Riyadh Is Hosting The Ultimate Hack Fest At Black Hat MEA

The Saudi Arabian capital of Riyadh will be home to the most respected information security event in the world this November, as Black Hat opens its doors to InfoSec heavyweights, as well as offering speaking sessions and 23 training programs to excited visitors.

The 3-day event will take place between the 15th and 17th of November and will host 250 exhibitors and over 200 speakers, with tech experts from Cisco, IBM, Spire and Infoblox all attending.

The event results from a partnership between the Saudi Federation of Cybersecurity, Programming and Drones (SAFCSP), and events company Informa Markets. It will highlight the Kingdom’s growth in cybersecurity and modern digital technology.

“Black Hat MEA is a powerful indicator of our intentions within the cybersecurity space. This partnership will spark innovation, supercharge our capacity building and develop investment opportunities which we are excited to share with the world in November,” says Faisal Al-Khamisi, Chairman, SAFCSP.

So what can event goers expect from Black Hat Riyadh?

• Speakers: An exciting line-up of world-renowned experts from leading companies, including CISOs of Equifax, Boom Supersonic and Lufthansa, SolarWinds and more. The event will also welcome David Colombo, the teen tech genius who hacked Tesla cars.
• Training: 23 training sessions specially developed for the event by 30 Black Hat-approved trainers will take place in a hands-on environment. Training partners include Offensive Security, we45, Orange Cyberdefense and Madiant.
• Executive Summit: An exclusive conference featuring over 200 leaders in information security, including senior decision-makers in charge of implementing security strategies.
• Arsenal: A developer space where the latest open-source software, tools and products will be showcased, along with hands-on experience from owners and experts.
• Briefings: InfoSec gurus will present research on the latest industry trends, hacking tools and security vulnerabilities.
• Capture The Flag: A jeopardy-style hacking tournament will take place, with over 1,000 participants joining the game to enhance their hacking skills at various difficulty levels for a piece of the SAR 700,000 prize fund.

Other competitions at Black Hat MEA include the Bug Bounty Cup, with a prize fund of SAR 300,000, and a startup competition featuring judges, angel investors and government stakeholders for a cash prize of SAR 90,000. The event looks set to be an exciting addition to the region’s expo calendar, so head over to the Black Hat site and get your tickets early!