Emerging Gulf State cyber security firm growing fast in size and revenue

Abu Dhabi

A LITTLE-KNOWN cyber security company in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) recruiting executives who have worked for Western intelligence services is turning over hundreds of millions of dollars a year, largely in contracts with the government.

The company, called Darkmatter, has been on a recruiting spree since late 2014. It has more than tripled its workforce to 650 and has hired executives with experience in major international companies such as Intel Corporation and BlackBerry; some even have backgrounds in Western military and intelligence agencies such as the US National Security Agency (NSA).