• Criminal activities motivated by money and subversive intent represent 71% of all cybercrimes in the region .

Riyadh, Saudi Arabia; Mastercard has released its first-ever report, "Cyber Pulse ," which provides a comprehensive analysis of the evolving cyber threat landscape in the Eastern Europe, Middle East and Africa region over the past year.

The report combines regional threat intelligence from Mastercard’s Cyber Insights platform with enterprise cybersecurity assessments from RiskRecon, which allows companies to measure the security of their internet-connected assets and systems. It also includes advanced intelligence from Recorded Future , a company acquired by Mastercard in December 2024, which specializes in data analysis to identify emerging cyber threats and risk patterns .

The report provides a clearer view of the evolution of cyberattacks and their practical impact on businesses and governments, while turning cyber risks into information that helps organizations enhance business continuity and maintain confidence in the digital economy in the long term .

Global research indicates that cyber risks have become a real challenge for companies in the region. According to IBM 's " IBM Cost of Data Breach Report 2025," the cost of data breaches in 2025...

The average cost of a data breach in the Middle East is about $7.29 million per incident, 64% higher than the global average, confirming that cybersecurity has become an administrative and strategic priority at the level of senior leadership and boards of directors .

The report revealed that cybercrime in the region saw a rise at the beginning of 2026, coinciding with a period of geopolitical tensions. This underscores the need for organizations to move from a phase of risk awareness to one of proactive preparedness and enhanced resilience against cyberattacks. The report also indicated that financially motivated or destructive criminal activities constituted 71% of all recorded cybercrimes in the Eastern Europe, Middle East, and Africa region, further highlighting the need to improve cybersecurity readiness across all sectors .

Celine Bahaderli, Executive Vice President of Services for Eastern Europe, the Middle East and Africa at Mastercard, said: “Cyber resilience is now an essential part of business continuity and operational efficiency. The Cyber Pulse report underscores the importance of organizations adopting a proactive and integrated approach to cybersecurity, along with maintaining the highest levels of vigilance and continuous monitoring. At Mastercard, we are committed to supporting our partners and customers with the tools, expertise and information needed to navigate the complex cyber landscape, protect digital assets and contribute to building a safer digital future for all.”

Business systems are at the forefront of objectives

The Cyber Pulse report indicated that business systems, customer data, and physical infrastructure are among the top targets for attackers, representing 66% of all targeted sites. Most attackers aim to disrupt operations, carry out fraud, or cause physical damage .

The report explained that some sectors face greater risks than others, as the government, technology and financial sectors in the Eastern Europe, Middle East and Africa region account for 44% of the total targeted sectors, due to their high-value data and their vital role in supporting the economy and digital systems .

Attack patterns are widely repeated

The report indicated that common attack methods, such as malware, ransomware, and email phishing, remain the most prevalent in the region. While some markets have good levels of basic protection, application security and website encryption are still key areas needing improvement. Therefore, the report offered a set of recommendations for companies, including strengthening application security and improving vulnerability management .

Advanced solutions to enhance cybersecurity

Mastercard emphasized that cyber resilience is not limited to large corporations, but also encompasses millions of micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) that rely on secure and reliable access to the digital economy. Therefore, strengthening cybersecurity is essential for supporting sustainable growth, financial inclusion, and long-term economic participation . Globally, Mastercard has exceeded its goal of bringing 50 million MSMEs into the digital economy and is now working toward a new objective of connecting and protecting 500 million individuals and small businesses by 2030, as part of its long-term commitment to supporting inclusive and secure growth .

This approach is based on ongoing investments in trust and security, with Mastercard having invested approximately $12.6 billion in cybersecurity innovations since 2019. In 2025 alone, the company processed 175 billion transactions, leveraging data analytics and artificial intelligence technologies to detect vulnerabilities faster and more accurately, thus enhancing protection levels within the digital ecosystem .

Through its suite of specialized consulting services, global partnerships and intelligence-driven solutions, including Recorded Future services, Mastercard provides businesses and governments with real-time information on cyber threats, helping them detect risks early and make more informed decisions in an increasingly complex digital environment .

Solutions such as RiskRecon, CyberQuant, and CyberInsights enable organizations to assess their exposure to cyber risks, understand the evolution of potential threats, and translate data and analytics into actionable steps that enhance trust, business continuity, and operational resilience .

To read the full report on "Cyber Pulse" from Mastercard, please visit [link] .

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