Cybersecurity has become the issue that organisations in the Middle East expect to contend with most in 2026, according to a report published by Heidrick & Struggles.
The consultancy’s CEO & Board Monitor report, which surveyed 148 leaders across the Middle East at the end of last year, found that 49 per cent of respondents in the region identified cybersecurity risk as one of the issues their organisations expect to face this year. That figure is the highest among the five regions surveyed and sits above the 31 per cent global average.
Despite the level of concern, leaders in the region reported confidence in their ability to handle the threat. Some 58 per cent of respondents said they were confident in managing cybersecurity risk, compared with 51 per cent globally.
AI rises on the leadership agenda but confidence remains low
Artificial intelligence is also climbing the list of priorities for leaders in the region. The survey found that 47 per cent of Middle East respondents identified AI as an issue their organisations expect to face in 2026 – again, the highest proportion across all regions surveyed and above the 44 per cent global average.
However, confidence in managing AI trails behind. Only 36 per cent of respondents said they were confident in their organisation’s ability to manage AI, compared with 39 per cent globally.
The figures suggest that organisations in the region may still be building the governance frameworks and leadership capabilities needed to oversee the technology.
“Cybersecurity confidence in this region is well-earned, but AI is a different kind of challenge entirely. It is moving faster than most governance structures were designed to handle, and that gap is real. Against a more complex geopolitical backdrop, that challenge is only becoming more acute. Boards that are ahead of this are already thinking differently, whether that means refreshing board composition to bring in AI expertise, or establishing dedicated advisory structures that can keep pace with technology. The organisations that act on this now will be far better positioned than those that are passive,” Maliha Jilani, Partner-in-Charge at Heidrick & Struggles Middle East & North Africa said in a statement.
Middle East records lowest confidence in maintaining organisational culture
The report also pointed to challenges beyond technology. Only 46 per cent of Middle East respondents reported confidence in their organisation’s ability to maintain a healthy culture, compared with 55 per cent globally. That figure is the lowest among all regions surveyed.
“The board’s role in culture is often underestimated. Appointing a strong CEO is a great step, but boards must actively evaluate whether the organisation’s culture is keeping pace with transformation in the workplace. In an era of AI-driven change, and with external pressures reshaping how organisations operate, that scrutiny needs to be sharper than ever. Both CEOs and boards must play active roles in steering cultural direction,” Dr. Jay Bevington, Global Board Advisory Leader and CEO and Board of Directors Leader in the Middle East & North Africa added.
The findings, taken together, show how cybersecurity and AI are moving to the centre of leadership priorities across the Middle East, as organisations work to strengthen governance, adapt to new technologies and sustain culture through periods of transformation.
