Arab Cybersecurity Conference Highlights Cross-Border Cybercrime as Egypt Dominates Cyberwargames Finals
The second day of the 9th Arab Cybersecurity Conference concluded in Cairo with resounding calls for greater regional cooperation against cyber threats, as experts warned that cybercrime has become a borderless challenge. The event, held at the Nile Ritz-Carlton on September 7–8 under the patronage of Egypt’s Minister of Communications and Information Technology Dr. Amr Talaat, brought together senior government officials, regulators, business leaders, and young cybersecurity talent from across the Arab world and beyond.
A Platform for Regional Collaboration
Dr. Bahaa Mohamed Hassan, founder and president of the Arab Cybersecurity Conference, stressed that the gathering’s value lies not only in its diverse agenda but also in its role as a platform for collaboration and knowledge-sharing among Arab and global experts.
> “Cybercrime is now a transnational threat, and this conference plays a vital role in shaping a joint vision that strengthens digital security and supports sustainable development in the Arab world,” he said.
He added that over its nine-year history, the conference has achieved tangible success in building national capacities in cybersecurity, while warning against the misconception that traditional IT teams are sufficient for protecting sensitive data in the face of increasingly sophisticated attacks.
Building the Next Generation of Cyber Experts
Hassan highlighted the role of ISEC, which has been offering two-month training programs aimed at creative young talents. Graduates are recruited into the company with competitive salaries, building a sustainable pipeline of cybersecurity professionals.
Echoing this, Eng. Ahmed Bahaa, Secretary-General of the conference and Vice Chairman of ISEC, emphasized the company’s strategic role in the region. He announced the opening of a new branch in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, as part of expansion plans into North and East Africa, including Morocco, Kenya, and Tanzania.
He noted that ISEC recently secured a Level 1 cybersecurity services license from Egypt’s National Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (NTRA), placing it among just four accredited companies in the country. Bahaa also urged the Ministry of Communications to help lower the costs of specialized training courses and called for greater reliance on locally developed software as a safeguard for Egypt’s digital sovereignty.
Egypt Leads Cyberwargames Finals
Adding to the excitement, Dr. Riham Bahaa, spokesperson of the conference, announced the finals of the Arab Security Cyberwargames Championship 2025, which kicked off with 10 qualifying teams out of 426 from 25 countries. The challenges covered reverse engineering, network analysis, penetration testing for web and mobile apps, cryptography, data forensics, and threat intelligence.
This year’s edition saw record participation, with 2,047 players in the preliminary rounds. Egypt dominated the finals, with four teams ranked among the top ten (1st, 2nd, 8th, and 9th), followed by Jordan with three teams, Tunisia with two, and Zimbabwe with one.
> “The championship has become a regional hub for discovering exceptional talent,” Riham Bahaa said, adding that major companies are actively scouting participants for recruitment.
Strong Industry Backing
The 2025 edition of the conference is supported by leading global and regional technology and cybersecurity firms, including AS, ManageEngine, Dphish, EC-Council, Spark, ISEC, Cysheild, Picus, INE, Altred Security, and Egypt’s ITIDA.