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DDoS Attacks Surge in the Middle East, Critical Infrastructure at Risk

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NETSCOUT

By Emad Fahmy, Director of Systems Engineering, NETSCOUT

The recent NETSCOUT 1H2024 Threat Intelligence Report reveals alarming trends in Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) attacks: a dramatic 43% rise in application-layer attacks and a 30% increase in volumetric attacks globally. Across Europe and the Middle East and Africa, attacks are up 25% from last year and Saudi Arabia is listed as one of the top five countries in EMEA targeted by hackers. This surge particularly impacts critical sectors such as banking, government, and utilities, posing significant threats to vital services that underpin the stability of society.

In the Middle East, while attacks are brief in duration – in Saudi Arabia, for example, the average attack lasts for just over 12 minutes and attacks in the UAE last an average of 18.53 minutes – these short-lived disruptions can have lasting consequences, crippling essential services and causing widespread economic impacts. The frequency and intensity of these assaults suggest a growing sophistication among attackers, who are employing increasingly coordinated multi-vector strategies.

The Hacktivist Landscape and their Evolving Tactics

Among the notable trends highlighted in the report is the rise of hacktivist groups, particularly NoName057(16), which has shifted its focus toward more sophisticated application-layer attacks. The group has notably utilised HTTP/S GET and POST floods to amplify its impact, underscoring a shift towards more targeted strategies that challenge traditional defences.

The emergence of new botnets, such as Zergeca, alongside the continued evolution of existing networks like DDoSia, illustrates the growing complexity of the threat landscape. These botnets employ advanced technologies, including DNS over HTTPS (DoH), complicating detection and mitigation efforts. This evolution of tactics reflects a wider trend where attackers leverage decentralised infrastructures to launch more resilient and robust assaults on critical networks.

Implications for Network Security

The findings indicate that over 75% of newly established networks are implicated in DDoS activities within a mere 42 days of coming online. This alarming statistic emphasises the need for proactive security measures as organisations expand their digital infrastructure. Companies must rethink their approach to DDoS protection, recognising that new networks do not automatically come equipped with the necessary defences.

As attackers exploit vulnerable networks and utilise “bulletproof” hosting providers, organisations must adopt comprehensive strategies that include advanced detection and rapid response capabilities. Failure to adapt could leave vital sectors exposed to damaging disruptions.

The implications of these findings are clear: as threat actors become increasingly adept at exploiting weaknesses in network architecture, the necessity for enhanced cybersecurity measures becomes paramount. In a global landscape where economies are heavily reliant on digital infrastructures, the cost of complacency could be catastrophic.

The 1H2024 Threat Intelligence Report serves as a vital resource for network operations teams, offering insights that can inform and refine their security strategies. It is imperative that organisations worldwide take heed of these trends and act decisively to bolster their defences against the evolving landscape of DDoS threats.

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PNY STRENGTHENS ITS TEAMS IN THE MIDDLE EAST AND SAUDI ARABIATO SUPPORT STRATEGIC GROWTH

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PNY today announces the reinforcement of its commercial and marketing teams across the Middle East, with a particular focus on Saudi Arabia, a key strategic market for the expansion of its professional and consumer solutions businesses.

These recruitments are designed to support the acceleration of PNY’s expanding business around AI Factory initiatives and large-scale datacenter deployments. By strengthening its capabilities across computing, networking, storage, the full software stack, and the integration of NVIDIA and Vertiv solutions, PNY is positioning itself to deliver scalable, reliable end-to-end infrastructures that meet the evolving needs of enterprises as well as public and governmental organizations investing in AI and high-performance computing.

To support this growth strategy, PNY announces several key appointments:

Hashem Abughazaleh joins PNY to lead Professional Solutions Sales.
A seasoned Business Development and Enterprise Sales leader, Hashem brings over 15 years of experience across the Middle East and GCC. He has led high-level partnerships, defined enterprise sales strategies, and managed full solution lifecycles—from partner onboarding and technical customization to delivery.

