RIYADH: Saudi Arabia has retained its position as the world’s leading country in cybersecurity, ranking first globally in the cybersecurity index of the IMD World Competitiveness Yearbook 2026.
The National Cybersecurity Authority (NCA) attributed the achievement to the continued support and strategic guidance of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Salman bin Abdulaziz and Crown Prince and Prime Minister Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Saudi Press Agency (SPA) reported on Thursday.
According to the authority, their commitment to strengthening the cybersecurity sector has established it as a key pillar of the Kingdom’s national security framework.
The NCA noted that Saudi Arabia’s cybersecurity sector has undergone a significant transformation since the authority was established as the Kingdom’s specialised body for cybersecurity affairs.
Working alongside the Saudi Information Technology Company (SITE), its strategic and technical partner, the NCA has helped position the Kingdom among the world’s leading cybersecurity nations.
This progress is reflected in Saudi Arabia’s classification as a Tier 1 “Role-Modelling” country in the Global Cybersecurity Index 2026 published by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), a specialised agency of the United Nations.
As the Kingdom’s national authority and reference body for cybersecurity, the NCA is responsible for strengthening the country’s cyber resilience and safeguarding its vital interests, national security, critical infrastructure, priority sectors and government services.
The authority also works to advance the growth of the cybersecurity industry, encourage innovation and investment, and develop the policies, governance frameworks, regulations, standards and guidelines needed to support a secure and trusted digital environment.
These efforts are aimed at fostering a resilient Saudi cyberspace capable of supporting sustainable growth, innovation and prosperity.
