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The National Cyber Security Center Signs an Agreement to Host DEF CON MIDDLE EAST
The signing ceremony of a landmark agreement between the National Cyber Security Center (NCSC) and the global DEF CON conference, which is held under the patronage of His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, the Crown Prince, Deputy Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces, and Prime Minister, took place on Monday, 18 May 2026. The agreement designates the Kingdom of Bahrain as the host of DEF CON MIDDLE EAST, a fully-fledged edition of the conference and the first of its kind to be held in the Middle East region.
On this occasion, His Excellency Shaikh Salman bin Mohammed Al Khalifa, Chief Executive Officer of the National Cyber Security Center, stated during his address at the press conference that hosting DEF CON Middle East in the Kingdom of Bahrain represents a strategic milestone that reflects the Kingdom’s advanced standing in the field of cybersecurity. He emphasized that this partnership embodies the international community’s confidence in Bahrain’s national expertise and its sophisticated digital infrastructure, noting that DEF CON stands among the most prominent and largest cybersecurity conferences in the world, attracting tens of thousands of experts, specialists, researchers, and enthusiasts from across the globe each year, and serving as a leading platform that brings together cutting-edge technical expertise and a culture of innovation in cybersecurity
His Excellency further highlighted that one of DEF CON’s most distinctive features is its offering of specialized workshops and training sessions through its technical “DEF CON Villages” interactive, purpose-built platforms for innovation that span a wide range of domains, including but not limited to: artificial intelligence, aerospace, cloud security, industrial control systems, Internet of Things security, and medical and biohacking security, among many other specialized technical fields. He also referenced the conference’s interactive demo labs, which provide immersive, hands-on experiences and open new horizons for researchers, students, and startups to showcase their innovations and projects before a distinguished audience of global experts within a dynamic, innovation-driven environment.
His Excellency Shaikh Salman bin Mohammed Al Khalifa concluded by affirming that hosting the Middle East edition of the conference in the Kingdom of Bahrain represents a transformative opportunity to bring this world-class experience to the region one that will strengthen the cybersecurity ecosystem, entrench an advanced culture of innovation in this vital field, support the empowerment of specialized national talent, and enhance digital readiness, thereby cementing the Kingdom of Bahrain’s position as a leading regional hub for cybersecurity and a strategic center for digital innovation on the global stage.