7th Gulf Conference on Cybersecurity Challenges: Protecting Information Infrastructure to Safeguard National Security and Stability

Deputy Assistant Undersecretary for Support Services at the Ministry of Defense, Dr. Wael Al-Sabah, emphasized the importance of supporting the cybersecurity framework in line with Kuwait’s vision, ensuring the safety of sensitive data and information, and maintaining operational continuity through the establishment of frameworks and policies and ensuring compliance with national standards, thereby making them more secure and advanced. This statement was made in his speech today during the opening of the Seventh Gulf Conference and Exhibition on Cybersecurity Challenges, under the theme “Building Capabilities and Enhancing Readiness: Innovation and Governance,” sponsored by Minister of Defense Sheikh Abdullah Al-Ali, in collaboration with the Public Authority for Communications and Information Technology (PACIT) and the Kuwait Banks Association.

He stated that cybersecurity is currently one of the most critical elements of national security, especially in light of the digital transformation across various productive and service sectors. Protecting information infrastructure, technological systems, and vital facilities has become a primary requirement for safeguarding countries’ security and stability, necessitating the adoption of all measures and means to protect these systems from cyber threats. He noted that this conference represents a continuation of joint cooperation with relevant and specialized entities to achieve greater successes and better prospects, stressing the importance of enhancing this trust-based and secure cooperation while maintaining information confidentiality.

For his part, Dr. Khalid Al-Zamil, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Public Authority for Communications and Information Technology, affirmed that enhancing cybersecurity requires moving from formulating plans and policies to measuring the actual readiness of institutions through clear performance indicators that reflect their ability to confront cyber threats and handle them effectively. Al-Zamil pointed out that one of the world’s largest digital asset platforms recently suffered the theft of approximately $6 billion within hours in one of the largest breaches of its kind, which originated from a single employee’s device. He highlighted the importance of digital services supported by actual cyber resilience, which can be tested and measured.

On the local level, Al-Zamil drew attention to government entities in the country that have been subjected to similar attacks, noting that the average cost of a data breach in the region reached $8 million this year, compared to about $5 million globally, and that one in four breaches is carried out using artificial intelligence (AI-enabled attacks). He emphasized the importance of measuring the impact of investments in cybersecurity through clear performance indicators that reflect institutional readiness, stating that every plan should be tested through cyber drills, every training should enhance actual capability, and every assessment should lead to clear remediation of identified shortcomings.

For her part, Sheikhah Al-Eissa, Secretary General of the Kuwait Banks Association, affirmed that cybersecurity has become a fundamental element in economic stability, protecting institutions, and enhancing trust in digital services, particularly in the banking sector, which is one of the most technology-dependent and targeted sectors for cyberattacks. Al-Eissa added that the Kuwait Banks Association is committed to strengthening the cybersecurity framework through investing in modern technologies, developing protection systems, and implementing global best practices in risk management and governance, thereby ensuring the protection of customers and maintaining the stability and safety of the financial sector.

She clarified that the world is witnessing rapid expansion in the use of artificial intelligence technologies, which opens broad horizons for innovation and improving operational efficiency, but at the same time poses new challenges in the form of evolving fraud methods, social engineering, and digital deepfakes. This necessitates strengthening institutional capacities and adopting more advanced tools to monitor these risks and address them effectively. She stated that close cooperation among Kuwaiti banks, the Central Bank of Kuwait, and official authorities through the Central Fraud Handling Chamber has contributed to enhancing preparedness and effective response to emerging risks, thereby supporting the security and stability of Kuwait’s financial system. She added that the Union continues, in collaboration with the Central Bank of Kuwait and Kuwaiti banks, to implement awareness and educational campaigns, foremost among them the “Let’s Be Informed” campaign, aimed at raising awareness of cyber risks and evolving fraud methods and promoting a culture of safe use of financial and digital services.