As Gulf nations like the UAE and Saudi Arabia double down on their digital economy agendas — with massive investments in AI, data platforms, and smart infrastructure — one question looms large: are their cryptographic foundations secure enough to support this transformation?
In a hyper-connected world, encryption isn’t just a tool — it’s the gatekeeper of everything from financial transactions and healthcare data to national defense systems. However, cryptography often receives less attention throughout the region. Outdated keys, untracked certificates, and legacy algorithms are creating hidden weak points that hackers can — and will — exploit.
Despite the prevalence of buzzwords such as smart cities, zero trust, and quantum readiness, most enterprises remain unaware of their cryptographic assets, their ownership, and their expiration dates. Without this fundamental visibility, it’s impossible to protect a digital ecosystem, no matter how sophisticated the AI is or how flashy the infrastructure looks. 
People often overlook the basics. You can’t implement zero trust architecture without understanding what your systems are trusting in the first place. That means real-time inventory of encryption keys, lifecycle tracking, and expiration monitoring. Without this foundation, you’re building your digital future on sand.
Take a look at the global stage: the U.S. National Security Agency (NSA) is already mandating cryptographic transition strategies. The UK’s National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) is enforcing lifecycle management practices. If the Gulf wants to become a global leader in digital innovation, it must also become a global leader in cryptographic security.
And no, this isn’t just an IT issue. A single CISO or the infosec department shouldn’t handle it alone. Cryptography needs to be recognized as a national infrastructure. Regulators, ministries, and CEOs alike must understand that in today’s data-driven world, keys are currency. If we mismanage them, we lose control of the vault.
Post-quantum encryption is already in the works, but let’s not wait for quantum threats to become real before acting. Currently, threat actors are stockpiling encrypted data with the plan to crack it once quantum computing becomes viable. Every unsecured key we leave behind is a ticking time bomb.
So, what should be done?
- Mandatory cryptographic observability: Real-time dashboards, automated certificate rotation, and threat alerts need to become standard.
- Supply chain encryption audits: Governments and regulators must demand visibility into the encryption practices of every third-party vendor.
- National awareness campaigns: Just like we teach financial literacy, we must now promote cryptographic literacy, especially among decision-makers.
Ultimately, Gulf economies have the opportunity to leap ahead — not just in tech adoption, but in security leadership. And that leadership starts with getting serious about cryptographic asset management.
Because in the fight for digital resilience, your strongest weapon isn’t just AI or blockchain — it’s knowing where your keys are.
