MENA procurement leaders reflect global trends, underscoring the growing importance of digital resilience and regional manufacturing opportunities
The Chartered Institute of Procurement and Supply (CIPS) has released its latest Q3 2025 Pulse Survey, revealing a modest easing in global supply chain anxiety compared with the record stress levels seen earlier this year. However, procurement professionals remain alert to emerging threats, including rising tariffs, ongoing geopolitical uncertainty, and a surge in cybersecurity risks.
The quarterly report shows that both short-term and 12-month concern levels have decreased since the previous quarter but still remain significantly higher than 2024 averages. This suggests that, while the worst of the disruption may have passed, supply chains worldwide continue to operate under sustained pressure.
Across the Middle East, procurement leaders echo this global sentiment — noting a slight improvement in confidence, yet maintaining vigilance amid escalating digital threats and trade-related risks.
Signs of Relief, but Risks Persist
Ben Farrell MBE, Chief Executive Officer of CIPS, said: “Procurement and supply chain professionals report that the panic spikes of earlier this year have eased, but the fundamentals – tariffs, geopolitics, and global volatility – haven’t gone away. Leaders are now prioritizing long-term resilience, with cyber threats emerging as a risk equal to physical supply shocks. Recent high-profile breaches underscore the need for organisations to embed cybersecurity at the heart of supply chain strategy or risk severe operational and reputational consequences.”
Cybersecurity Emerges as the New Frontline
For the first time, the CIPS Pulse Survey incorporated questions focused on cybersecurity, revealing that nearly one in three organisations (29%) had experienced an increase in supply chain cyberattacks over the past six months. The findings confirm that digital risk has become a critical issue for business leaders globally.
Sam Achampong, Regional Director of CIPS MENA, commented: “Cyber resilience is now a fundamental part of procurement leadership. In the Middle East, where digital transformation is accelerating across industries, supply chains are becoming increasingly data-driven and interconnected. This brings enormous opportunity but also heightened exposure. Procurement professionals must now act as the first line of defence, ensuring suppliers, partners and systems are secured from end to end.”
Achampong further noted that the survey’s results align closely with recent discussions at CIPS regional forums, where senior procurement executives highlighted a growing focus on localised production and technology-enabled transparency.
“Nearshoring and local content development are becoming real priorities for MENA economies. These strategies not only mitigate tariff and logistics risks but also create stronger, more self-reliant supply ecosystems that are critical for long-term economic sustainability,” he added.
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Technology supply risk is on the rise, with 19% of respondents citing significant price increases in computers and high-tech equipment.
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Petroleum and transport equipment also remain elevated at 16%.
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59% of procurement teams are now exploring local manufacturing or nearshoring to reduce tariff exposure.
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54% are renegotiating supplier contracts, and 41% are consolidating spend for volume leverage.
