As agentic AI becomes integral to Gulf operations, experts outline a comprehensive strategy to protect autonomous systems against rising threats.
The rapid integration of agentic artificial intelligence across Middle Eastern industries—from healthcare and finance to public services—marks a significant shift in the region’s technological landscape. With Gartner forecasting that 33% of enterprise applications will embed agentic capabilities by 2028, Gulf nations are not only adopting AI but positioning themselves as global leaders in its deployment. However, this transformation brings unprecedented cybersecurity challenges, requiring a new approach to protecting what experts now refer to as the “AI agent workforce.”
Navigating Sovereignty and Security
In the UAE and Saudi Arabia, where national AI strategies are backed by substantial investments and strict data regulations, securing autonomous AI systems is both a technical and compliance imperative. Laws such as the UAE’s Personal Data Protection Law and oversight from Saudi Arabia’s SDAIA impose rigorous data localization and governance requirements, particularly in sensitive sectors.
“Organizations must prevent ‘shadow AI’ from emerging by ensuring security teams are involved from the earliest stages of deployment,” says Hadi Zakhem, Vice President for the Middle East, Turkey, and Africa at Netskope. “Just like human employees, each AI agent requires clearly defined access policies to prevent over-permissioning—a vulnerability that could be exploited to access critical systems or data.”
A Multi-Layered Defense Strategy
To safeguard AI agents, cybersecurity frameworks must evolve to include:
- Strict access controls tailored to each agent’s function
- Continuous behavior monitoring to detect anomalies or signs of compromise
- Robust data encryption for all information processed by AI systems
- Regular security audits and penetration testing focused on AI integrations
These measures are increasingly urgent as cyber threats grow in scale and sophistication. Saudi Arabia, for example, recorded over 270,000 DDoS attack attempts in the first half of 2025 alone.
Building Trust in Autonomous Systems
Beyond technical safeguards, establishing trust in AI agents requires transparency in how they operate and make decisions. This is particularly relevant as AI takes on roles in critical infrastructure, healthcare diagnostics, and financial risk assessment.
National initiatives such as the UAE’s National Cybersecurity Strategy and regional efforts like Bahrain’s GCC AI Ethics programme provide a foundational framework. However, cross-sector and cross-border collaboration will be essential to develop harmonized standards that keep pace with technological advances.
Looking Ahead
As AI agents become colleagues rather than tools, securing them will demand ongoing adaptation. By embedding security into the design phase and maintaining vigilance through operation, Middle Eastern organizations can harness the full potential of agentic AI while protecting their digital futures.
