The Middle East, North Africa, and Africa (MENA) region is currently grappling with a staggering shortage of 300,000 cybersecurity professionals, a gap that leaves a vast majority of local organizations dangerously understaffed. According to Mastercard’s Cyber Pulse Report 2026, the situation is particularly dire in Africa, where a mere 20,000 certified experts are tasked with protecting the entire continent. Experts are now urging corporate leadership to shift their perspective, moving cybersecurity away from being a back-office task and elevating it to a strategic priority that directly impacts business continuity, regulatory compliance, and customer trust.

Compounding this staffing crisis, the region has become a primary target for digital adversaries, absorbing nearly half of all cyber incidents across the broader EEMEA zone. The report highlights a direct correlation between geopolitical instability and cyber aggression, noting that attacks on GCC countries jumped by nearly 200% following recent regional tensions. With critical vulnerabilities in areas like software patching and network filtering, Mastercard is calling on organizations to move beyond reactive measures, instead advocating for automated defenses and integrated security protocols to build a more resilient digital infrastructure against sustained, high-volume threats.