Black Hat, the largest cybersecurity event in the region, which brings together the best minds in the field of cybersecurity, is preparing to launch in mid-November in the Saudi capital, Riyadh, in Riyadh Front. The event comes within the activities of Riyadh Season 2022, in partnership with the General Entertainment Authority, and organized by the Saudi Federation For Cybersecurity, Programming and Drones, and Informa and will last for 3 days, from 15 to 17 November. It is scheduled that more than 30,000 visitors will attend, in the presence of the most famous speakers in the cybersecurity sector, to enrich the first edition of the largest technical event.
After the success of the At Hack (@Hack) event last year, which was popular with those interested in the cybersecurity sector, the Saudi capital, Riyadh, will host Black Hat event this year, which will include more than 200 international speakers and will be attended by more than 250 leading cybersecurity companies, including global technology giants such as Cisco, IBM, Spire, Infoblox and more, in addition to more than 40 startups in the field.
Turki Alalshikh, Chairman of General Entertainment Authority, said that: “Riyadh Season 2022 includes more than 8,500 activity days and experiences in 15 zones, each of which has a special entertainment character. The season contains 252 restaurants and cafes, 240 stores, daily firework shows, in addition to 8 international shows and more than 150 musical events throughout the season. One of the events of this season, Black Hat, which specializes in cybersecurity, confirms the diversity and inclusion of all target groups in the season with their various interests.”
Commenting on the topic, Faisal Al-Khamisi, Chairman of the Saudi Federation For Cybersecurity, Programming and Drones, said: “The At Hack event has been an impressive success, especially in the high participation rate from the most prominent cybersecurity communities in the world and the region, as well as the contribution of the growing local cybersecurity community in Saudi Arabia We, in the Saudi Federation For Cybersecurity, Programming and Drones, are proud of our role in organizing this event, and we believe that the positive impression that we aspired to and the balance of local experiences and talents participating in the event was the best evidence of Saudi Arabia’s consolidation of its position as a regional center for technology and innovation in the region, and it is on its way to achieving the objectives of Saudi Vision 2030 to transform the Kingdom into one of the best modern and digital economies in the world. Black Hat event establishes its position as a must-attend event to raise awareness about cybersecurity and educate individuals about the mechanism of safe use of digital space in the future.”
Mike Champion, Regional Executive Vice President, Informa Markets, added: “Last year we launched the largest IT exhibition of 2021 worldwide. This exhibition has grown this year to witness more than 25,000 visitors registered. Now there is only one event that allows you to meet leading security researchers and keynote speakers for information security. During the Black Hat event, a variety of topics are highlighted, such as hacking tools, big prize money and many important events.”
Event attendees will get a chance to learn about cybersecurity and its implications from an impressive array of globally respected speakers from leading companies, including cybersecurity chiefs from Equifax, Boom Supersonic and Lufthansa, as well as Jamil Farshchi, Chris Roberts, and Naby Diaw, respectively. Also attending are Dr. Alissa Abdullah (Dr. Jay), Executive Vice President of Security, MasterCard, Ira Winkler, CEO of Security Engineering, Wal-Mart and Timothy Brown, Vice President and Head of Global Information Security, SolarWinds and others. David Colombo, CEO of Colombo Technology, a teenage tech genius, and cybersecurity expert world-renowned for his expertise in hacking Tesla cars will also be present. The event will witness demonstrations and product launches of the latest cutting-edge security solutions from all areas of the sector, including software, services and training.
Black Hat event in Riyadh will present many different topics to meet the needs of a diverse audience, including 23 specialized cybersecurity training courses delivered by 50 Black Hat certified trainers in a hands-on environment with training partners. There will also be an executive summit dedicated to the region’s elite cybersecurity chiefs to discuss the latest developments in the field, and exchange expertise and inspiring experiences with the best experts in the world. Arsenal is a space for developers where the latest developments are presented, along with practical experience and technical workshops through which studies and the latest technologies in the field of cybersecurity are presented by leading speakers. Capture the Flag is a hacking tournament in which more than 1,000 contestants participate to enhance their ethical hacking skills at different difficulty levels for a prize of SAR700,000.
Other competitions include the Bug Bounty Cup with cash prizes of SAR300,000 and a startup competition where the best presentations are presented to seasoned judges, angel investors, technology experts and government stakeholders for a cash prize of SAR90,000. The event is also hosting a merchandise design competition for talented and distinguished digital artists, where they can create artwork exclusively for Black Hat MEA Cyber Heroes. The winning design will be published as a limited edition.
Registration for Black Hat event is now open via the link https://blackhatmea.com/registration, which contains more information about the event, its sections, programs and speakers.