as cloud, analytics, and CRM
platforms are fully compliant,” said Valiyeva.
Companies that fail to meet these standards risk regulatory fines, reputational damage, or
outright restrictions on digital campaigns, which in turn raises operational costs and slows
time-to-market for advertising initiatives.
This requires companies to invest in secure ad platforms, encrypted payment touchpoints, and
robust fraud detection.
“Forward-thinking brands that integrate these requirements early gain a competitive advantage
by building consumer trust while maximizing advertising ROI,” said Valiyeva.
Business Opportunities in ‘An Exciting Frontier Market’
While navigating cybersecurity, compliance, governance, and ethics in the Middle East
requires long-term commitment and knowledge, these nuances are not unique to the region.
They are aligned with global standards, most large and mid-sized companies are familiar with.
Similarly, to what happens in the E.U. regulations in the Middle East are a blueprint to guide
innovation, not withhold it. Those who follow these blueprints are poised for significant growth.
"The Middle East represents one of the most exciting frontier markets for the global tech
industry,” Seker from SOCRadar told us.
Beyond the obvious opportunities in smart cities, digital banking, and e-government platforms,
Seker said surging demand is rising for cloud-native security platforms, sovereign data center
solutions, and AI-driven threat intelligence tools that support Arabic-language.
“Even sectors like energy and utilities, traditionally slow to adopt new technologies, are now
investing heavily in OT security, digital twins, and predictive maintenance driven by AI," said
Seker.
The region's IT market is estimated to be worth $95 billion by 2025, compared to $84.23 billion
in 2020. Saudi Arabia alone could spend as much as $24.7 billion on technology by 2030.
“The Middle East presents extraordinary opportunities, but success requires understanding the
unique regional dynamics,” Ahmed from Pentera told us.
“This represents massive opportunities for technology providers who can navigate the complex
regulatory and cultural landscape,” said Ahmed.
The Bottom Line
As the Middle East positions itself as a global AI, tech, and next-gen fintech hub, digital trust
becomes a critical enabler.
Sectors poised for exponential business growth include cybersecurity, AI and automation,
digital transformation, and automation of compliance and governance. Fintech, cloud, and
infrastructure are not behind.
However, like Ahmed told us, success in the region demands more than just good technology.
An understanding of the importance of relationship-building, respect for local customs, and the
requirement for genuine long-term partnership, rather than a vendor-customer relationship, is
vital for success.
“Those who demonstrate genuine understanding of regional challenges, provide continuous
value through ongoing partnership, and help organizations achieve measurable security
improvements will find tremendous success,” Ahmed said.