Abdullah Algahyadh is appointed to drive the expansion of PNY’s presence in Saudi Arabia.
Born and raised in Riyadh, Abdullah holds a Bachelor’s degree in Business Information Systems and a Master’s degree in Entrepreneurship and Innovation Management from Middlesex University. His professional background includes business development, account management, and IT consulting. Abdullah brings strong local market knowledge and will play a key role in strengthening PNY’s footprint in the Kingdom.

Mohammed Hamdouche will lead the development of local marketing activities.
His background sits at the intersection of business, marketing, and technology, shaped by experience in large, tech-driven organizations across MENA markets. He brings expertise in digital marketing, with a strong interest in AI-driven technologies. Mohammed will actively support the growth of consumer solutions (a complete ecosystem of NVIDIA® GeForce® graphics cards, SSD components, and memory modules), storage ranges (USB flash drives and memory cards), as well as professional solutions.

“With these strategic hires, PNY is reinforcing its commitment to the Middle East and Saudi Arabia. We are strengthening our proximity to partners and customers, while helping them embrace innovative technologies to meet the region’s growing needs in digital transformation, AI, and high-performance computing.” –  Jérôme Bélan, CEO at PNY Technologies EMEA

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ACCELERATING AI ADOPTION IN HEARING HEALTH CRITICAL TO SUPPORTING PATIENTS WITH HEARING LOSS IN UAE

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Starkey MEA speaker presenting Omega AI hearing technology to audiologists and industry professionals during a conference session in Dubai.

Drawing on feedback from patients across the globe, Starkey highlighted that accelerating AI adoption in hearing health is already transforming daily life for people with hearing challenges, improving how they hear, connect and participate with greater confidence. Starkey addressed UAE’s leading audiologists, clinic owners and industry stakeholders from across the Middle East and Africa, led by Dr. Achin Bhowmik, Chief Technology Officer and Executive Vice President of Engineering.

The session focused on Starkey’s blueprint for AI-led hearing performance for patients in UAE and wider Middle East region, anchored by Omega AI, and detailed how the platform is advancing real-world speech clarity in challenging noisy environments, listening comfort and spatial awareness today, while setting the architecture for next-generation sound processing.

“At Starkey, sound quality is always, and will remain, job number one. Hearing is essential for how people connect, work, and participate in everyday life. When people delay action, outcomes suffer and quality of life and cognitive ability can decline unnecessarily,” said Dr. Achin Bhowmik, Chief Technology Officer and Executive Vice President of Engineering, Starkey. “Omega AI is built to bring people closer to natural hearing in real environments, using an industry-first 360-degree deep neural network processing and generative AI designed to dynamically adapt as listening conditions change and assist the patient in all environments. Hearing aids are high tech multifunction devices.   The next step is accelerating adoption, so these capabilities reach more patients in the UAE who can benefit from them.”

During the session, Starkey highlighted how Omega AI advances the shift from conventional amplification toward intelligent hearing systems designed for clarity, comfort and usability. Omega AI includes new connectivity features including Auracast assistant and Google Fast Pair, fall detection and a special AI assistant.  Starkey is setting the new standards for the industry.

The briefing took place against a backdrop of hearing loss emerging as a major global health and societal challenge. The World Health Organization projects that by 2050, nearly 2.5 billion people will have some degree of hearing loss, with more than 700 million expected to require hearing rehabilitation. The WHO also estimates the annual global cost of unaddressed hearing loss at almost US$ 1 trillion, reinforcing why prevention, early checks, and access to care matter.

The roadmap also emphasized connectivity and ecosystem design, including features intended to reduce friction for wearers, support faster fitting and follow-up, and enable a smoother clinical experience for hearing care professionals.

