Exclusive interview with Rabih Itani, Regional Director, Middle East and Africa, WatchGuard Technologies

SMEs across the region often struggle to balance cybersecurity investment with operational costs and complexity. What practical steps can smaller businesses take today to strengthen cyber resilience without overwhelming their internal IT resources?

Cybersecurity does not need to be complex to be effective for SMEs. The priority should be implementing a small number of high-impact security controls that significantly reduce risks. These include enabling multi-factor authentication (MFA), maintaining a disciplined patch management process, deploying endpoint protection, securing emails and DNS traffic, and investing in regular employee awareness training to combat phishing and credential misuse.

The urgency is clear. Our recent H2 2025 Internet Security Report revealed that 96 per cent of blocked malware was delivered through encrypted TLS connections, while 23 per cent of threats evaded traditional signature-based detection methods. At the same time, cloud adoption has expanded the attack surface, introducing risks associated with shadow IT, risky SaaS configurations, and compromised identities.

However, SMEs do not need to tackle these challenges alone. According to our 2026 global MSP survey, nearly half of organisations already rely on external providers to augment internal IT teams, while more than half cite 24/7 monitoring as a capability they cannot deliver in-house. WatchGuard’s Unified Security Platform was designed to support this model, delivering integrated protection across network, endpoint, identity, and cloud environments through a simplified, scalable approach. Partnering with a trusted MSP gives SMEs access to managed detection and response, continuous monitoring, and threat intelligence at scale.

Why are ransomware, phishing, and identity-based attacks increasingly becoming board-level business risks rather than just IT concerns?

Cybersecurity has evolved from an IT issue into a business-critical risk because the consequences of a successful attack extend far beyond technology systems. Ransomware, phishing, and identity-based attacks can disrupt operations, expose sensitive data, damage brand reputation, impact customer trust, and trigger regulatory scrutiny, all of which have direct financial and strategic implications.

This shift is reflected in boardroom priorities. Our 2026 MSP survey found that 75 per cent of organisations expect cybersecurity spending to increase over the next two years, while 67 per cent require additional support managing compliance obligations. Security is now firmly embedded in broader business planning and risk management discussions.

The threat landscape reinforces this reality. The survey revealed that 33 per cent of organisations experienced malware infiltration in the past year, 32 per cent suffered phishing or business email compromise attacks, and 29 per cent reported data breaches or unauthorised access incidents. Nearly 75 per cent experienced at least one cybersecurity incident overall. In February 2026, the UAE Cybersecurity Council highlighted increasing attacks targeting critical infrastructure, including ransomware, network infiltration, and AI-enabled offensive tools.

Our H2 2025 Internet Security Report further documented a 1,548 per cent increase in unique malware during Q4 2025, alongside nearly 2,600 public ransomware extortion incidents in a single quarter. Considering this, cybersecurity can no longer be considered a technical concern. Boards require visibility into organisational risk, resilience, and response readiness to protect business continuity and long-term growth.

Many businesses still operate with fragmented security environments built around multiple standalone tools. Why do you believe unified cybersecurity platforms are becoming increasingly important for organizations looking to simplify security operations while improving visibility and protection?

Currently, complexity is one of the greatest challenges facing cybersecurity teams. Organisations relying on multiple disconnected tools often struggle with fragmented security environments, inconsistent policy enforcement, and slower incident response times. Security teams are forced to correlate alerts across different dashboards, slowing response and increasing the risk of missed threats.

Modern cyberattacks do not target a single environment. It moves across endpoints, identities, networks, and cloud applications simultaneously, which requires an integrated approach to detection and response. Our Unified Security Platform combines network security, endpoint protection, identity management, cloud visibility, and threat intelligence into a single coordinated ecosystem. Solutions such as our CloudDR further enhance visibility by identifying shadow IT, detecting identity threats, and automatically remediating misconfigurations.

Market demands reflect this transition. Our 2026 MSP survey found that organisations are prioritising faster incident response (38 per cent), better communication and greater transparency (31 per cent), AI-driven threat detection (44 per cent), and stronger identity and access security capabilities (35 per cent). Meanwhile, 58 per cent expect to switch providers within three years, citing rising costs without added value (39 per cent), a major security incident (39 per cent), and slow response times (36 per cent) as the primary triggers. A unified platform helps address these challenges by reducing operational complexity while improving both security effectiveness and customer experience.

Having worked across the technological ecosystem as an end user, integrator, and provider, how have you seen cybersecurity conversations evolve over the past decade, and what do you believe organizations across the region are still underestimating today?

Cybersecurity conversations have changed significantly over the past decade. Organisations have moved beyond a traditional focus on perimeter security and compliance checklists toward a broader emphasis on cyber resilience, identity protection, cloud security, and business continuity.

