World

Why are companies across the Gulf finding cyber roles hard to hire for?

Companies across the Gulf are finding it increasingly difficult to hire for cybersecurity roles as technology is developing rapidly and becoming increasingly complex.

In the last year alone, OpenAI launched the artificial intelligence (AI) chatbot ChatGPT, followed by Google’s recent launch of Bard and a similar tool by Microsoft.

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Constant rapid changes in technology, or the introduction of new technology, can give cybercriminals more avenues to hack into businesses, potentially extorting them for money and data or disrupting their systems.

According to experts in the field, having professionals who can keep up with the latest technologies and how to manage them is becoming cumbersome for cybersecurity firms.

It can get “very tricky” to fill some positions in cybersecurity, Barry Martin Dubai-based cybersecurity headhunter at recruitment firm Halian, told Al Arabiya English.

“There is an onus on people in the market to have up-to-date certifications, or at least, have started brushing up on specific new skill sets and tools that are that are coming into the market,” Martin said.

In a study released Earlier this week, cybersecurity firm Trellix said 66 percent of people managing IT departments across the UAE and Saudi Arabia think their organizations lack “the right people and processes to be cyber resilient.”

According to the same study, just over a quarter of IT managers across the countries also think companies lack the ability to retain or recruit talented cybersecurity experts.

“The technical requirements [for jobs] have definitely gotten more complex,” Martin said, compared to when he started recruiting for cybersecurity roles in the region some five years ago.

“Recruiters are seeing that reflected in the job briefs they send us. Occasionally we have to sit down with clients and have hard conversations about the realities of whether or not they’ll find somebody with experience on this very new, niche piece of tech,” Martin added.

But despite recruiters always finding it difficult to find suitable candidates, plenty of companies are still searching to fill cybersecurity roles.

The top IT vacancies people are searching for in Saudi Arabia include engineers and cybersecurity analysts, according to a report published late last year by cyber company Qrator Labs.

“It is a saturated market, sometimes often with the wrong candidates,” cyber recruiter Gianluca Sammartano at SGP Technology told Al Arabiya English.

“I spoke with many senior leaders in the region who have expressed frustrations with talent shortages… And that’s due to the high demand of cybersecurity professionals,” Sammartano added.

The cybersecurity workforce has reached an all-time high, with an estimated 4.7 million professionals. However, there’s still a global shortage of 3.4 million workers in this field, according to the 2022 Cybersecurity Workforce Study.

Focus on developing new talent

According to some experts, one way to fill missing talent gaps could be to train people already in jobs or even at an earlier level during university or school.

“There should be a growing focus on developing local talents and expertise… just to address this shortage of skill,” Sammartano said.

Meanwhile, Muhammad Chabib, outgoing CEO of Autobahn security, said, “There are no universities that can train you for that, by the time you have written a book on cybersecurity, it’s outdated.”

“You need modern education systems in order to teach cybersecurity, it’s an ongoing process,” Chabib told Al Arabiya English.

Global recruitment opportunities

But despite the challenges, there could be no better time to recruit people to the region, especially in the UAE, because of a relatively simple visa and residency system without lots of red tape, as well as a global cost of living crisis that has had less of an effect on the UAE.

“The UAE is a really easy sell, and I think it’s getting easier with the current state of the global economy,” Martin said.

Meanwhile, Sammartano added that it’s “relatively easy to get people to move to the UAE” because of the lifestyle and salaries.

“If you run out of talent locally, we’ll just go fishing in Latin America or Europe [for example]. You can get picky if you’ve got the whole world to choose from,” Martin added.

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GCC hit hard with ransomware attacks, with Saudi and UAE organizations most affected

World

Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi meets with CEOs of leading Norwegian companies

H.H. Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, has met with a group of CEOs from leading Norwegian companies, as part of their participation in the UAE-Norway Investment Forum, held alongside his official visit to the Kingdom of Norway.

During the meeting, H.H. Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed underscored the UAE leadership’s commitment to strengthening economic cooperation with its international partners.

He highlighted that investment in innovation and knowledge is a cornerstone for achieving sustainable development, noting that enhancing collaboration with Norwegian companies across key sectors will open new avenues for mutual economic growth between the two countries.

The UAE-Norway Investment Forum, taking place in Oslo, aimed to highlight available investment opportunities and strengthen trade relations between the UAE and Norway, fostering shared interests and supporting innovation and knowledge-based economic visions.

