--- title: "Middle East is Ahead of other Nations in Adopting SPF, DKIM, and DMARC | AutoSPF" description: "The Middle East is outshining other nations with its remarkable commitment to email security." image: "https://autospf.com/og/blog/middle-east-is-ahead-in-adopting-spf-dkim-and-dmarc.png" canonical: "https://autospf.com/blog/middle-east-is-ahead-in-adopting-spf-dkim-and-dmarc/" --- Quick Answer The Middle East is outshining other nations with its remarkable commitment to email security. Starting February 1, 2024, both Google and Yahoo mandated SPF and DKIM for bulk senders, while companies sending out over 5,000 emails per day are also required to have DMARC in place. ## Try Our Free DMARC Checker Validate your DMARC policy, check alignment settings, and verify reporting configuration. [ Check DMARC Record → ](/tools/dmarc-checker/) Share [ ](https://www.linkedin.com/sharing/share-offsite/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fautospf.com%2Fblog%2Fmiddle-east-is-ahead-in-adopting-spf-dkim-and-dmarc%2F "Share on LinkedIn") [ ](https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?text=Middle%20East%20is%20Ahead%20of%20other%20Nations%20in%20Adopting%20SPF%2C%20DKIM%2C%20and%20DMARC&url=https%3A%2F%2Fautospf.com%2Fblog%2Fmiddle-east-is-ahead-in-adopting-spf-dkim-and-dmarc%2F "Share on X/Twitter") [ ](https://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fautospf.com%2Fblog%2Fmiddle-east-is-ahead-in-adopting-spf-dkim-and-dmarc%2F "Share on Facebook") [ ](https://reddit.com/submit?url=https%3A%2F%2Fautospf.com%2Fblog%2Fmiddle-east-is-ahead-in-adopting-spf-dkim-and-dmarc%2F&title=Middle%20East%20is%20Ahead%20of%20other%20Nations%20in%20Adopting%20SPF%2C%20DKIM%2C%20and%20DMARC "Share on Reddit") [ ](mailto:?subject=Middle%20East%20is%20Ahead%20of%20other%20Nations%20in%20Adopting%20SPF%2C%20DKIM%2C%20and%20DMARC&body=Check out this article: https%3A%2F%2Fautospf.com%2Fblog%2Fmiddle-east-is-ahead-in-adopting-spf-dkim-and-dmarc%2F "Share via Email") ![DMARC](https://media.mailhop.org/autospf/images/2024/03/create-spf-record.jpg) The [Middle East is outshining other nations](https://www.darkreading.com/cyber-risk/middle-east-leads-in-dmarc-deployment) with its remarkable commitment to [email security](/spf-validation-failed-meaning-and-troubleshooting-methods/spf-validation-error/). Starting February 1, 2024, both [Google and Yahoo](/blog/ushering-a-new-era-of-security-google-and-yahoos-take-on-email-authentication/) mandated SPF and DKIM for bulk senders, while companies sending out over 5,000 emails per day are also required to have DMARC in place. _While other nations are still making slower moves, almost 90% of the companies in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and 80% in the United Arab Emirates have deployed the basic versions of SPF, DKIM, and DMARC_. _DMARC ([RFC 7489](https://datatracker.ietf.org/doc/html/rfc7489)) ties SPF and DKIM together by requiring alignment between the envelope sender and the visible `From` header. According to Google’s February 2024 bulk sender requirements, a DMARC policy of at least `p=none` is now mandatory for any domain sending 5,000+ messages per day to Gmail users._ This is against the cumulative global average of only about 73% of organizations having basic orstrict DMARC linked to their email-sending domains. ![DMARC](https://media.mailhop.org/autospf/images/2024/03/spf-record-tester-7953.jpg) ## The Middle Eastern Momentum After the announcements made by Google and Yahoo, the adoption of [DMARC](/10-reasons-for-regular-spf-record-checks-in-cybersecurity/dmarc-record-check/) has accelerated and now the government regulations are also encouraging it. During the initial six weeks of 2024, over 2 million fresh DMARC entries were generated. _This period witnessed a surge of 41% in records within the African market and a 29% rise in the Middle Eastern region._ The countries of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), including Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates, have developed many industrial and national regulations, including the famous [Saudi Arabia Monetary Authority (SAMA)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saudi%5FCentral%5FBank) cybersecurity framework for swifter and stricter deployment. As many as 80% of the members of the [S&P’s Pan Arab Composite Index](https://www.spglobal.com/spdji/en/indices/equity/sp-pan-arab-composite-largemidcap-index/#overview) have a strict DMARC policy, and this figure is higher than the FTSE100’s 72% and France’s CAC40’s 61%. Experts believe that the Middle Eastern region’s supply chain is maturing positively, and the SPF, DKIM, and DMARC adoption momentum is reflecting a transformed landscape. This has contributed to a significant decrease in the success rate of [phishing scams](https://thehackernews.com/2024/03/new-strelastealer-phishing-attacks-hit.html) while optimizing email reliability and strengthening their overall cybersecurity posture. ## But p=reject is Still Lagging Despite the momentum of adoption, Middle Eastern companies are still catching up to deploy the strictest DMARC policy, but that’s justifiable since the confidence to apply [p=reject](https://www.ncsc.gov.uk/collection/email-security-and-anti-spoofing/reject-spoof-emails) doesn’t come overnight. It takes