One of the most encouraging developments has been the evolution of the customer-provider relationship. In our recent 2026 MSP survey, we found that nearly half of organisations now view their MSP as either a strategic advisor (24 per cent) or a proactive partner (23 per cent), rather than simply a technology supplier. Businesses increasingly expect guidance, expertise, and measurable outcomes, not just products.

However, numerous organisations still underestimate the operational side of cybersecurity. While investments in technologies continue to grow, areas such as identity governance, employee training and awareness, incident response planning, and policy enforcement often receive less attention. Across the Middle East region, we can see a robust commitment from leadership teams to strengthen cybersecurity, but execution gaps remain, particularly in cloud security and identity management.

As cyber threats continue evolving, what are some of the most common mistakes businesses still make when approaching cybersecurity strategies today?

One of the most common mistakes organisations make is viewing cybersecurity as a collection of tools rather than an ongoing operational strategy. Many businesses invest heavily in multiple security solutions but lack the resources, expertise, or processes required to manage them effectively. The result is often alert fatigue, fragmented visibility, and slower incident response. This is where dedicated MSPs play a major role. The data is compelling. Around 94 per cent of organisations using a dedicated MSP or MSSP report confidence in their protection against emerging threats, compared to just 83 per cent of those relying on consulting or professional services firms.

Another persistent challenge is underestimating identity-based risk. Today’s attackers increasingly prefer to exploit stolen credentials and over-privileged identities rather than breach networks directly. Our H2 2025 Threat Report highlights the growing prevalence of identity-focused attack techniques, underscoring the need for stronger access controls, continuous monitoring, and proactive detection capabilities.

Currently, organisations continue to underestimate the human element of cybersecurity. Our 2026 MSP survey found that 37 per cent of businesses want more cybersecurity awareness training, while 31 per cent seek greater communication and transparency from their security providers. Technology alone cannot deliver resilience; people and processes remain equally important.

Ultimately, resilient organisations are those that take a holistic approach, combining strong identity security, MFA, endpoint protection, employee awareness and training, and tested incident response plans within a single, continuously managed cybersecurity strategy.

An exclusive conversation on AI ecosystems, smart learning and how modern leadership paradigms are redefining agility and long-term business resilience

As he marks nearly 25 years with BenQ Middle East, Managing Director Manish Bakshi looks firmly ahead, sharing his vision for the next decade of AI-powered ecosystems, smart learning, hybrid collaboration, esports and immersive home entertainment. In this exclusive Q&A, he discusses how BenQ is preparing to lead the next phase of digital transformation in the region.

After nearly 25 years of building BenQ in the region, what excites you most about the next decade?

Manish Bakshi: What excites me most is that we are moving beyond individual devices into connected, intelligent ecosystems. The next decade will not simply be about better hardware; it will be about how technology works together seamlessly to make experiences more intuitive, productive and human-centric.

At BenQ, we see the future being shaped by AI-powered ecosystems across education, enterprise and consumer technology. Whether it’s smart classrooms, intelligent meeting spaces or immersive home entertainment, our focus is on enabling technology that feels almost invisible, powerful, but effortless to use.

The Middle East is a particularly exciting region for this evolution because of the pace of digital transformation and the ambition we see across sectors.

You often speak about moving from products to ecosystems. What does that mean in practical terms?

Manish Bakshi: Traditionally, technology companies focused on standalone products. Today, the real opportunity lies in ecosystems, where displays, software, collaboration tools, cloud services and AI work in harmony.

For us, innovation is increasingly about creating connected solutions rather than isolated devices. In a meeting room, for example, the display, conferencing tools, wireless presentation systems and collaboration software should operate as one seamless environment.

AI will take this further by making those ecosystems adaptive, learning user preferences, simplifying workflows and enabling smarter decision-making.

That is where we see the future of technology heading.

Education is evolving rapidly. How do you see smart classrooms developing over the next five to ten years?

Manish Bakshi: We believe classrooms will become far more intelligent and personalised. The future is not just digital whiteboards replacing traditional ones, it’s AI-enabled learning environments where technology adapts to students’ needs in real time, provides teachers with actionable insights and makes learning more interactive and inclusive.

In the Middle East, governments and institutions are investing heavily in education transformation, and we see strong momentum around smart learning.

BenQ intends to play a leading role in this space by developing solutions that combine interactive displays, software ecosystems and well-being-focused innovation, including technologies designed around eye care and healthier learning environments.

The goal is simple: technology should support better learning outcomes, not add complexity.

Hybrid work has matured significantly. What’s the next chapter for workplace innovation?

Manish Bakshi: The first phase of hybrid work was about enabling remote participation. The next phase is about optimising the experience.

