OT Compliance in MENA Public Transport: From Metro Doors to Traffic Lights

Public transport in the MENA region runs on more than tracks, buses and metro lines – it runs on Operational Technology (OT). OT systems control train movement, traffic lights, metro doors, signalling and safety mechanisms that keep passengers moving and protected.

When OT fails, trains stop, safety is at risk and passengers are stranded. As attacks on critical infrastructure increase, OT cybersecurity in public transport has become a board-level topic and a key requirement in many transport tenders across MENA.

What Is Operational Technology in Public Transport?

Operational Technology in public transport covers all the systems that directly monitor and control physical processes, including:

• Signalling systems for metro and rail
• Traffic light control and road-side units
• Platform screen doors and metro doors
• SCADA systems in control rooms
• Sensors, PLCs and field devices along the track and road network

Many of these OT and SCADA networks were designed years ago with reliability in mind, not cybersecurity. This makes legacy OT environments a weak link in public transport security, especially when they are connected to IT networks.

Key OT Cybersecurity Standards and Regulations in MENA

To build strong OT compliance in MENA public transport, organizations usually align with both global standards and local regulations.

Global OT standard

• IEC 62443 – the main “rulebook” for securing industrial and OT systems. It provides guidance on risk assessment, network segmentation, secure remote access, patching and lifecycle management for OT assets.

MENA regulatory frameworks relevant to OT in public transport

• UAE: Information Assurance (IA) and Dubai ISR frameworks set cybersecurity requirements for critical infrastructure, including transport and smart city systems.
• Saudi Arabia: OT Cybersecurity Controls (NCA) define how operators of critical OT environments should secure their networks, control access and monitor threats.
• Qatar: NIA Cybersecurity Framework provides requirements for national infrastructure, including transport OT networks and control systems.

These regulations often appear as mandatory requirements in transport tenders. Demonstrating compliance with IEC 62443 and local OT cybersecurity rules can be a differentiator for suppliers and operators across the MENA region.

What Good OT Compliance Looks Like: Simple Rules

Good OT compliance in public transport can start with a few clear rules that support OT cybersecurity in metro, rail and road environments:

1. Make a full map of OT assets
   • Build an OT asset inventory across control rooms, signalling cabinets, field sensors, PLCs, platform screen doors, traffic controllers and communication links. You cannot protect what you do not know exists.
2. Strengthen access control and password hygiene
   • Enforce strong, unique passwords and multi-factor authentication where feasible.
   • Use role-based access control so engineers, operators and vendors only see what they need.
   • Manage vendor and contractor access to OT systems with clear approvals and time-bound accounts.
3. Segment and protect critical OT networks
   • Separate safety-critical systems (signalling, braking, safety PLCs) from less critical networks (CCTV, passenger Wi-Fi, information displays).
   • Restrict communication between OT and IT networks using firewalls, demilitarized zones (DMZs) and monitored gateways.
   • Limit remote access to OT assets and log all activity.
4. Prepare for incidents and recovery
   • Maintain an OT-specific incident response plan that includes roles, escalation paths and communication with regulators.
   • Keep regular offline backups of configuration files, control logic and critical systems.
   • Enable forensic logging so that security teams can investigate OT security incidents quickly.

90-Day OT Compliance Starter Plan for MENA Public Transport

Day 1–30: Assess and Discover

• Build an OT asset inventory across metro, rail and bus control environments.
• Map network connections between OT and IT.
• Perform a gap analysis against IEC 62443 requirements and local rules such as UAE IA, Dubai ISR, Saudi NCA OT Cybersecurity Controls and the Qatar NIA Cybersecurity Framework.

Day 31–60: Fix the Basics

• Prioritize access controls: harden passwords, enable MFA where possible and remove shared accounts.
• Implement or improve network segmentation between critical safety systems and non-critical networks.
• Strengthen backup and recovery for key OT servers, engineering workstations and controllers.

Day 61–90: Prove, Test and Document

• Run incident response drills focused on OT scenarios: loss of signalling, compromised traffic controllers, or abnormal sensor data.
• Prepare an evidence pack for OT compliance in MENA public transport, including policies, network diagrams, asset inventories, risk assessments and logs.
• Test patching and change-management processes on representative OT systems, ensuring they do not disrupt operations.

OT compliance in MENA public transport is not just about ticking regulatory boxes. It is about keeping passengers safe, avoiding costly downtime and staying competitive in regional transport tenders by aligning OT cybersecurity with IEC 62443 and local regulations in the UAE, Saudi Arabia and Qatar.