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

The program is the first output of the global initiative for building international capabilities in cyberspace, which the Kingdom launched during the 2025 edition of the Global Cybersecurity Forum, and targets representatives of countries participating in the United Nations global mechanism, aiming to develop their capabilities in cyber diplomacy and enhance 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 the challenges related to the security of information and communications technology are cross-border in nature, noting that enhancing the effectiveness of the United Nations outcomes 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 human capital as a fundamental pillar for development and prosperity, especially in vital fields such as cybersecurity.

The global initiative for building international capabilities 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 prosperous cyberspace.