Mastercard has inaugurated its first Cyber Resilience Centre in the Middle East, located in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. This strategic move aims to bolster the Kingdom’s cybersecurity infrastructure and aligns with the objectives of Saudi Vision 2030, which emphasizes secure digital transformation and innovation.
The centre serves as a collaborative platform for financial institutions, government entities, and technology partners to enhance their cybersecurity capabilities. It focuses on three core pillars: education and training, standards and best practices, and risk assessments and readiness. Through these initiatives, Mastercard seeks to develop local cybersecurity talent, establish measurable cybersecurity benchmarks, and conduct cyber defense exercises to prepare organizations for emerging threats.
Riyad Bank has joined as the first partner in this initiative, collaborating with Mastercard on training programs, risk evaluations, and the adoption of global cybersecurity standards. This partnership underscores the commitment to strengthening the Kingdom’s financial sector’s resilience against cyber threats.
The launch of the Cyber Resilience Centre reflects Mastercard’s broader commitment to cybersecurity, having invested over $10.7 billion in cybersecurity innovation over the past six years. This investment aims to assess evolving threats, protect customers, and enhance trust across the digital ecosystem.
As cyber threats become more sophisticated and persistent, initiatives like Mastercard’s Cyber Resilience Centre are crucial in equipping organizations with the tools, expertise, and strategies needed to detect, prevent, and respond to risks in real-time. This centre not only contributes to the security of Saudi Arabia’s digital economy but also positions the Kingdom as a regional leader in digital security and resilience.
