Mastercard has unveiled its first Cyber Resilience Center in the Middle East, situated in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, marking a significant step forward in regional cybersecurity efforts. Riyad Bank has become the inaugural partner for the center, helping spearhead initiatives focused on training, risk assessments, and the implementation of robust cybersecurity standards.
The center is designed to unite key players across the financial sector to foster collaboration, education, and preparedness in the face of increasingly sophisticated cyber threats. It directly supports Saudi Vision 2030 by bolstering the digital resilience of the Kingdom’s growing payments ecosystem.
Structured around three pillars—education, standards, and preparedness—the Cyber Resilience Center will provide certifications in Arabic, run cyber defense simulations, and support financial institutions in evaluating and enhancing their security infrastructure.
Adam Jones, Mastercard’s EVP and division president for West Arabia, emphasized the urgency of the initiative, stating, “We live in an ultra-connected world where cyber threats are becoming more targeted and complex. The launch of the Cyber Resilience Center in Riyadh reflects Mastercard’s commitment to staying ahead of emerging risks and helping our partners do the same.”
Riyad Bank’s SVP and head of cyber & information security, Ibrahim A Al-Sulobi, added, “This partnership enables us to further strengthen our defense frameworks, accelerate the adoption of global best practices, and fortify security in the Kingdom’s financial sector.”
Over the past six years, Mastercard has invested $10.7 billion in cybersecurity innovation, including its recent acquisition of threat intelligence firm Recorded Future, as it continues to reinforce its global security capabilities.