-wam

World

At the Indonesia International Book Fair 2024, TRENDS inaugurates 10th global office, releases four books

As part of its Asian research tour, partnership with Aletihad News Center, and
primary sponsorship of the Indonesia International Book Fair 2024, TRENDS
Research & Advisory inaugurated its office in Jakarta, marking its 10th location
worldwide. It also released four books in Indonesian.
The inauguration event was attended by ambassadors of the UAE, Bahrain, and
Jordan to Indonesia, chairpersons of the UAE and Indonesian Publishers’
Associations, the Director of TRENDS’ Jakarta office, and a group of researchers
and academics.
Speaking at the event, Dr. Mohammed Abdullah Al-Ali, CEO of TRENDS
Research & Advisory, stated that TRENDS’ international offices—set to reach 15
by the end of 2024—aim to enhance the Center’s research efforts and deepen its
role in disseminating knowledge, thus serving as a global knowledge bridge.
He emphasized, “At TRENDS, we believe in the importance of cooperation
between think tanks and prioritize this endeavor. We believe the TRENDS office in
Jakarta will enhance the exchange of knowledge and ideas between think tanks in
Asia and the Middle East, opening new horizons for collaboration in various
fields.”

Four books in Indonesian
As part of the Jakarta office’s inaugural activities, four books were released in
Indonesian, including the 11th and 12th books of the Muslim Brotherhood
Encyclopedia and Global Trends in AI and Automation and the Future of
Competition between Man and Machine: An Analytical Forward-looking Vision.

Hostility to Arab states
The 11th book of the Muslim Brotherhood Encyclopedia, The Concept of the State
According to the Muslim Brotherhood, highlights its hostile stance toward Arab
states since its inception. The group views them as an obstacle to its ascent to
power. It opposed the modern principles upon which these states were built,
considering them incompatible with the group’s unique interpretation of Islam,
which it claimed to embody exclusively.

Exclusion of nonconformists
The 12th book, The Muslim Brotherhood: Rejection of Tolerance and Exclusion of
Nonconformists, examines the Muslim Brotherhood’s stance towards
nonconformists, individuals, and entities. The book reveals the group’s binary view
of the world, categorizing others as allies or adversaries. It ties these relationships
to the Brotherhood’s internal power struggles and self-serving interests.

Global Trends in AI
The third book, Global Trends in AI, explores significant developments in AI and
its impact on various aspects of life, including the economy, society, and
governance. It also offers a comprehensive analysis of technological advancements
in AI, its applications across sectors, the ethical and social challenges it presents,
and its future trajectory.

Automation

The fourth book, Automation and the Future of Competition between Man and
Machine: An Analytical Forward-looking Vision, addresses the growing challenges
faced by the human workforce in the face of widespread automation and AI
applications. The book concludes that while automation presents a significant
challenge to the labor market, it simultaneously creates new opportunities. It
emphasizes the importance of preparing for this shift through skills development,
continuous education, and adopting economic and social policies that support the
workforce.

Prominent pavilion and active presence
The TRENDS’ pavilion at the Indonesia International Book Fair has attracted
numerous visitors, including academic researchers and officials, such as the
ambassadors of the UAE, Bahrain, Qatar, Jordan, and Turkey. Additionally,
chairpersons of Arab and Indonesian publishers’ associations, authors, publishers,
and students visited the pavilion. All were impressed with and praised TRENDS’ diverse, valuable publications. They also commended TRENDS’ active
international presence and ability to address global developments with rigorous
analytical research.
Dr. Mohammed Abdullah Al-Ali honored the esteemed guests, including
ambassadors of the UAE and Bahrain to Indonesia, Wedha Startesti Yudha,
Chairperson of the Indonesia International Book Fair Committee, Arys Hilman
Nugraha, Chairman of the Indonesian Publishers Association, and others,
presenting them with TRENDS’ publications and commemorative shields.
Additionally, he awarded TRENDS’ Research Medal to Ni Made Ayu Martini
Indonesian Deputy Minister of Marketing, Tourism and Creative Economy
It is worth noting that during its current Asian research tour, TRENDS announced
the launch of the TRENDS Research Medal, awarded to individuals who make
significant contributions to the development of scientific research and promote collaboration with TRENDS in strengthening a culture of research across various fields.

World

US determined to prevent full-scale war in Middle East, Joe Biden tells UNGA79

US President Joe Biden highlighted the US Administration’s determination to prevent a wider war that engulfs the entire Middle East region, noting that a diplomatic solution “remains the only path to lasting security to allow the residents from both countries to return to their homes on the border safely”.

In remarks he made today before the 79th Session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA79), the US President said, “Full-scale war is not in anyone’s interest,” adding that a diplomatic solution is still possible.

He also touched on “the rise of violence against innocent Palestinians on the West Bank”, and the need to “set the conditions for a better future”, which he said featured “a two-state solution, where the world — where Israel enjoys security and peace and full recognition and normalised relations with all its neighbours, where Palestinians live in security, dignity, and self-determination in a state of their own”.

President Biden underscored the ceasefire and hostage deal put forth by Qatar and Egypt, which the UN Security Council endorsed. He said, “Now is the time for the parties to finalise its terms, bring the hostages home,” adding that this would help ease the suffering in Gaza, and end the war.

-WAM