Saudi Arabia, Four Countries Sign Cybersecurity MoUs

The 2023 edition of the Global Cybersecurity Forum, held in Riyadh
The 2023 edition of the Global Cybersecurity Forum, held in Riyadh
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Saudi Arabia, Four Countries Sign Cybersecurity MoUs

The 2023 edition of the Global Cybersecurity Forum, held in Riyadh
The 2023 edition of the Global Cybersecurity Forum, held in Riyadh

Saudi Arabia’s National Cybersecurity Authority (NCA) signed four memoranda of understanding (MoUs) for cooperation in cybersecurity with national bodies in Qatar, Romania, Spain, and Kuwait on the sidelines of the third edition of the Global Cybersecurity Forum (GCF).

The MoUs were signed between the Saudi NCA and Qatar’s National Cyber Security Agency (NCSA), Romania’s National Cyber Security Directorate (DNSC), the Spanish National Cybersecurity Institute (INCIBE), and Kuwait’s National Cyber Security Center (NCSC).

The 2023 edition of the Global Cybersecurity Forum, held in Riyadh under the theme “Charting Shared Priorities in Cyberspace,” concluded Thursday after heavy global participation, including 150 high-level speakers and attendees from 120 countries.
The two-day GCF served as a platform for discussing strategic orientations and crucial international issues in the cyberspace domain.

Participants from around the world engaged in dialogue on cooperation and unified efforts in cybersecurity and discussed maximizing opportunities, transferring knowledge, and enhancing human and technical capabilities in the sector.

The forum featured 35 discussion sessions, attended by decision-makers, CEOs, and senior officials from the public and private sectors at both the local and international levels.



Saudi Arabia Boosts Food Security

An agricultural farm in Saudi Arabia (SPA)
An agricultural farm in Saudi Arabia (SPA)
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Saudi Arabia Boosts Food Security

An agricultural farm in Saudi Arabia (SPA)
An agricultural farm in Saudi Arabia (SPA)

Saudi Arabia is accelerating efforts to strengthen food security, a strategic objective rooted in the Kingdom’s founding and shaped by its desert geography and limited water resources.

As part of its Vision 2030, the Kingdom has placed food security among its top priorities, implementing a national strategy to boost local production and promote long-term agricultural sustainability.

The agricultural sector’s contribution to GDP rose to SAR114 billion ($30.4 billion) in 2024, up from SAR109 billion ($29 billion) the previous year, according to the latest Vision 2030 annual report.

Government support, particularly through the Agricultural Development Fund, has fueled the sector’s growth. Agricultural loans increased by 54% between 2018 and 2024, reaching SAR5 billion ($1.33 billion).

Saudi Arabia has achieved higher self-sufficiency rates across several key products. Domestic production in 2024 included 2.95 million tons of fruit, 3.38 million tons of vegetables, 1.83 million tons of grains, 399,000 tons of eggs, 2.7 million tons of milk, 274,000 tons of red meat, 1.15 million tons of poultry, 217,000 tons of fish, and 8,500 tons of honey.

Aquaculture has seen significant growth, with fish production rising from 40,000 tons in 2016 to over 246,000 tons in 2024, driven by investments in sustainable technologies and marine projects. Saudi Arabia is positioning itself as an emerging regional hub for aquaculture.

The Kingdom’s progress reflects its long-term commitment to food security, supported by initiatives to enhance supply chains, stimulate private sector investment, and advance research and innovation in modern farming technologies. Authorities say the achievements so far signal Saudi Arabia’s ability to continue advancing toward self-sufficiency in a more resilient and sustainable agricultural environment.