With 40,000 Visitors and 25 Investment Deals, Black Hat MEA 2025 Concludes Its Fourth Edition in Riyadh
Black Hat Middle East and Africa 2025 officially concluded on Thursday in Mulham, north of Riyadh, after three full days of global engagement that reinforced Saudi Arabia’s standing as a leading international hub for cybersecurity innovation, investment, and knowledge exchange. The event was organized by the Saudi Federation for Cybersecurity, Programming and Drones, in partnership with Tahaluf.
This year’s edition achieved exceptional momentum, positioning Black Hat MEA 2025 among the world’s most influential cybersecurity gatherings. The event welcomed approximately 40,000 visitors from 160 countries, spanning 60,000 square meters, with the participation of over 500 exhibitors, 300 international speakers, more than 200 hours of technical content, and around 270 hands-on workshops. In parallel, over 500 competitors took part in the Capture the Flag tournaments, reflecting the growing interest and advanced technical capabilities within the cybersecurity community.
Black Hat MEA 2025 also recorded noteworthy investor activity. The total assets under management for participating investors reached SAR 13.9 billion, underscoring the Kingdom’s expanding appeal as a high-growth destination for cybersecurity investments and reaffirming global confidence in Saudi Arabia’s rapidly evolving digital economy.
Previous editions of the Riyadh conference have witnessed sharp increases in international participation, with a cumulative total of 4,100 competitors, 1,300 global companies, and 1,300 cybersecurity specialists, emphasizing continued cross-border collaboration and sector expansion within the Kingdom.
This year’s event further announced more than 25 investment deals, supported by the involvement of 200 investors and 500 studios and developers, strengthening the digital economy and broadening opportunities for emerging technology companies and cybersecurity startups.
Khalid Al-Sulaim, Executive Vice President for Business at the Saudi Federation for Cybersecurity, Programming and Drones, commented:
«Every edition of Black Hat sets a new benchmark in terms of attendance and commercial participation. This year, more than 350 local and international companies from 162 countries are taking part, and the number of global exhibitors has grown by approximately 27% compared with last year.»
By the close of its fourth edition, Black Hat Middle East and Africa had solidified its role as a global platform bringing together cybersecurity experts, innovators, policymakers, and industry leaders. The event continues to foster knowledge-sharing, advance modern security tools, and support Saudi Arabia’s strategic efforts to enhance the effectiveness of the technology sector and deliver on the goals of Vision 2030.