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Black Hat MEA (Black Hat Middle East and Africa) is a global cybersecurity event held every year in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, co-organised by Tahaluf and the Saudi Federation for Cybersecurity, Programming and Drones (SAFCSP) in association with Black Hat. Black Hat MEA 2026 runs December 1 to 3 at the Riyadh Exhibition and Convention Center in Malham, after a 2025 edition that drew more than 40,000 security professionals from over 100 countries.
If you know Black Hat from Las Vegas or London, the Riyadh edition will surprise you. It's bigger than Black Hat USA by attendance, the exhibition is free to enter, and the week mixes technical briefings with CISO summits, capture-the-flag competitions, startup and investor programs, and a show floor of more than 500 brands.
This guide answers what people ask about Black Hat MEA, from passes and prices to how it compares with Black Hat USA. Then it covers how security vendors can turn three days in Malham into real relationships with buyers across the Gulf and beyond. We're Knock AI, and we build relationship infrastructure for B2B companies, connecting every buyer conversation across WhatsApp, LinkedIn, Slack, events, and your website.
TL;DR: Black Hat MEA 2026 at a glance
Black Hat MEA 2026 runs December 1 to 3 at the Riyadh Exhibition and Convention Center in Malham. The Expo Pass is free, the Gold Pass costs $349, and the all-access Black Pass costs $2,499.
What is Black Hat MEA?
Black Hat MEA is the Middle East and Africa edition of Black Hat, the cybersecurity conference series that has set the standard for security events and training for more than 25 years. It brings conference content, technical briefings, professional training, an exhibition, startups, investors, and live hacking experiences together in one three-day event in Riyadh.
It's co-organised by Tahaluf, a Riyadh-based events organiser, and the Saudi Federation for Cybersecurity, Programming and Drones (SAFCSP), and produced in association with Black Hat. 2026 is its fifth edition.
What is Black Hat Saudi Arabia?
"Black Hat Saudi Arabia" is another name people use for Black Hat MEA, the Black Hat event held every year in Riyadh. There's no separate Saudi event. Black Hat MEA is the Saudi edition, serving the Middle East and Africa region.
What happens at Black Hat MEA 2026?
Black Hat MEA 2026 mixes several kinds of programs across three days:
- Executive Summits for CISOs and senior security leaders
- Technical Briefings, where researchers present original research, new tools, and vulnerabilities
- Arsenal, with live demos of open-source security tools
- Black Hat trainings, taught by 50+ Black Hat trainers
- The Business Hall and The Blacksite, with 500+ exhibiting brands
- An Activity Zone with capture-the-flag competitions and prize pools of more than SAR 1,000,000
- Themed stages, including the DeepDive Stage on day one, Cyber Capital and Gaming and Cyber on day two, and Black Hat HER on day three
- Startup and investor programs, including Black Hat Campus
The scale is the headline. Black Hat MEA lists 500+ CISOs among its attendees, which makes it one of the densest rooms of security decision-makers anywhere.
Where is Black Hat MEA 2026?
Black Hat MEA 2026 takes place at the Riyadh Exhibition and Convention Center (RECC) in Malham, north of Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Malham is outside the city, so most attendees use the free Root Bus shuttle that runs between SAB Metro station and the venue, which is included with every pass.
Plan your daily travel time before you book meetings. Getting between central Riyadh and Malham takes longer than moving around a city-center convention hall.
How much does it cost to attend Black Hat MEA 2026?
Black Hat MEA 2026 has a free Expo Pass and three paid passes. Early bird pricing has ended, so these are the current standard prices.
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