The future workplace will be frictionless. You walk into a meeting room, your device connects instantly, the room recognises your preferences, collaboration starts without delays, everything just works. We’re focused on intelligent meeting ecosystems that make collaboration natural regardless of location.

Another major focus will be human-centric workplace design, ergonomic displays, wellness-driven technologies and environments designed for long-term productivity and comfort.

The future office is not only smarter; it has to be healthier.

AI is driving much of today’s innovation conversation. How do you see AI transforming BenQ’s categories?

Manish Bakshi: AI will become the intelligence layer across everything we do. In education, it will personalise learning. In an enterprise, it will streamline collaboration and improve productivity. In consumer technology, it will create richer, more intuitive experiences.

But importantly, we see AI as an enabler, not a replacement for people. The role of AI is to remove friction, simplify complexity and empower users. That human-centric approach is very important to us.

Esports and gaming have become major growth sectors in the region. How do you view this opportunity?

Manish Bakshi: Esports is no longer niche; it is a mainstream ecosystem with economic, cultural and technological significance. The Middle East has made remarkable investments in gaming infrastructure, tournaments and talent development, and we see enormous long-term potential.

Our vision is not only to support professional esports through high-performance gaming innovation, but also to contribute to the growth of grassroots gaming communities in the region. This sector represents the convergence of technology, youth culture and digital creativity, and it will continue to expand.

BenQ has also been expanding into home entertainment. What trends do you see shaping that space?

Manish Bakshi: The home is being reimagined as an immersive entertainment space. Particularly in the GCC, where home experiences and family gatherings are such an important part of culture, we are seeing strong interest in cinematic home technologies. Laser TVs and ultra-short-throw projectors are transforming how people think about entertainment at home.

We see significant growth in this category over the coming years and plan to continue expanding solutions designed for the unique lifestyle and architectural preferences of the region.

This is one of the most exciting consumer opportunities ahead.

How do you see BenQ Middle East contributing to the region’s wider digital transformation agenda?

Manish Bakshi: Our role is to be more than a technology provider; we want to be a transformation partner. Across education, corporate and consumer segments, our focus is on supporting the region’s ambitions through innovation that aligns with future needs. That includes smarter ecosystems, sustainability-driven design, AI-enabled solutions and technologies that improve both productivity and well-being.

The Middle East is not just adopting innovation; in many areas, it is helping define it. We want to be part of shaping that future.

What leadership principle will guide you into this next decade?

Manish Bakshi: One principle remains constant: technology must serve people. No matter how advanced innovation becomes, the human element stays central. Leadership today is increasingly about orchestration, bringing together people, ideas and technology to create value collectively.

The next decade will belong to organisations that combine intelligence with purpose. For us at BenQ, the future is not simply about building smarter technologies. It is about enabling smarter, more meaningful experiences. And that is the vision driving our next chapter.

Exclusive interview with Sunil Bhilotra, Chief Investment Officer, Arcera

Why is life sciences emerging as a priority asset class in the Middle East?

Life sciences is becoming a priority asset class because it sits at the intersection of healthcare resilience, industrial development and long-term economic value creation. Across the Middle East, governments are looking beyond healthcare delivery alone and asking how they can build deeper capability in clinical research and development, and manufacturing of innovative medicines. That shift is being driven by rising prevalence of acute and chronic diseases, greater focus on medicine security, and the need to reduce exposure to global supply disruptions.

From an investment perspective, the sector has attractive fundamentals. Demand is structural, the region’s population needs are evolving, and governments are creating the policy conditions for long-term growth. The UAE’s focus on genomics, pharmaceutical manufacturing and innovation is one example of how life sciences is becoming part of the wider economic diversification agenda.

Arcera was established within this context. By bringing a number of life sciences companies including Acino, M8 Pharmaceuticals and Amoun Pharmaceutical Company together under one company headquartered in Abu Dhabi, we have formed an integrated platform that employs more than 6,000 people across 90 markets, with a META footprint spanning 13 countries and more than 500 commercial colleagues on the ground. This reflects a broader regional shift toward building globally competitive life sciences platforms that combine strategic healthcare priorities with sustainable growth.

How is Arcera’s investment strategy driving resilience and long-term returns?

Our investment strategy is focused on building the conditions for durable long-term growth: scale, control, and relevance. By bringing complementary businesses together under one Abu Dhabi-headquartered platform, Arcera has created a stronger base from which to manage supply continuity, expand market reach, and invest with a longer horizon than a standalone pharmaceutical company could typically support.

That resilience is also what strengthens the return profile. We are not relying on one product, one market, or one growth lever. Our strategy combines an established portfolio with targeted investment in priority therapeutic areas, manufacturing capability, partnerships, M&A, and in-licensing. This gives the business a balanced model that enables stable revenue today, with room to capture future growth in areas where regional demand and global innovation are moving quickly.

