Navigating the Digital Frontier:

Cybersecurity has become increasingly important in the Middle East’s security in recent years, with digital warfare significantly reshaping regional power dynamics. Attacks on critical infrastructure, especially in the energy and financial sectors, have exposed vulnerabilities, threatening essential services, while surveillance and disinformation campaigns define the region’s evolving cyber landscape. Israel’s pager attacks on Hezbollah operatives in 2024 demonstrated the hybrid nature of modern threats. As countries like Israel, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE strengthen their cybersecurity defenses and form new alliances, the emphasis on digital sovereignty and control over critical digital infrastructure will intensify. Meanwhile, both state and non-state actors will seek to enhance their digital capacities and resources to advance their respective strategic objectives. 

In response to these evolving challenges, the Middle East Council on Global Affairs is organizing a webinar featuring a panel of experts to explore the intersection of cybersecurity and geopolitics in the region. Key questions include: How do cyber operations impact regional stability? What strategies can strengthen digital resilience against growing threats? What role do public-private partnerships play in addressing cybersecurity challenges? What’s the critical role of digital sovereignty in national security strategies? How do disparities in cyber capabilities shape geopolitical power?  And what are the broader implications of these trends for regional and international security?