The Centre for Cyber Economics (CCE), a joint initiative of the World Economic Forum (WEF) and the Global Cybersecurity Forum (GCF), outlined its strategic priorities for advancing cybersecurity economics during its Third Executive Committee Meeting in Riyadh. The high-level gathering brought together global leaders to assess progress across CCE’s five core research areas and align efforts to strengthen cyber-resilience worldwide.
Context and Background
Launched during the 2025 WEF Annual Meeting in Davos and headquartered in Riyadh, the CCE serves as a global knowledge hub at the intersection of cybersecurity and economics. This Saudi-based international platform conducts evidence-based research to help governments and businesses quantify cyber risks and maximize cybersecurity’s economic value. The Centre’s work supports Saudi Arabia’s leadership in shaping global digital economy policies.
Key Research Priorities
During the meeting, the Executive Committee reviewed progress and set directions for five critical focus areas: 1) Macroeconomic Impact of Cybersecurity, 2) Cybersecurity Workforce Development, 3) Cyber Insurance and Risk Mitigation, 4) Resilience Metrics for Industries, and 5) Quantifying Economic Impact of Cyber Incidents. CCE Managing Director Alaa AlFaadhel emphasized how these priorities address growing global needs for data-driven cyber-economic policies.
Global Collaboration Framework
The Committee comprises distinguished international figures including Saudi Arabia’s NCA Governor Majed Al-Mazyed, WEF cybersecurity leaders, World Bank economists, and academic experts. This diversity ensures CCE’s research reflects global perspectives while benefiting from Saudi Arabia’s cybersecurity leadership. The Riyadh headquarters underscores the Kingdom’s central role in advancing international cyber-economic cooperation.
20 Questions
Q1. What is the Centre for Cyber Economics?
A1. The CCE is a global research platform co-founded by WEF and GCF, headquartered in Riyadh, that studies the economic dimensions of cybersecurity through international collaboration.
Q2. Who leads the CCE?
A2. Managing Director Alaa AlFaadhel oversees operations, while the Executive Committee includes leaders like Saudi Arabia’s NCA Governor Majed Al-Mazyed and WEF cybersecurity heads.
Q3. Where is CCE headquartered?
A3. The CCE is based in Riyadh, reflecting Saudi Arabia’s commitment to global cybersecurity leadership and digital economy development.
Q4. When was CCE established?
A4. Announced during the 2025 WEF Annual Meeting in Davos, the Centre began operations with Riyadh as its global headquarters.
Q5. What are CCE’s five focus areas?
A5. Macroeconomic impacts, workforce development, cyber insurance, industry resilience metrics, and quantifying economic impacts of cyber incidents.
Q6. Why is cybersecurity economics important?
A6. It helps quantify cyber risks, optimize security investments, and recognize cybersecurity as an economic growth pillar rather than just cost.
Q7. How does CCE conduct its research?
A7. Through rigorous evidence-based analysis, international data sharing, and cross-sector collaboration between governments, academia and businesses.
Q8. Who participates in CCE governance?
A8. The Executive Committee includes leaders from Saudi Arabia, WEF, World Bank, academia, and global cybersecurity organizations.
Q9. What was discussed at the third meeting?
A9. Progress across research areas and strategic priorities for enhancing global understanding of cybersecurity economics.
Q10. How does CCE support decision-makers?
A10. By providing data-driven insights to inform national policies, corporate strategies, and investment decisions regarding cybersecurity.
Q11. What is Saudi Arabia’s role in CCE?
A11. As host country, Saudi Arabia contributes leadership through NCA participation and supports CCE’s mission through Vision 2030 digital transformation goals.
Q12. How does CCE address workforce development?
A12. By researching global cybersecurity skills gaps and developing frameworks for education and professional certification standards.
Q13. What are resilience metrics?
A13. Standardized measurements that help industries assess and improve their ability to prevent, withstand and recover from cyber incidents.
Q14. How does cyber insurance reduce risks?
A14. By creating financial mechanisms that help organizations manage cyber incident costs while incentivizing better security practices.
Q15. Why quantify cyber incident impacts?
A15. Precise economic measurements enable better cost-benefit analysis of security investments and more accurate risk modeling.
Q16. How does CCE foster international cooperation?
A16. By convening global experts, aligning research methodologies, and sharing best practices across nations and industries.
Q17. What sectors benefit most from CCE research?
A17. Financial services, critical infrastructure, healthcare, and other economic sectors vulnerable to cyber threats.
Q18. How does CCE align with Saudi Vision 2030?
A18. By advancing knowledge economy goals, supporting digital transformation, and positioning Saudi Arabia as a global cybersecurity leader.
Q19. What are future priorities for CCE?
A19. Expanding research partnerships, developing practical policy tools, and addressing emerging cyber-economic challenges like AI security.
Q20. How can organizations engage with CCE?
A20. Through research partnerships, participation in working groups, and adoption of CCE frameworks for cyber risk management.
Vision 2030 Alignment
The CCE’s work directly supports Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 objectives by positioning the Kingdom as a global cybersecurity research hub and thought leader. Through initiatives like the CCE, Saudi Arabia is fostering international knowledge exchange while developing domestic capabilities in this critical digital economy sector. The Centre’s Riyadh headquarters exemplifies how Vision 2030 is transforming Saudi Arabia into a nexus for global collaboration on frontier economic issues.
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