The Saudi National Cybersecurity Authority (NCA) came to fruition on 31 October 2017 with the stated purpose of protecting vital data, national security and sensitive infrastructure within the Kingdom. The core mandate of the NCA established the agency’s five core components - governance, strengthening cyber security, enhancing external cyber security, with additional measures to mitigate threats related to cloud computing, and industrial control systems. As the sole cybersecurity authority within Saudi Arabia, the NCA is tasked with overseeing policies, governance mechanisms, frameworks, standards and guidelines to ensure the safeguarding of the aforementioned components. Given the interconnected nature of these matters, all policies and frameworks published by the NCA must be adopted by all government agencies, as well as for private sector corporations that own or operate sensitive national infrastructure. In accordance with Vision 2030’s emphasis on expanding Saudi Arabia’s digital sphere, the NCA exists to make certain that the kingdom’s expansion does not come at the cost of security.

Pursuant to the creation of the NCA, King Salman bin Abdulaziz announced that Saudi Arabia will host a ‘first-of-its-kind’ Global Cybersecurity Forum (GCF) in February 2020. As Saudi Arabia continues to expand its role within the international arena, this forum will bring technical and policy specialists, international organization representatives, in addition to private sector executives to Riyadh to highlight Saudi Arabia’s current and future initiatives within the digital domain. Political astuteness aside, the summit will allow Saudi Arabia to engage a myriad of actors to leverage global economic opportunities presented to establish a globe-leading cybersecurity industry. In short, the Kingdom is rapidly developing and utilizing its geographic location to its benefit.

Prior to my participation in Gateway KSA, I interpreted the expansion of the cybersecurity industry within the Kingdom to be a man’s game, and solely for geopolitical gain. Albeit not a wholly incorrect notion, I came to discover the agenda as far more nuanced than initially thought. I cannot speak to the forward trajectory of the NCA - much more can be foretold following the conclusion of the conference next year - but reflecting upon the outlying factors allows for educated guesstimates. Via the yardstick of Vision 2030, Saudi Arabia aspires to rapidly modernize, digitize, industrialize, and emerge as an economic and political power player both regionally and within the international arena. After having the pleasure of listening to Dr. Moudhi Aljamea, the first female general manager at the Saudi Telecom Company (STC), I came to see women as having an integral role in the Kingdom’s forward momentum. Following the completion of her PhD from King’s College London, Aljamea rose through the ranks of STC and became a respected figure with, according to her, the assistance of her male colleagues. Dr. Aljamea reiterated much of what I came to understand over the course of my time in Saudi - a culture does not change overnight. Cultural norms and a shared history make up the fabric of a community; once established, it is no small endeavor to alter widely accepted practices. Through the women I have met - Dr. Aljamea, Huda Alhulaisi, Kholoud Aldkhail, and our very own Munirah - I understand that these extraordinary women are changing the role of women in Saudi society, and epitomize what role models should be for future movers and shakers in Saudi society. When discussing the role of women in an interconnected and digitized future, their voice must be present at the NCA’s table. Vis-a-vis integrating all communities in a modern economy - or digital sphere - the human element beneath it all proves critical above all else. Despite its vast mineral resources, I believe that the people are the greatest advantage to Saudi Arabia’s propellation onto the world stage and into the realm of emerging technology. Educated, warm and game to tackle the goals put forth in Vision 2030, Saudi Arabia is far more than political rhetoric and a religious state.

During our visit to the King Abdulaziz Center for World Culture, I came to see the Kingdom’s approach to the digital sector as one that does not forget the riches of arts and humanities. Segueing into our visit to KAUST - King Abdullah University for Science and Technology - I saw before me an outlet to unleash unparalleled creativity in the sphere of innovation and science. Lastly, in my personal discussion with Princess Lolowah bint Faisal Al Saud, I finally understood that each expenditure in education and industry - STEM, arts, cybersecurity, humanities, etc. - make up parts of a whole. Vision 2030, in short, is a holistic attempt to modernize Saudi Arabia while maintaining its identity as the gatekeeper to Mecca and Madina. The NCA, as the primary mechanism for safeguarding these vast investments in cyberspace, encompasses a very small piece of the overall plan. Returning to the NCA, I can deduce that its creation will allow the Kingdom to safely invest in any infrastructure related projects and digitizations of various industries in the agenda laid out by Vision 2030. In a world growing more interconnected, parameters around safe practice in cyberspace and appropriate behavior are paramount. If the upcoming summit proves successful, it would not surprise me to see Saudi Arabia rise in the ranks of the Global Cybersecurity Index, or in influence within the international arena.

Acknowledgements

I want to thank those who made this trip a possibility for me. From Kashya, Munirah, Prince Turki, and their wonderful intern (Faisal), each have made this the experience of a lifetime. As a Jewish student who had lived in Israel, I was nothing short of terrified coming to Saudi Arabia. Given that my time here is almost over, I can safely say I had very little grounds for concern. I only wish that my peers had the same opportunity to see the riches of the Kingdom in the manner I now consider one of the best of my life.

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A native of Buffalo, United States, I am a Bachelor of Arts (BA) candidate in Political Science and International Affairs at Northeastern University. Over the course of my undergraduate career, I have been fortunate to hold an array of co-ops in the European Union (EU), The Netherlands, Israel and Switzerland. Following my graduation in December 2019, I hope to pursue a Master of Public Policy (MPP) in the European Union with a topical emphasis on emerging technology policy.