Legal and Regulatory Framework for Cybersecurity in Arab Gulf Monarchies: Stages and Features of Development

This article examines the evolution of the legal and regulatory foundations of the national cybersecurity systems in the member states of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC). The authors identify and analyze a complex set of factors that have shaped the dynamics and distinctive features of the development of the legal framework in the Gulf monarchies within the context of their progress toward a secure digital environment. A periodization of the history of the cybersecurity sector's legal base is proposed, with a characterization of its main stages. Particular attention is paid to the analysis of new directions in the modernization of sector-specific legislation, including the fields of financial technology and artificial intelligence. The paper presents the results of a comparative analysis of the concepts for legal regulation and protection of the digital space in the Arabian monarchies. Key challenges hindering the harmonization of the legal framework within the GCC are identified. The authors conclude that the accelerated development of the cybersecurity legal and regulatory framework aligns with the national interests of the GCC states and their long-term development “Visions” (e.g., Saudi Vision 2030). It is substantiated that all the countries under consideration have developed their own unique legal practices in the realm of digital protection and strive to adhere to high international cybersecurity standards and a proactive approach to risk management.