Israeli cyber firms quietly expand operations in Saudi Arabia

Despite having no formal ties, Israeli cybersecurity companies are quietly building a growing presence in the Saudi tech sector — under the radar of diplomatic efforts.

By David Brummer, World Israel News

While political normalization remains elusive, Israeli cyber companies are quietly deepening their foothold in Saudi Arabia, forging business ties that remain largely out of public view, the Israeli business daily Globes reported on Tuesday.

Its investigation reveals that several Israeli firms — often operating through international intermediaries — are now working with Saudi clients, particularly in the sensitive fields of cybersecurity and infrastructure protection.

These connections have taken shape over years, even without the presence of a formal peace agreement.

Unlike the 2020 Abraham Accords with the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain, which were accompanied by arms deals and open tech cooperation, Saudi Arabia has taken a different approach

It is positioning itself as a major tech hub through high-profile partnerships with US giants like Nvidia, Amazon, and Google — without extending the same overtures to Israel.

Nevertheless, behind the scenes, Israeli expertise is playing a role in building the kingdom’s cybersecurity backbone.

According to industry sources, many of the Israeli companies involved have established foreign subsidiaries to facilitate operations in Saudi Arabia.

These firms frequently partner with regional distributors such as Spire and Bulwark, which specialize in deploying security technologies across the Gulf, Egypt, and Jordan.

There are also reports of Israeli-Saudi business relations being conducted through a third country, such as the UAE, particularly in the diamond trade.

One of the few companies with a public footprint in the kingdom is CyberArk, an Israeli cybersecurity firm headquartered in Petah Tikva and Beersheba.

Managing around 4,000 employees globally, CyberArk specializes in identity security and has become a notable player in the region.

In a post written just months after the October 7 Hamas attacks, CyberArk’s then-Middle East sales head Tom Lowndes highlighted Saudi Arabia’s growing importance to the company’s regional business.

According to Lowndes, CyberArk had experienced “consistent growth of approximately 25% year-on-year” in the Middle East, with Saudi Arabia emerging in 2024 as a “major driver” responsible for nearly 40% of its regional revenue.

The company claimed to serve more than 50 Saudi clients and aimed to double its operations in the country over the next two years.

While business ties persist, they do so in a cautious, low-profile fashion — highlighting the gap between economic interests and political realities.

There are also cultural hurdles to overcome. Saudi businesses move slowly, taking time to make decisions, a direct contrast to the fast-moving Israeli start-up world.

US President Donald Trump, who led a business-focused delegation to Riyadh recently, continues to promote the idea of expanding the Abraham Accords to include Saudi Arabia.

But for now, Israeli-Saudi cooperation remains a quiet undercurrent, flowing beneath the surface of Middle East diplomacy.