Mastercard’s Selin Bahadirli on disruption, data and digital tenacity
The executive vice president of Services for Eastern Europe, Middle East and Africa at Mastercard. shares why cyber resilience matters most during periods of uncertainty
07 May, 2026
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Living and working in a region as diverse and dynamic as this one, change is something we have come to expect. Our region is shaped by momentum, by its ability to adapt, modernise and translate ambition into action. But periods of heightened uncertainty, particularly at a regional or global level, test that adaptability in different ways, pushing organisations and leaders to respond with greater resilience and clarity.
The changes of the past few weeks have been different from those we are used to. Yet they have served as a powerful reminder of the adaptability of our markets and their intent to make a meaningful difference: from governments that met the moment with conviction and clarity, to businesses and individuals who remain as curious about the present as they are focused on shaping the future.
In moments like these, what stands out is our collective search for clarity. When circumstances are complex and fast‑moving, data becomes more than just information: it becomes a stabilising force. It helps leaders, institutions, and businesses understand where they stand, make informed decisions, and maintain confidence in the path ahead.
Across the GCC region, there is a strong tradition of transparency coupled with forward-looking leadership. Economic indicators, data and market signals are shared to help communities and businesses navigate uncertainty with greater assurance. We saw data from the UAE Ministry of Defence, for instance, that demonstrated the effectiveness of national defenses. There were charts showing the gradual day-by-day recovery of regional flight capacity – with some airlines already at 65 per cent – a tangible sign of our region’s tenacity in restoring mobility and movement.
Data from the UAE Cyber Security Council (CSC) underlines the scale of the ensuing cyber challenge.
The country is now fending off around 800,000 cyberattacks every day, up from an estimated 200,000 daily attempts prior to recent regional tensions. Authorities have identified more than 350 organised groups, 320 individual hackers and 120 malware‑linked entities, with activity spanning around 20 countries.
This should serve as a call to organisations – both small businesses and enterprise level companies – for even greater awareness and active preparation. Because in the digital economy, cyber resilience is taking on ever-increasing importance every day. The opportunism of bad actors during times of geopolitical uncertainty, just magnifies the reality.
Our daily lives and our economies are built on digital foundations. And as we rely more on this infrastructure, we must also be diligent in protecting it. During times of global disruption, digital risks tend to rise. The digital environment becomes busier and more complex, and with that comes an increase in cyber threats.
Global research underscores just how material this risk has become for businesses in our region. Analysis cited by IBM cost of data breach report 2025 – shows that the average cost of a data breach in the Middle East is now close to $7.29m per incident – nearly 61% higher than global average – highlighting why cyber resilience today is firmly a leadership and board‑level concern.
According to Gartner, cybersecurity spending in the region is growing at around 9 per cent annually. Encouragingly, investment in cybersecurity across the Middle East and North Africa continues to grow reflecting a sustained focus on resilience, regulatory readiness, and secure digital transformation.
Large organisations need to see their role clearly: help turn insight into action, support businesses, financial institutions, and governments as they navigate an increasingly connected world. By applying intelligence gained from operating at the heart of the global digital economy, this work focuses on strengthening systems, reducing exposure, and supporting confidence at scale.
Drawing on insights from billions of transactions processed across global payment networks like ours, partners are equipped with more advanced approaches to cybersecurity and fraud prevention. This is further strengthened through the integration of threat intelligence capabilities from Recorded Future – acquired in 2024 – helping anticipate risk, enhance resilience, and safeguard trust across digital ecosystems.
This is underpinned by sustained investment in cybersecurity innovation and the application of advanced data science to detect vulnerabilities earlier and respond with greater precision. Since 2019, we have invested approximately $12.6bn in cybersecurity innovation. In 2025 alone, we processed 175 billion transactions, leveraging our insights and advanced data science to detect vulnerabilities faster and with greater precision, enhancing protection across the ecosystem.
Around the world, public and private sector entities are collaborating to reinforce digital trust. Collaboration, shared intelligence, and collective learning play a critical role in raising resilience across markets and industries.
Resilience, after all, is not about standing still. When businesses can operate with trust and confidence, they grow. They hire more people, they invest in their communities, and they drive the innovation that will power sustainable growth.
Trust is the foundation of the digital economy; but it is not automatic. It must be earned, reinforced, and protected over time. In a region that continues to lead on digitisation and ambition, our ability to thrive will be shaped by how effectively we build resilience into the systems we all rely on.
During times of uncertainty, that resilience is not just a safeguard. It is what allows progress to continue.
The writer is the executive vice president of Services for Eastern Europe, Middle East and Africa at Mastercard.
