GCC cybersecurity spendning to top AED120 billion by 2030
According to new data, cybersecurity spending across the Gulf is expected to more than double to AED120 billion by 2030. The data highlights the increasing interest in the cybersecurity industry across the region, with companies eager to defend their digital assets from a rising wave of attacks.
The new data is from a Grand View Research study titled Cyber Resilience in the Gulf: Where Technology Meets Sovereign Risk (2025 Edition). The report explains how artificial intelligence, sovereign cloud strategies, and hyperscale data infrastructure are transforming national resilience efforts across the GCC.
The cybersecurity market in the Middle East and Africa generated AED60.6 billion in 2024 and is projected to grow to AED120.7 billion by 2030, reflecting a compound annual growth rate of 12.5%. Already regional leaders in technology, the UAE and Saudi Arabia are expected to maintain their dominance in the cybersecurity sector, accounting for more than 60% of the spending as both countries advance their digital transformation plans under Vision 2030 and Net Zero 2050.
In the UAE, cybersecurity spending is focusing on AI-powered threat intelligence, zero-trust security models, and sovereign cloud ecosystems under the Cybersecurity Strategy 2025–31. The AI cybersecurity market is expected to quadruple, growing from AED4.4 billion to AED19.7 billion by 2030, while the value of zero-trust frameworks is projected to triple to AED3.47 billion.
Saudi Arabia is following a similar trend. AI-driven cybersecurity revenues in the Kingdom are expected to grow from AED4.6 billion to AED16.5 billion by 2030. Both the National Cybersecurity Authority (NCA) and the Saudi Data and Artificial Intelligence Authority (SDAIA) are incorporating cyber resilience into major Vision 2030 infrastructure projects.
The study emphasizes a significant shift as Gulf nations adopt integrated policies, continuity strategies, and cross-border collaboration. Key developments include Abu Dhabi Global Market’s Cyber Risk Management Framework and Saudi Arabia’s cyber stress-testing program.
