Darktrace Expands to Riyadh as AI Cybersecurity Demand Surges Across the Middle East

Darktrace is doubling down on the Middle East. The British-born cybersecurity company—known for pioneering AI systems that autonomously detect and respond to cyber threats—announced it will establish a legal entity and new regional office in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, marking a significant milestone in its global expansion strategy.

The office, located in Riyadh’s landmark Kingdom Centre, will open in January 2026, serving as a new regional hub for customers across Saudi Arabia and the wider Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region. Darktrace already has an established foothold in the area, having opened its Dubai office in 2017.

A Strategic Bet on a Booming Market

Saudi Arabia is rapidly emerging as one of the world’s most ambitious technology and cybersecurity markets. The Kingdom has pledged $14.9 billion in AI and emerging technologies and expects its cybersecurity sector to grow up to 13% annually. For Darktrace, that’s fertile ground for expansion.

“With Saudi Arabia investing more than $14.9 billion in AI and emerging technologies and its cybersecurity market set to grow at up to 13% annually, our presence in Riyadh ensures we can support organizations in one of the most dynamic and fast-evolving markets in the world,” said Nicole Eagan, Co-Founder and Strategic Advisor, Darktrace.

The company says its MENA business has averaged more than 40% annual growth over the past five years and currently supports 280 customers across the region—including major players in oil, gas, and petrochemicals such as National Petrochemical Industrial Co. (NATPET).

A Local Anchor for Regional Resilience

Darktrace’s Riyadh office will serve as a hub for local expertise, customer engagement, and technical support, while expanding its 30-person regional workforce. It will also deepen ties with key partners, including Alnafitha IT and Innovative Solutions, as part of a growing regional channel ecosystem.

The move also aligns closely with Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030, a national plan to diversify the economy and build digital infrastructure across public and private sectors. With the Kingdom preparing to host global events such as the AFC Asian Cup, Asian Winter Games, and World Expo 2030, cybersecurity has become both a national priority and a critical enabler of public trust.

Darktrace’s proprietary Self-Learning AI—a system that continuously adapts to detect threats across cloud, email, and network environments—is already deployed across multiple industries in Saudi Arabia. The company says its expanded local presence will help accelerate deployments, enhance support, and strengthen cyber resilience as the nation’s digital footprint expands.

Strengthening UK–Saudi Business Ties

As part of its long-term investment in the Kingdom, Darktrace has joined the Saudi British Joint Business Council (SBJBC), an independent, private-sector organization that promotes trade and investment between the two nations.

Through the SBJBC’s network of more than 200 British and Saudi member companies, Darktrace aims to foster collaboration and contribute to Saudi Arabia’s technology and cybersecurity ecosystem. The move also underscores the growing economic and diplomatic linkage between the UK and Saudi Arabia as both nations ramp up cooperation in emerging tech.

Accelerating Under Thoma Bravo Ownership

The Riyadh expansion is part of Darktrace’s broader global growth push under Thoma Bravo’s ownership. In recent months, the company opened a major deployment center and corporate office in Dallas, Texas, and continued to rack up industry recognition.

Darktrace was recently named a Leader in the Gartner® Magic Quadrant™ for Network Detection and Response, recognized as an IDC market-share leader, and earned top marks across KuppingerCole’s Overall, Product, Market, and Innovation Leader categories. Its Darktrace/NETWORK platform maintains a 4.8-star average on Gartner Peer Insights, with 96% of users recommending it.

The company will also play a prominent role at Black Hat MEA 2025 and serve as a Platinum sponsor for the British Embassy in Riyadh and British Consulate in Jeddah’s King’s Birthday celebrations this November.

Building the Future of AI-Driven Defense

Founded in 2013 and backed by R&D hubs in Cambridge, UK and The Hague, Netherlands, Darktrace has filed over 200 patents and now protects nearly 10,000 customers worldwide. Its ActiveAI Security Platform™ combines self-learning models with an autonomous “Cyber AI Analyst™” to proactively spot and stop emerging threats across the entire digital estate.

For Darktrace, Riyadh isn’t just another dot on the map—it’s a statement of intent: to embed AI-driven cybersecurity at the heart of one of the world’s fastest-growing digital economies.

As governments and enterprises across MENA race toward a future powered by automation, smart cities, and connected infrastructure, Darktrace’s expansion signals a deeper truth: in a region that’s betting big on AI, trust and security will define the winners.