The tenth edition of the Arab Information Security Conference concluded in Cairo with recommendations focused on Arab cyber cooperation, artificial intelligence governance, and establishing the foundation for an Arab list of trust service providers. The proposal aims to support mutual recognition of electronic signatures and transactions and facilitate cross-border digital services.
The tenth edition of the Arab Information Security Conference concluded in Cairo after two days of sessions and workshops, with the announcement of recommendations that go beyond systems protection toward building more regular Arab cooperation mechanisms. The most prominent new recommendations involved working to establish the foundation for an Arab list of trust service providers, supporting the reliability of cross-border digital transactions.
The conference was held under the slogan “10 Years. One Cyber MENA Future,” with the participation of government entities, national institutions, experts, and companies from Egypt and the region. It discussed critical infrastructure protection, data security, artificial intelligence, emerging technology governance, and skills development.
Arab List of Trust Service Providers
The conference proposes establishing the foundation for an Arab list of trust service providers, with the aim of supporting mutual recognition of trust services, electronic signatures, and electronic transactions among Arab countries. According to the recommendation, this step could help facilitate digital transactions, encourage trade, support investment, and enhance economic and digital integration.
The source provides no details about the entity that would be responsible for creating the list, the criteria for including service providers, or the implementation timeline. Therefore, the recommendation remains at its political and regulatory stage until it becomes an official framework defining accreditation and mutual-recognition mechanisms and legal responsibilities.
From Response to Proactive Readiness
Dr. Bahaa Hassan, the conference chair, emphasized that cyber threats are changing rapidly, particularly with the development of artificial intelligence technologies. Discussions focused on the need to move from responding to incidents after they occur to preparing for them in advance, while increasing institutions’ ability to contain and recover from incidents and building greater resilience.
The recommendations included strengthening the exchange of information about attacks, developing mechanisms for coordination and joint response, and enhancing protection for digital infrastructure and vital services. Participants also called for the safe and responsible use of artificial intelligence and for establishing governance frameworks that take security, privacy, and risk management into account.
What Changes in Practice?
If the recommendations become actionable initiatives, service providers and digital institutions in Arab countries may gain a clearer basis for verifying trust in cross-border signatures and transactions. However, the actual impact will depend on the existence of unified standards, recognized accreditation authorities, and monitoring and measurement mechanisms—elements that the source did not specify.
The conference also called for investment in training and scientific research, support for startups and Arab solutions, and the conversion of conference outcomes into programs with measurable indicators. This point remains important because announced recommendations do not become an institutional impact unless they are linked to implementing entities, responsibilities, and clear deadlines.
The events concluded with the honoring of the conference committees and sponsors, and the announcement of the 2026 Cybersecurity Excellence Awards and the results of the Arab Security Cyber Wargames Championship 2026. Team Tamer El-Gayar from Jordan won first place and a prize of 75,000 pounds, followed by Team Pwnsec and then Broken Shell.