The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, represented by the National Cybersecurity Authority (NCA) in cooperation with the Saudi Information Technology Company (SITE) and the Global Cybersecurity Forum Foundation and in partnership with the United Nations and its specialized agencies, announced the launch of the Global Initiative for Capacity Building in Cyberspace.
The announcement came during the fifth annual Global Cybersecurity Forum (GCF), held in Riyadh on 01-02 October, under the theme “Scaling Cohesive Advancement in Cyberspace,” the Saudi Press Agency and UN reported.
The initiative was launched in response to the strategic challenges facing the global cybersecurity sector, particularly in its most pressing areas, including the worldwide shortage of cybersecurity professionals, estimated at 2.8 million, according to the GCF 2024 Cybersecurity Workforce Report issued by the Global Cybersecurity Forum Foundation.
The global initiative is built on five tracks: Research and development programs, cybersecurity simulation and exercise programs, training programs, policy development, and workshops. These aim to enhance the skills of a wide range of beneficiaries, including policymakers, law-enforcement agencies, diplomats, and professionals in the field.
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, in an address to the participants of the Forum, expressed his gratitude to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia for adopting the Global Initiative for Capacity Building in Cyberspace, highlighting the Forum’s focus on issues such as child protection and women’s empowerment.
“In our interconnected world, Cyberspace is essential for innovation and opportunity. At the same time, vulnerabilities can undermine trust, disrupt societies, and threaten peace. We must act together to ensure Cyberspace serves the common good - by investing in people, building skills and fostering inclusion. As digitization accelerates, we must forge global partnerships rooted in solidarity and shared responsibility - leaving no country or community behind,” Guterres said.
“Saudi Arabia’s partnership with the United Nations to advance global cybersecurity capacity building is testament to a shared commitment to driving progress for the benefit of people, societies, and nations. The Kingdom has been at the forefront of fostering collective action on cybersecurity, and this multistakeholder initiative will complement efforts across borders to build the skills and resilience needed for a safer and more resilient Cyberspace for all,” said H.E. Majed bin Mohammed Al-Mazyed, Governor of Saudi Arabia’s National Cybersecurity Authority (NCA).
Forming part of ongoing multilateral efforts to advance the security and inclusiveness of Cyberspace, this new initiative will support nations in strengthening their understanding of emerging norms and translating established global frameworks into practical action.
The initiative was among the announcements on the opening day of the GCF Annual Meeting 2025 in Riyadh, adding to the momentum of Saudi Arabia’s ongoing commitment to foster international collaboration in Cyberspace, including the two global initiatives - Child Protection in Cyberspace and Women Empowerment in Cybersecurity - instated by H.R.H. Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al-Saud, Crown Prince and Prime Minister of Saudi Arabia.
Since its inception in 2020, the Global Cybersecurity Forum (GCF) has established itself as a platform for dialogue and cooperation, bringing together governments, private sector leaders, academia, and civil society. Through these efforts, Saudi Arabia continues to advance its strategic vision of fostering global collaboration, enhancing knowledge transfer, and building human capacity to secure the digital future.
