Mastercard has unveiled its new Cyber Resilience Center in Riyadh, marking its first initiative of this kind in the Middle East.
The centre aims to unify the financial services sector around a shared vision of cybersecurity and digital trust. With existing cyber resilience centres in Europe and the US, this expansion reflects Mastercard’s commitment to global digital safety and regional innovation.
The inaugural partner in this effort is Riyad Bank, which will collaborate with Mastercard on a number of strategic areas. These include cybersecurity training, adoption of international security standards, and joint risk assessments.
Mastercard’s launch is seen as a crucial step in strengthening the Kingdom’s cybersecurity infrastructure as it undergoes rapid digital transformation. As the financial sector grows increasingly digitised, the centre will serve as a platform for collaborative knowledge sharing, real-time threat detection, and continuous development of cyber skills and capabilities.
The initiative rests on three core pillars. The first, education and training, will focus on building local cybersecurity talent by offering certifications in Arabic and conducting workshops. The second, standards and best practices, will promote accountability by enabling institutions to measure progress through structured targets. The third focuses on readiness, delivering threat-casting exercises and cyber simulations to ensure financial institutions can respond quickly to emerging threats.
Aligned with Saudi Vision 2030, the centre supports national goals for a secure digital economy and public sector innovation. Mastercard has committed $10.7bn globally to cybersecurity innovation over the past six years. Findings from the 2025 Digital Trust Insights Survey reveal that 55% of Middle Eastern organisations plan to increase investments in digital risk mitigation, slightly ahead of the global average.
Riyad Bank SVP and head of cyber & information security department Ibrahim A Al-Sulobi said, “At Riyad Bank, safeguarding customer trust is central to everything we do. In a rapidly evolving cyber threat landscape, our collaboration with Mastercard through the Cyber Resilience Center is a testament of our proactive approach to cybersecurity. This partnership enables us to further strengthen our defense frameworks, accelerate the adoption of global best practices of global security, and fortify security in the Kingdom’s financial sector.
“We remain committed to delivering a secure, seamless, and trusted banking experience for every customer.”
Mastercard EVP, division president, West Arabia Adam Jones said, “We live in an ultra-connected world where cyber threats are becoming more targeted and complex, even as the need for trust and assurance increases. 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. We’re proud to work with Riyad Bank to help advance a secure ecosystem in the Kingdom, and ensure that people, businesses, and institutions in Saudi Arabia are protected through world-class capabilities.”
In addition to its regional investment, Mastercard is continuing to expand its cyber capabilities through global acquisitions. Last year, it acquired Recorded Future, a prominent threat intelligence company. This acquisition is expected to further enhance Mastercard’s ability to monitor evolving risks and maintain trust in the digital payments ecosystem.
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