- Princess Sumaya: Cybersecurity is a cornerstone of national security, digital sovereignty, and economic stability.
- Princess Sumaya to students: Keep learning, let ethics and responsibility guide you, and think as creators of the future.
Amman, Nov. 10 (Petra) -- Cybersecurity is a cornerstone of national security, digital sovereignty, and economic stability, Her Royal Highness Princess Sumaya bint El Hassan emphasized in an address delivered on her behalf at the closing ceremony of the seventh META CTF national cybersecurity competition.
Minister of Education and Human Resources Development Azmi Mahafzah opened the ceremony on behalf of Princess Sumaya, chair of Princess Sumaya University for Technology’s Board of Trustees. The university organized META CTF 2026 with the Central Bank of Jordan (CBJ), bringing together 29 teams from 11 Jordanian universities on its campus.
According to a university statement issued Tuesday, students from its cybersecurity club designed challenges covering cryptography, digital forensics, web security, reverse engineering, open-source intelligence, and other advanced topics.
In her address, delivered by Mahafzah, Princess Sumaya described the competition, launched in 2019, as a national platform for young talent to learn, compete, and innovate, demonstrating Jordan’s scientific and creative capabilities.
Her Royal Highness highlighted this year’s partnership with the CBJ and the bank’s role in safeguarding monetary and financial stability, strengthening the banking sector, and maintaining confidence in the national economy.
She explained that the partnership reflects a shared belief in knowledge as a foundation for progress and in equipping Jordanians with scientific and technological skills to build a strong, secure, and competitive economy.
Cybersecurity, the Princess stressed, has become a national priority affecting citizens, investor confidence, and institutions’ ability to maintain services. As financial transactions become nearly instantaneous and banking services increasingly accessible by phone, protecting financial assets, data, and systems is essential to economic stability, she noted.
Her Royal Highness emphasized the CBJ’s role in strengthening cybersecurity and protecting financial systems while balancing innovation with stability. The challenge, she explained, is to build the digital trust needed to sustain digital transformation amid rapid technological change.
Princess Sumaya called for closer cooperation among universities, public and private institutions, and financial and technology organizations to develop national cybersecurity capabilities and translate knowledge and research into practical solutions.
She expressed confidence that Jordan’s expertise and talent could position it as a regional center for cybersecurity services, with young Jordanians turning that potential into tangible achievements through learning and determination.
Her Royal Highness outlined the university’s focus on nurturing talent, encouraging critical thinking, and linking education and research to national needs. Universities and national institutions, she stressed, have a responsibility to prepare generations capable of producing knowledge and leading innovation.
The Princess described META CTF as an opportunity for students to apply academic knowledge to real cybersecurity challenges while developing critical thinking, analytical, and teamwork skills. She added that the competition supports the university’s efforts to encourage innovation and prepares students to protect Jordan’s digital environment and keep pace with technological change.
She concluded with three messages to students: "Never stop learning; academic qualifications require continued learning, adaptation to change, and the search for new solutions. Let ethics and responsibility be your compass, and think as creators of the future, not merely users of technology." CBJ Deputy Governor Khaldoun Weshah welcomed the bank’s partnership with the university and acknowledged Princess Sumaya’s support for science, innovation, and young people. He highlighted the competition’s practical opportunities for students to apply their knowledge, develop cybersecurity skills, and work collaboratively.
He explained that rapid digital transformation and expanding electronic financial services have made cybersecurity essential to protecting the financial and banking sectors, ensuring service continuity, and maintaining customer confidence. The CBJ prioritizes preparedness for cyber risks and the development of national expertise, he added.
Through its financial-sector cyber incident response unit, Jo-FinCERT, the bank continues to build specialized skills, raise awareness, and strengthen cooperation with national institutions and universities to protect financial-sector digital infrastructure and improve its resilience, Al-Weshah noted.
He emphasized that the partnership connects academic learning with practical application, identifies promising talent, and prepares young people to help protect national institutions and meet labor market needs.
PSUT’s Hypnos team won first place. Its members were Abdullah Dahouk, Ali Saasaa, Mustafa Kilani, and Humam Mansi.
Second place went to PSUT’s P.R.I.U.S team, comprising Ismail Hindi, Yaqoub Yousef, Hamza Alawneh, and Omar Shamali.
Gh0stBytes from Applied Science Private University placed third. Its members were Omar Mohammad, Mohammad Qudah, Omar Haija, and Hamza Hababseh.
Mahafzah honored the winning teams at the conclusion of the ceremony.
Competition supporters OffSec and The Rezon, along with the organizing team, were also recognized.
//Petra// AO
