The event brought together nine cabinet ministers, six heads of Arab cybersecurity authorities, around 180 international experts, and more than 5,000 attendees. It underscored Egypt’s continuing efforts to position itself as a key player in regional digital security.
CAISEC’25 served as a platform for discussions on various cybersecurity issues affecting Egypt and the wider Arab region. In his opening remarks, Minister of Telecommunications Dr Amr Talaat highlighted the growing importance of cybersecurity, arguing that it should be considered a national and regional priority rather than a narrowly technical concern. His comments aligned with Egypt’s wider digital strategy, which includes investing in infrastructure, developing local expertise, and strengthening regional cooperation.
Nine Egyptian ministries and several key institutions, including the National Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (NTRA), the Financial Regulatory Authority (FRA), and EG-CERT, participated in the conference, reflecting a broad governmental commitment to addressing cybersecurity challenges.
Several Arab countries also took part, adding a regional dimension to the event. Representatives from Qatar, Bahrain, the United Arab Emirates, and others attended, with speakers calling for greater coordination in dealing with cyber threats. Dr Mohamed Hamad Al-Kuwaiti of the UAE advocated for cross-border defence mechanisms. At the same time, Noura Al-Fotais of the Arab Cybersecurity Association spoke in favour of a unified Arab cybersecurity framework. AICTO Director General Mohamed Ben Amor pointed to the rising financial impact of cyber incidents in the region, citing an average cost of $8.75 million per incident in 2024, well above the global average.
The two-day event featured a wide-ranging programme of panels, workshops, and roundtable discussions. Topics included critical infrastructure protection, medical device security, the role of startups in cybersecurity, and third-party risk management. One notable session was hosted by Orange Business Talk and featured Greg Van Der Gaast, a cybersecurity expert formerly affiliated with the US Department of Defence and the FBI. His talk, titled “Security Without Fear: Rebuilding Trust in the Age of Digital Chaos,” urged organisations to adopt more adaptive and trust-focused approaches to security.
The event also included an awards segment. In collaboration with the League of Arab States, CAISEC’25 presented the Arab Award for Best Research in Cybersecurity and AI. Additionally, six countries—Egypt, the UAE, Qatar, Oman, Bahrain, and Jordan—received the AICTO Cybersecurity Shield for progress made in strengthening national cybersecurity systems.
Osama Kamal, Chairman and CEO of Mercury Communications, the company organising the conference, outlined some of the challenges facing the region. He noted a 214 percent increase in cyberattacks over the past 18 months, with the healthcare, energy, and finance sectors among the most affected. Kamal stressed the importance of closing the region’s cybersecurity skills gap and integrating security into broader digital transformation efforts.
By the end of the conference, several key themes had emerged. These included responding to AI-related threats, developing a skilled and diverse cybersecurity workforce, harmonising national policies with regional frameworks, and improving public awareness through education.
While the event highlighted Egypt’s commitment to cybersecurity, it also reminded the region of the shared challenges facing it and the growing need for coordinated responses.
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