time to [gradually increase the percentage of emails](https://support.google.com/a/answer/10032473?hl=en) that should be subjected to getting evaluated against the strictest DMARC policy. Hence, only 43% of UAE-based domains and 57% of Saudi Arabia-based domains are set to the ‘reject’ DMARC policy. But it’s good to learn that both countries are still ahead of the 31% Global 2000 companies that have set their DMARC records to p=reject. ![SPF Adoption](https://media.mailhop.org/autospf/images/2024/03/SPF-Adoption-Statistics-Points-413x1024.jpg) ## Why is it Urgent to Adopt SPF? It is urgent to adopt the [Sender Policy Framework](/blog/what-is-spf-email-a-guide-to-sender-validation-technology/) (SPF) because it helps [prevent email spoofing](/10-reasons-for-regular-spf-record-checks-in-cybersecurity/spf-checker/) and phishing attacks by verifying that incoming emails originate from legitimate sources. [SPF records](/explaining-sender-policy-framework-spf-macros/spf-record-syntax/) specify which IP addresses are authorized to send emails on behalf of a particular domain. Without SPF, malicious actors can easily [impersonate legitimate senders](https://cointelegraph.com/news/wallet-impersonation-scam-ens-uniswap), leading to [potential security breaches](https://edition.cnn.com/2024/03/08/politics/top-us-cybersecurity-agency-cisa-hacked/index.html), data theft, financial losses, and damage to an organization’s reputation. By implementing [SPF](/blog/spf-format-explanation-basic-and-advanced/), organizations can enhance their email security posture and protect both themselves and their recipients from [various cyber threats](https://www.mass.gov/info-details/know-the-types-of-cyber-threats). [AutoSPF](/) can assist you with this. ## Topics [ email security ](/tags/email-security/)[ SPF record ](/tags/spf-record/) ![Brad Slavin](https://media.mailhop.org/autospf/images/authors/brad-slavin.jpg) [ Brad Slavin ](/authors/brad-slavin/) General Manager Founder and General Manager of DuoCircle. Product strategy and commercial lead for AutoSPF's 2,000+ customer base. [LinkedIn Profile →](https://www.linkedin.com/in/bradslavin) ## Ready to get started? Try AutoSPF free — no credit card required. [ Book a Demo ](/book-a-demo/) ## Related Articles [ Foundational 17m 10 Reasons The SPF Standard Is Essential For Protecting Your Domain Nov 20, 2025 ](/blog/10-reasons-the-spf-standard-is-essential-for-protecting-your-domain/)[ Foundational 4m 7 Myths and Misconceptions about Sender Policy Framework May 31, 2024 ](/blog/7-myths-and-misconceptions-about-sender-policy-framework/)[ Foundational 3m Generative artificial intelligence and machine learning are overcoming the limitations of traditional cybersecurity measures Jul 12, 2024 ](/blog/ai-and-machine-learning-overcome-traditional-cybersecurity-limits/)[ Foundational 6m AutoSPF’s Complete Guide: How to Add an SPF Record in Namecheap Dec 17, 2025 ](/blog/autospf-complete-guide-to-adding-an-spf-record-in-namecheap/) ```json {"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"Organization","@id":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q138897474","name":"AutoSPF","url":"https://autospf.com","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https://autospf.com/images/autospf-logo.png"},"description":"Automatic SPF flattening and email authentication management. Resolve SPF lookup limits, flatten SPF records, and maintain email deliverability across all your domains.","parentOrganization":{"@type":"Organization","@id":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q138883901","name":"DuoCircle LLC","url":"https://www.duocircle.com","sameAs":["https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q138883901","https://www.crunchbase.com/organization/duocircle-llc","https://www.linkedin.com/company/duocircle","https://github.com/duocircle"],"subOrganization":[{"@type":"Organization","@id":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q138898167","name":"DMARC Report","url":"https://dmarcreport.com"},{"@type":"Organization","@id":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q138897474","name":"AutoSPF","url":"https://autospf.com"},{"@type":"Organization","@id":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q138897912","name":"Phish Protection","url":"https://www.phishprotection.com"}]},"sameAs":["https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q138897474","https://www.linkedin.com/company/autospf","https://x.com/autospf01","https://www.g2.com/products/autospf/reviews"],"contactPoint":{"@type":"ContactPoint","contactType":"customer support","url":"https://autospf.com/contact-us/"},"knowsAbout":["SPF Record Flattening","Sender Policy Framework","Email Authentication","DNS Management","DMARC","DKIM"]} ``` ```json {"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"WebSite","name":"AutoSPF","url":"https://autospf.com","description":"Automatic SPF flattening and email authentication management. Resolve SPF lookup limits, flatten SPF records, and maintain email deliverability across all your domains.","publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"AutoSPF","url":"https://autospf.com","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https://autospf.com/images/autospf-logo.png"},"description":"Automatic SPF flattening and email authentication