Role of Ai in Industrial Automation and Critical Infrastructure
MENA Edition
Event Overview
As the MENA region accelerates ambitious national transformation agendas and large-scale digital infrastructure programs, Operational Technology (OT) has become central to regional resilience, economic stability, and industrial continuity. The rapid digitalisation of energy, utilities, oil & gas, manufacturing, transportation, and smart infrastructure has intensified IT/OT convergence—significantly expanding the attack surface of Critical National Infrastructure (CNI) and elevating OT resilience to a strategic priority across governments and enterprises alike.
Across the Middle East, investments in Operational Technology protection continue to accelerate, driven by regulatory mandates, infrastructure modernisation, and the increasing sophistication of threats targeting industrial environments. As smart cities, giga-industrial projects, and connected ecosystems advance across the region, the demand for intelligence-led, standards-driven, and future-ready OT frameworks has never been greater.
OTSEC MENA 2026 will convene 150+ senior leaders, including Heads of OT, OT Directors, ICS & SCADA experts, industrial automation leaders, regulators, infrastructure operators, and industry pioneers to shape the future of industrial resilience across the region.
Join leading decision-makers and OT professionals from across MENA on 18th November 2026 to address the evolving challenges and opportunities across IT, OT, IoT, IIoT, and IoMT, while strengthening the resilience, reliability, and continuity of Critical Infrastructure at OTSEC MENA 2026.
Featured Discussion
Critical Infrastructure Protection
OTCC & Regulatory Compliance
IT/OT Convergence Risk Management
AI-Powered Threat Intelligence
ICS & SCADA Security Frameworks
Supply Chain & Third-Party OT Risk
Incident Response & Industrial Cyber Resilience
Regulatory & Standards Alignment (IEC 62443 / NIST)
Zero Trust Architecture for Industrial Networks
Digital Twins & Smart Infrastructure Security
OT Workforce Readiness & Skills Development
AI-Powered OT Security
SPEAKERS
Suhail Ahmad
Cybersecurity GRC Manager
Jeddah Central Development Company
Ahmed Taher
Head of AI & Digital Transformation (Energy & Utilities)
Saudi Energy
Ali Farfour
Head of IT Technology Department
Al Hussan International Academy
Mahmoud El Gokhy
Director of Digital and Automation Solutions
Abunayyan Holding
Marvin Butac
Lead OT Cybersecurity Engineer
Aramco
Akhil Fazil
Div. Manager Industrial Services and Automation (ISA)
Wahah Electric Supply Company Of Saudi Arabia (WESCOSA)
Adeel Agha
Unit Head Cyber Security, Risk & Compliance
Al Ittefaq Steel Products Company
Sayyad Usman Saleem
IT Manager
International Agent Commercial Co
Who Should Attend
Sectors
Job Title
Why Partner
NETWORK WITH INDUSTRY BUYERS & LEADERS
BUYERS Connect with potential clients and partners at the Otsec summit where 30% of the attendees are key figures from government entities, and 25% of attendees are dealers and distributors.
GENERATE NEW BUSINESS
With 200+ attendees across Saudi Arabia & MENA Region you can develop new customer relationships and demonstrate your capabilities and generate new business opportunities and manage existing client relationships with existing clients at the event.
LAUNCH NEW PRODUCTS
This Summit is the regions only cybersecurity focused event and a perfect avenue for you to showcase your latest products and services to an engaged audience that are looking for new business opportunities.
INCREASE BRAND EXPOSURE
This Summit exhibitors get significant digital and printed brand exposure before, during and after the event through our year-round marketing activities.
Agenda
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Arrival & High-Impact Networking
Registration & Welcome Refreshments
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Welcome Note by the Organizer
Setting the National Agenda for OT Resilience in the region
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Grand Opening Keynote: Vision 2030: The Mandate on Securing KSA's OT Landscape
Strategic outlook on protecting critical infrastructure under Vision 2030
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Panel Discussion: The Future of Securing OT in MENA: Strategy, Innovation, and Regional Resilience
How to Future-Proof OT Security in an AI-Driven World?
- Are current national cybersecurity strategies keeping pace with emerging OT threats?
- How will AI and automation redefine industrial cyber defense?
- What role should public-private partnerships play in protecting critical infrastructure?
- How can supply chains become more resilient against evolving cyber risks?
- What does a future-ready OT security architecture look like?
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Tech Talk: Can Zero Trust Become the Foundation of Modern Industrial Control Systems?
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Tech Talk: Can AI Predict and Prevent the Next Industrial Cyberattack?
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Industry Presentation: Real-World OT Breach & Lessons Learned
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Networking Break: Coffee & Connections
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Fireside Chat: Industrial Security for Giga Projects & Smart Cities
Are Smart Cities and Mega Projects Creating New Cyber Risks or New Opportunities?
- How do we secure smart utilities and transportation?
- Are digital twins introducing new attack surfaces?
- How should industrial organizations govern operational data?
- Can sustainability and cybersecurity work hand in hand?
- How do we close the OT skills gap?
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Keynote: Operationalizing AI Governance in Critical Infrastructure: From Policy to Resilience
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Panel Discussion: Supply Chain, Third-Party & Vendor Risk in OT Ecosystems
Who Is Responsible for Securing the OT Supply Chain?
- How do we reduce third-party cyber risk?
- Are vendors the weakest link in OT security?
- Can AI improve supply chain visibility and resilience?
- How should organizations manage cyber-physical risks?
- What does trusted vendor governance look like?
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Networking Lunch
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Keynote: The State of OT Security in MENA: Threat Landscape & Market Outlook
What Is the Next Big Threat Facing OT Security Across MENA?
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Panel Discussion: ICS & SCADA Security: From Visibility to Predictive Defense
How Can Organizations Move from OT Visibility to Predictive Defense?
- Is complete OT asset visibility finally achievable?
- How should legacy systems be secured without disrupting operations?
- Can AI detect threats before they become incidents?
- What are the security implications of cloud-connected industrial environments?
- How do we manage third-party access in increasingly connected OT ecosystems?
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Closing Keynote: The Future of AI, Automation & Autonomous Security in OT
Will AI and Autonomous Security Define the Future of Operational Technology?
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Official Closing & Networking Farewell
Reflections, Takeaways & Business Card Exchange
