Cybercrime regulation in the Arab world: Comparative analysis of Saudi Arabia and UAE frameworks towards cross-country cybersecurity collaboration

As the Arab world emerging into digital transformation, cybercrime has appeared as a critical challenge, affecting individuals, corporations, and government agencies. This study examines the cybercrime prevention procedures of Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates (UAE), focusing on incident reporting, response, and public awareness contribute to regional cyber security. By comparing Saudi Arabia's Communication, Space, and Technology (CST) Commission's cybercrime response system and the UAE's legislation and public awareness initiatives, the paper identifies best practices and challenges in the Arab world's evolving cybersecurity. To assess the exclusivity of the case, analysis of surveyed data reveals significant obstacles in cybercrime reporting such as: user privacy concerns, limited digital literacy, and gaps in regulatory infrastructure. The findings indicate that the need for a unified regional approach that combines both; the Saudi Arabia's effective incident response model with the UAE's public awareness procedures to develop a more balanced, effective, and accessible cybercrime reporting system. The study offers recommendations for a robust legislative framework across Arab nations, emphasizing formalized reporting, cross-border communication and data sharing initiatives to address emerging cyber threats and support government-to-citizen collaboration. This research serves as a foundation for both policymakers and cybersecurity specialists especially professionals seeking to strengthen cybersecurity defenses across the Arab world and combating cybercrime.