Appknox, a leading mobile application security platform, has reported a powerful start to 2025, with Q1 revenue on track to more than double compared to the same period last year. Harshit Agarwal, Managing Director and Co-Founder of Appknox, described the growth as “an incredible start to the year,” attributing the momentum to increasing inbound interest from government and regulated sectors, a surge in enterprise RFPs across the GCC, and a rising urgency around mobile security, as he shared insights with The Finance 360.
“This isn’t just about compliance anymore. We’re seeing enterprises look to Appknox as a long-term security partner, trusted to safeguard their mobile-first operations at scale,” said Agarwal. “That shift in trust and positioning is fueling our growth – and we’re just getting started.”
Appknox, a global mobile application security leader, is eyeing exponential growth in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) as the region witnesses a surge in demand for cybersecurity solutions.
The company is on track to more than double its H1 revenue year-on-year, driven by rising enterprise security concerns and regulatory momentum. “Q1 set a powerful pace, and we’re on track to more than double our H1 revenue compared to the same period last year, an achievement that reflects how far we’ve come and how fast the market is moving in our direction,” he shared with us.
Agarwal attributes this growth to a convergence of high-value inbound interest from government and regulated sectors, a sharp rise in enterprise RFPs across the GCC, and growing urgency around mobile app security. “The real game-changer,” he noted, “is how enterprise customers are engaging with us. They’re not just looking for compliance, they’re turning to Appknox as a long-term security partner.”
As part of its regional strategy, Appknox is “doubling down” on the GCC, targeting 4-5X growth in the region by 2025. With government, BFSI, and telecom sectors showing strong mobile-first adoption, the need for robust security is more urgent than ever.
“In the past 12 months, we’ve made serious investments in the region,” Agarwal shared. “We deployed a dedicated Oracle Cloud instance in Saudi Arabia and launched a new Azure-hosted environment in the UAE – both of which went live in Q1 2025.”
Appknox has also aligned its solutions with regional regulatory standards, including SAMA in Saudi Arabia and TDRA in the UAE, ensuring its platforms are audit-ready from day one. New features like the Privacy Shield module and PII Detection, shaped by enterprise feedback, reflect the company’s localised approach to product development.
Harshit believes there has been a major regulatory push across the GCC, and it’s changing how enterprises think about mobile app security. “Especially in sectors like BFSI and government, where compliance is non-negotiable, security is now being prioritized much earlier in the development lifecycle, and that’s where Appknox comes in,” he noted.
“Mobile-first digital transformation is accelerating fast. With that comes a growing need for security solutions that can scale and keep pace with rapid release cycles. Our DAST engine plays a huge role here, enabling dynamic testing at speed and helping organizations shift security left, without slowing things down,” he further added.
Innovation is becoming more targeted and region-specific, with features like the Privacy Shield module and upcoming PII Leak Detection addressing the needs of regulated sectors. On-premise deployment options for government and high-sensitivity clients further enhance control and assurance in complex threat environments.
Lastly, Agarwal thinks a glaring gap exists in mobile app security coverage among major vendors, as many lack mature MAST capabilities. Appknox is increasingly adopted to fill this gap, providing specialized depth where traditional AppSec platforms fall short.
Enterprise-Led Sector Growth
Large enterprises account for around 50% of Appknox’s customer base, with government and banking organizations driving the majority of that volume and revenue.
“Whether it’s digital banking or citizen portals, security isn’t just a checkbox; it’s mission critical,” said Agarwal. Meanwhile, sectors such as retail, FMCG, and telecom are also turning to Appknox for secure mobile experiences, spanning automated testing, fraud prevention, and post-release monitoring.
As mobile-first digital transformation accelerates, AppSec is quickly becoming a boardroom priority in the MENA region. “Cybersecurity spending in the Middle East is growing faster than global averages, and application-layer security is leading that charge,” said Agarwal, citing research from Gartner and IDC.
Governments in the UAE, Saudi Arabia, and Qatar are also enacting stricter data protection regulations, raising the stakes for securing mobile applications, which now serve as the primary digital touchpoints for many businesses.
The Road Ahead for AppSec in MENA
According to Appknox, key enablers for the growth of application security in the region will include: Clearer regulatory enforcement, Greater adoption of DevSecOps, Rising risk awareness at the executive level, Increased demand for data sovereignty, and localized infrastructure.
“As the region balances innovation with security, there’s a unique opportunity for AppSec to evolve from a reactive compliance measure to a proactive enabler of trust, performance, and competitive advantage,” concluded Agarwal.