management. Resolve SPF lookup limits, flatten SPF records, and maintain email deliverability across all your domains.","parentOrganization":{"@type":"Organization","@id":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q138883901","name":"DuoCircle LLC","url":"https://www.duocircle.com","sameAs":["https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q138883901","https://www.crunchbase.com/organization/duocircle-llc","https://www.linkedin.com/company/duocircle","https://github.com/duocircle"],"subOrganization":[{"@type":"Organization","@id":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q138898167","name":"DMARC Report","url":"https://dmarcreport.com"},{"@type":"Organization","@id":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q138897474","name":"AutoSPF","url":"https://autospf.com"},{"@type":"Organization","@id":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q138897912","name":"Phish Protection","url":"https://www.phishprotection.com"}]}}} ``` ```json {"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"BlogPosting","headline":"Middle East is Ahead of other Nations in Adopting SPF, DKIM, and DMARC","description":"The Middle East is outshining other nations with its remarkable commitment to email security.","url":"https://autospf.com/blog/middle-east-is-ahead-in-adopting-spf-dkim-and-dmarc/","datePublished":"2024-03-27T19:56:37.000Z","dateModified":"2026-04-18T02:36:41.000Z","dateCreated":"2024-03-27T19:56:37.000Z","author":{"@type":"Person","@id":"https://autospf.com/authors/brad-slavin/#person","name":"Brad Slavin","url":"https://autospf.com/authors/brad-slavin/","jobTitle":"General Manager","description":"Brad Slavin is the founder and General Manager of DuoCircle, the company behind AutoSPF, DMARC Report, Phish Protection, and Mailhop. He founded DuoCircle in 2014 to solve the SPF 10-DNS-lookup problem at scale and has led the company's growth to 2,000+ customers. Brad's focus is product strategy, customer relationships, and the commercial and compliance side of email authentication (DPAs, SLAs, enterprise procurement) rather than hands-on DNS engineering.","image":"https://media.mailhop.org/autospf/images/authors/brad-slavin.jpg","knowsAbout":["Email Security Strategy","SaaS Product Management","Enterprise Compliance","Customer Success","Email Deliverability Business"],"worksFor":{"@type":"Organization","name":"AutoSPF","url":"https://autospf.com"},"sameAs":["https://www.linkedin.com/in/bradslavin"]},"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","@id":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q138897474","name":"AutoSPF","url":"https://autospf.com","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https://autospf.com/images/autospf-logo.png"},"description":"Automatic SPF flattening and email authentication management. Resolve SPF lookup limits, flatten SPF records, and maintain email deliverability across all your domains.","parentOrganization":{"@type":"Organization","@id":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q138883901","name":"DuoCircle LLC","url":"https://www.duocircle.com","sameAs":["https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q138883901","https://www.crunchbase.com/organization/duocircle-llc","https://www.linkedin.com/company/duocircle","https://github.com/duocircle"],"subOrganization":[{"@type":"Organization","@id":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q138898167","name":"DMARC Report","url":"https://dmarcreport.com"},{"@type":"Organization","@id":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q138897474","name":"AutoSPF","url":"https://autospf.com"},{"@type":"Organization","@id":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q138897912","name":"Phish Protection","url":"https://www.phishprotection.com"}]},"sameAs":["https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q138897474","https://www.linkedin.com/company/autospf","https://x.com/autospf01","https://www.g2.com/products/autospf/reviews"],"contactPoint":{"@type":"ContactPoint","contactType":"customer support","url":"https://autospf.com/contact-us/"},"knowsAbout":["SPF Record Flattening","Sender Policy Framework","Email Authentication","DNS Management","DMARC","DKIM"]},"mainEntityOfPage":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https://autospf.com/blog/middle-east-is-ahead-in-adopting-spf-dkim-and-dmarc/"},"articleSection":"foundational","keywords":"email security, SPF record","wordCount":496,"image":{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https://media.mailhop.org/autospf/images/2024/03/create-spf-record.jpg","caption":"DMARC","width":900,"height":501},"speakable":{"@type":"SpeakableSpecification","cssSelector":[".answer-block","h1"]}} ``` ```json {"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"BreadcrumbList","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Home","item":"https://autospf.com/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"Blog","item":"https://autospf.com/blog/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":3,"name":"Foundational","item":"https://autospf.com/foundational/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":4,"name":"Middle East is Ahead of other Nations in Adopting SPF, DKIM, and DMARC","item":"https://autospf.com/blog/middle-east-is-ahead-in-adopting-spf-dkim-and-dmarc/"}]} ```