Middle East faces cybersecurity talent gap as attacks intensify
The Middle East is facing a critical shortage of cybersecurity professionals as cyber threats continue to escalate across the region, according to Mastercard’s Cyber Pulse Report 2026.
The report estimates that the Middle East, North Africa and Africa (MENA) region lacks more than 300,000 cybersecurity specialists, while 43 percent of organisations report operating with understaffed security teams. The shortage comes as governments, financial institutions and critical infrastructure operators accelerate digital transformation initiatives.
Mastercard identified the Middle East as one of the world’s most active cyber threat environments, accounting for nearly half of all incidents analysed in the report. The United Arab Emirates was among the most frequently targeted countries due to its role as a major financial and digital hub.
The report highlights a growing link between geopolitical developments and cyber threat activity. Following heightened regional tensions in late February 2026, cyber attacks targeting GCC countries surged by 198 percent on the first day of escalation. Mastercard described the first ten days after a geopolitical event as the most dangerous period for organisations and security teams.
Government agencies, financial services, technology providers and energy organisations remain among the most targeted sectors, reflecting the increasing focus of attackers on critical services and national infrastructure. Malware, ransomware and email-based social engineering continue to be the dominant attack methods across the region.
The report also noted that the average cost of a data breach in the Middle East reached US$7.29 million, approximately 64 percent higher than the global average. Mastercard warned that digital transformation is advancing faster than organisations’ ability to secure it, urging business leaders to treat cyber resilience as a strategic priority rather than a purely technical issue.