“Audiologists and clinic leaders in the Middle East, Africa and Turkey can rest assured that the new OMEGA AI platform will give them confidence and speed in treating their patients,” said Giscard Bechara, Director, Starkey MEA. “This briefing was designed to align the professionals on a larger point – hearing care is the need of the hour. Starkey has the technology today to service our patients better than any time before and we will waste no effort to educate and bring it here to our patients in the UAE and the Middle East.”

Starkey Middle East and Africa will continue engaging hearing care professionals and partners through professional education, technology briefings and clinical enablement initiatives, supporting evidence-based hearing care practices and helping translate the latest hearing innovation into improved patient outcomes.

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NEMETSCHEK GROUP AND INGRAM MICRO PARTNER TO ACCELERATE DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION ACROSS THE MIDDLE EAST AND NORTH AFRICA REGION

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Three executives stand behind a table holding a signed document folder during a Nemetschek Group and Ingram Micro partnership announcement event, with branded backdrop and floral arrangement in front.

The Nemetschek Group, one of the world’s leading software providers for the Architecture, Engineering, Construction and Operations (AEC/O) industry, announced a strategic partnership with Ingram Micro, a business-to-business (B2B) platform company for the global technology ecosystem, to jointly explore new business opportunities and accelerate digital transformation across the Middle East and North Africa (MENA).

The strategic partnership brings together Nemetschek’s cutting-edge software portfolio with Ingram Micro’s extensive regional reach, ecosystem enablement capabilities and deep market expertise. As part of the collaboration, both companies will work closely on joint market development initiatives, including coordinated marketing campaigns, industry events and customer engagement activities aimed at increasing awareness and adoption of Nemetschek’s solutions across the region. The collaboration also outlines a strong focus on sales enablement and training, equipping Ingram Micro’s teams with the technical, product and commercial expertise required to effectively promote, demonstrate and support Nemetschek technologies.

In addition, the partnership will support customers throughout their digital transformation journey through pre-sales collaboration, post-sales support and long-term account growth strategies. It is designed as a progressive onboarding framework, with Ingram Micro expected to be gradually onboarded across Nemetschek’s portfolio on a brand-by-brand basis as the partnership evolves.

Yves Padrines, Chief Executive Officer of the Nemetschek Group, noted that partnerships are a cornerstone of Nemetschek’s strategy to scale innovation and drive digital transformation globally. “The Middle East and North Africa region offers immense opportunity, defined by ambitious infrastructure programs and a clear commitment to digitalization. By collaborating with Ingram Micro, we are strengthening our ability to deliver open, connected and future-ready solutions that empower our customers to design, build and operate more efficiently and sustainably.”

Commenting on the partnership, Muayad Simbawa, Managing Director of Nemetschek Arabia, said: “This collaboration represents a strategic step forward in our mission to enable meaningful digital transformation across the built environment in the Middle East and North Africa. Ingram Micro’s strong regional footprint, ecosystem-driven approach and proven ability to scale technology adoption make them an ideal partner as we continue to empower architects, engineers and construction professionals with innovative, open and interoperable solutions. Together, we are laying the foundation for a more connected, efficient and sustainable future for the industry.”

Shaikh Mohammed Ahmed, Managing Director, Ingram Micro KSA, added: “At Ingram Micro, we see digital transformation as a collaborative journey built on strong partnerships and shared expertise. Our collaboration with Nemetschek reinforces our commitment to enabling our customers and partners with world-class technologies that address the evolving needs of the AEC sector. By combining Nemetschek’s industry-leading solutions with our regional capabilities and enablement services, we aim to unlock new growth opportunities and deliver tangible value across the MENA region.”

Ingram Micro is a leading global technology distributor and services provider, playing a critical role in the IT ecosystem by connecting technology manufacturers with solution providers and end customers. Through its extensive portfolio, digital platforms and value-added services, Ingram Micro enables businesses to scale, innovate and transform in an increasingly digital world.

The partnership underscores both companies’ shared vision of driving innovation, accelerating technology adoption and supporting regional ambitions for smarter infrastructure, sustainable development and digitally enabled economies.

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