The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, represented by the National Cybersecurity Authority, in cooperation with the Global Cybersecurity Forum (GCF) Foundation and the Saudi Information Technology Company (SITE), and in partnership with the United Nations Office for Disarmament Affairs (UNODA), launched the capacity-building program in cyber diplomacy at the United Nations headquarters in New York, coinciding with the first thematic session of the global mechanism on information and communications technology in the context of international security, from 20 to 24 July 2026.

The program is the first output of the global initiative for building international capacities in cyberspace, which the Kingdom launched during the 2025 edition of the Global Cybersecurity Forum, and targets representatives of countries participating in the UN global mechanism, with the aim of developing their capabilities in cyber diplomacy and enhancing their effective participation in the UN dialogue.

The Under-Secretary-General of the United Nations and High Representative for Disarmament Affairs, Izumi Nakamitsu, affirmed that challenges related to information and communications technology security are transnational in nature, noting that enhancing the effectiveness of the UN's outputs in this regard requires them to be based on inclusivity and international cooperation.

For his part, the CEO of the Global Cybersecurity Forum Foundation, Engineer Abdulrahman bin Mohammed Al Hassan, explained that the program embodies the Kingdom's established approach based on investing in people as a fundamental pillar of development and prosperity, especially in vital areas such as cybersecurity.

The global initiative for building international capacities in cyberspace is based on several tracks, including research and development programs, training programs, and workshops, targeting a wide range of beneficiaries, foremost among them policymakers, law enforcement agencies, diplomats, and cybersecurity specialists around the world, thereby reinforcing the principle of shared responsibility in building a safer, more resilient, and more prosperous cyberspace.