Cyber Statecraft in the Middle East – RUSI at the Doha Forum

The expert-led discussion RUSI chaired – ‘Firewalls to Red Lines: Cyber Statecraft in the Middle East’ – examined how convergence of AI with advanced cyber capabilities has generated unprecedented risks and vulnerabilities including: 

• the deployment of autonomous cyberweapons,
• the expansion of sophisticated surveillance infrastructures
• the proliferation of large-scale disinformation campaigns. 

Such developments present multifaceted strategic, legal, and ethical challenges that cannot be resolved unilaterally, needing sustained multilateral engagement and cooperation. 

The Middle East, particularly the Gulf, is rapidly emerging as a leading arena for cyber statecraft, driven by ambitious digital transformation agendas, sovereign investment in advanced technologies, and the strategic use of cyberspace as a domain of geopolitical influence. Gulf states such as Qatar, the UAE, and Saudi Arabia  are leveraging cyber capabilities to project power, diversify their economies, and shape regional information environments, while investing in cutting-edge defence, AI, and digital infrastructure that position them at the forefront of global cyber competition.

At the same time, the very speed and scale of this digital expansion is exposing significant vulnerabilities. Highly connected critical infrastructure, especially in energy, finance, and logistics, creates lucrative targets for state and non-state adversaries. Regional rivalries have increasingly migrated online, with cyber espionage, disruptive attacks, and information operations becoming tools of coercion and influence. As Gulf states deepen their integration into global digital networks, their strategic ambition in cyberspace is matched by heightened exposure to cyber threats capable of undermining economic resilience, political legitimacy, and national security.