Healthcare demand is structural, but returns depend on execution, access, and the ability to operate reliably across business and economic cycles. At Arcera, our strategy is designed around those fundamentals. It builds a platform that can absorb disruption, support national healthcare resilience, and create long-term value by connecting Abu Dhabi’s patient capital with real operating capability across the life sciences sector.

What role do M&A and in-licensing play in scaling across key therapeutic areas?

M&A is what built our foundation. When we brought together the businesses we acquired, we built a unique life sciences business with global regulatory, commercial, market access, supply chain and manufacturing capabilities that would take decades to build from scratch. That kind of scale gave us the operational base to run a leading global business structured in deeply rooted regional relevance, with the credibility to attract global partnerships.

But scale is not enough on its own. The portfolio has to evolve, and that is where in-licensing becomes critical. As an example, our licensing agreement with AriBio for an investigational oral Alzheimer’s therapy was a deliberate move into a disease area where the regional need is significant and the science is genuinely exciting. Another example is the collaboration agreement we signed with Fosun Pharma recently that takes that a step further, exploring licensing opportunities across oncology, neuroscience, rare diseases, and cardiometabolic health, and potentially localising advanced biotechnology in the UAE. These activities demonstrate how we are building scientific know-how on top of the commercial platform we already have.

Ultimately, M&A gives you the platform, and in-licensing gives you the future. Global innovators are looking for partners who can actually deliver their therapies to patients in complex markets. If you demonstrate track record and have the capabilities and experienced commercial teams on the ground, you become a genuinely attractive partner of choice for biotechs and multinationals. That is the position Arcera is building toward, and deals like the ones we are doing now are how you get there.

What makes Abu Dhabi a strong hub for patient capital and healthcare investment?

Abu Dhabi is a unique place where sovereign and commercial ambitions are highly aligned. Guided by the Department of Health – Abu Dhabi’s vision for preventative and personalised care at scale, as well as the Abu Dhabi Industrial Strategy’s ambition to position the Emirate as a leading industrial hub, the government has made healthcare and life sciences a strategic priority. This has enabled faster policy decisions, investment in infrastructure, and regulatory reform, creating a highly supportive foundation for long-term sector growth.

The ecosystem being built around sovereign capital is also maturing quickly. Organisations across the ecosystem are deeply engaged in developing healthcare and life sciences in the UAE and are playing active roles in driving its growth. At Make it in the Emirates for example, Arcera is announcing a number of collaborations that reflect the depth of collaboration taking shape across healthcare, manufacturing, and innovation. These are practical examples of how Abu Dhabi is creating the conditions for businesses to build, expand, and create long-term value within a supportive national framework.

What ultimately makes Abu Dhabi unique is that it is not trying to necessarily replicate what exists elsewhere, it is building its own model where sovereign capital, clinical capability, manufacturing infrastructure, and global partnerships come together in one place. For investors and companies like Arcera, this creates an environment where capital can be deployed with long-term confidence, while actively contributing to the development of a globally competitive life sciences ecosystem.

What does it take to build a globally competitive life sciences platform from the Gulf?

I believe it takes three things: scale, reputation and execution. Scale gives a company the footprint to compete internationally. Reputation comes from maintaining a high bar on quality systems, regulatory discipline, manufacturing standards and trusted partnerships. Execution is what connects those capabilities to patients.

For a UAE-based company, the opportunity is to combine regional proximity with global capability. Arcera is doing this by building from Abu Dhabi while operating across international markets, strengthening in key therapeutic focus areas such as cardiometabolism, neurosciences, oncology and rare disease, and investing in digital, data and AI to improve how we operate. The region has ambition, but ambition has to be matched by the patient, detailed work of integration, governance, quality and access.

What are your plans for the next few years?

We are in our second year as a fully integrated company, and we are committed to scaling our enterprise and deepen our commitment to bringing innovation, both in our day-to-day operations as well as in our portfolio of medicines. We will keep elevating our performance and expanding our long-term partnerships to strengthen global impact, while remaining steadfast in our support of Abu Dhabi and the UAE’s ambition to build a global life sciences and healthcare hub.

Our recent collaborations also open significant new possibilities, from licensing assets in advanced clinical development to potentially incubating new biotechnology capabilities on the ground in the UAE. Alongside that, we are deepening our digital and AI capabilities to drive greater speed and precision across everything from manufacturing to medical engagement.

Above all, we remain close to the needs of the patients and stakeholders who place their trust in us and remain focused on building for the next generations. The foundation is in place. The next phase is about translating it into lasting impact for patients and sustained value for our stakeholders.