The Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region is entering a new phase of cybersecurity maturity. According to Gartner’s latest forecast, end-user spending on information security is projected to reach USD 4.07 billion in 2026, up from USD 3.7 billion in 2025 — a robust 10.1% year-on-year growth.
Businesses are spending more on cybersecurity than ever before because the threat landscape, regulatory environment, and digital dependency have all undergone significant evolution.
When technology and digital transformation define competitiveness, security has become a boardroom imperative, not just an IT concern. Businesses across industries are realising that every innovation, from cloud adoption and AI integration to remote work, expands their exposure to cyber risk.
Cloud expansion, AI adoption, and threat complexity drive growth.
Security Software Leads the Spending Curve
Gartner’s data shows that security software will remain the largest spending category in 2026, reaching USD 1.97 billion, nearly half of the total outlay. Within this segment, endpoint protection, identity and access management (IAM), and cloud security tools are seeing double-digit growth.
CISOs Face New Priorities
Across MENA, CISOs are rebalancing budgets, shifting from traditional perimeter security to zero-trust architectures, AI-enabled monitoring, and data-centric controls.
“Organisations in MENA are being cautious with new spending during turbulent times, reflecting the global trend, yet security remains a top priority in their budgets,” said Shailendra Upadhyay, Sr Principal at Gartner. “Persistent threat environments and rapid cloud adoption will keep security at the forefront for MENA chief information security officers (CISOs), fueling growth in security spending through 2026.”
By 2026, as digital identity, 5G, and AI continue to shape regional economies, cybersecurity will evolve from a defensive cost centre to a business enabler.
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