Washington: Saudi Arabia’s Ambassador and Permanent Representative to the UN Dr. Abdulaziz Alwasil emphasized the critical need for a secure and reliable cyberspace that fuels growth and prosperity.
His remarks came during a day-long UN Security Council debate on evolving cyberspace threats. Alwasil underscored the importance of prioritizing cybersecurity efforts globally. He stressed that robust cybersecurity is essential for safeguarding nations’ vital interests and national security.
Alwasil advocated for strengthened international cooperation in cybersecurity and urged combined efforts to mitigate cyber risks. He emphasized the need for the international community to adopt a serious and practical approach to unifying global efforts against cyberspace threats through relevant UN committees and specialized bodies.
Alwasil highlighted the significant and rapid progress achieved in Saudi Arabia’s cybersecurity sector, which aligns with the goals outlined in Vision 2030. He pointed out that the Kingdom has
embarked on a transformative journey to develop the “Saudi model” in cybersecurity based on centralized governance and decentralized operability.
Alwasil detailed the Kingdom’s accomplishments in cybersecurity, including achieving a global ranking of second, and first in the Arab world, the Middle East, and Asia according to the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) Global Cybersecurity Index.
The Kingdom has also secured second place globally for two consecutive years (2022 and 2023) in the World Competitiveness Yearbook’s cybersecurity indicator, published by the Swiss-based Institute for Management Development (IMD). This year, Saudi Arabia solidified its global leadership in cybersecurity by claiming the top spot in the World Competitiveness Yearbook.
Alwasil mentioned the Kingdom’s establishment of the Global Cybersecurity Forum (GCF). The GCF Institute was also launched as a Riyadh-headquartered organization dedicated to bolstering cybersecurity on an international scale.
Alwasil emphasized Sa
udi Arabia’s commitment to fostering regional cooperation in enhancing cybersecurity. This commitment is exemplified by the establishment of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Cybersecurity Ministerial Committee and the League of Arab States (LAS) Arab Cybersecurity Ministerial Council, both spearheaded by Saudi Arabia.
Source: Saudi Press Agency