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EC-CouncilCEH v13

CEH in Riyadh

Certified Ethical Hacker — offensive security certification covering penetration testing methodologies and hacking tools.

Salary uplift
+$15k
Exam cost
$1199
Duration
240 min
Passing score
70
Difficulty
intermediate
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◆ 01 / About

What is CEH?

The Certified Ethical Hacker (CEH) v13 from EC-Council is one of the most recognized offensive security certifications in the world. In Riyadh, where Vision 2030 is driving massive investment in digital infrastructure, demand for qualified ethical hackers has accelerated sharply across banking, oil and gas, government, and telecommunications sectors. CEH v13 validates your ability to think like an attacker — covering reconnaissance, exploitation, malware analysis, cloud hacking, and more across 20 core domains. For IT security professionals in Riyadh looking to move into penetration testing, red teaming, or security consultancy roles, CEH v13 is a credible, employer-recognized stepping stone.

With an average IT salary of around $60,000 per year in Riyadh, a CEH certification delivering a $15,000 annual uplift represents a 25% pay increase — one of the strongest ROI cases for any intermediate-level security credential. The exam costs $1,199, meaning you recoup the investment within the first month of your raised salary. Riyadh's cybersecurity sector is expanding rapidly under national digital transformation programs, and Saudi employers increasingly list CEH as a preferred or required qualification for mid-to-senior security roles. Whether you are targeting a government agency, a managed security provider, or a multinational operating in the Kingdom, CEH v13 gives your resume a competitive edge that translates directly into higher compensation.

◆ 02 / Exam details

Exam details

Exam cost
$1199 USD
Duration
240 min
Passing score
70
Renewal
Every 3 yrs

Prerequisites: 2 years IT security experience or EC-Council official training

◆ 03 / Study plan

12-week study plan

1
Foundations and ReconnaissanceWeeks 1–4
Study CEH v13 Modules 1–5: ethical hacking overview, footprinting, scanning networks, enumeration, and vulnerability analysisSet up a personal lab using VirtualBox or VMware with Kali Linux and deliberately vulnerable targets like MetasploitablePractice passive and active reconnaissance techniques using tools such as Maltego, Nmap, and Recon-ng
2
Exploitation, Malware, and System HackingWeeks 5–8
Cover Modules 6–12: system hacking, malware threats, sniffing, social engineering, denial-of-service, and session hijackingComplete hands-on labs for each attack vector in your home lab, focusing on replicating CEH exam scenariosBegin timed practice question sets targeting these domains to identify weak areas early
3
Advanced Domains, Review, and Exam ReadinessWeeks 9–12
Study Modules 13–20: web application hacking, SQL injection, wireless attacks, mobile hacking, IoT, cloud computing, and cryptographyRun two full-length mock exams under timed conditions and review every incorrect answer against the official coursewareFocus final revision on cloud hacking and AI-driven attack content added in CEH v13, as these are heavily tested
◆ 04 / Exam tips

Exam tips

Learn the specific tools EC-Council associates with each attack phase — the exam frequently asks which tool is most appropriate for a task, and the answer must match EC-Council's preferred toolset, not just any valid alternative

Memorize the five phases of ethical hacking (reconnaissance, scanning, gaining access, maintaining access, clearing tracks) and be able to map every module topic back to the correct phase

Pay close attention to CEH v13's expanded cloud and AI hacking modules — EC-Council has increased the question weighting on AWS, Azure, and AI-assisted attack techniques compared to earlier versions

Practice reading questions carefully for qualifier words like 'first,' 'best,' and 'most effective' — CEH scenario questions often have two plausible answers and these qualifiers determine the correct choice

Use the official EC-Council practice exam platform for at least two full mock tests, as the question style and interface closely mirror the real exam environment, reducing surprises on test day

◆ 05 / FAQ

Frequently asked questions

CEH v13 is rated intermediate difficulty. The exam consists of 125 multiple-choice questions over four hours, with a passing score typically around 70%. Candidates with hands-on IT security experience find it manageable with 8–12 weeks of focused study. The trickiest sections involve scenario-based questions where you must select the correct tool or technique for a specific attack situation.
◆ 06 / Other certifications in Riyadh