As part of the weekly awareness campaign of the ‘Cyber Pulse’ initiative launched by the Cyber Security Council, the Council warned in its weekly awareness message against publishing and sharing important or personal data and information across various social media platforms. The Council stressed that posting sensitive information on different social networking sites may expose individuals to various types of fraudulent attacks, as such data can be exploited to design targeted and customized scams. It also confirmed that around 40% of users have experienced privacy violations as a result of sharing excessive personal details about their lives, families, and other private matters on social media. Under the theme titled ‘The Risk of over sharing,’ the awareness campaign highlighted that even the simplest details, which may appear insignificant to individuals and are shared publicly, can be exploited in fraudulent schemes. The Cyber Security Council advised users to adopt a set of measures to safeguard privacy and protect data and information in cyberspace.

Mastercard signed an MoU with the Cyber Security Council to strengthen trust in the country’s digital ecosystem and advance cybersecurity resilience through the adoption of global best practices and forward-looking cybersecurity policies. Announced on the sidelines of the World Governments Summit (WGS) 2026 in Dubai, the collaboration also marked the launch of the UAE Cyber Threat Insights Report, which maps the country’s cybersecurity landscape and highlights the increasingly complex ecosystem of threat actors targeting organizations and critical sectors. This partnership will also enable Mastercard to apply its extensive expertise in combating cybercrime and fraud, reinforcing the UAE’s position as a global hub for cybersecurity and digital trust.

Under the patronage of the Cyber Security Council, the OT Security First Forum was held on 4 February 2026 at Rosewood Abu Dhabi, bringing together senior government leaders, regulators, Chief Information Security Officers (CISOs), and industry pioneers to strengthen the UAE’s critical infrastructure defense across energy and utilities. The forum addressed the convergence of Information Technology (IT) and Operational Technology (OT), with discussions focused on Industrial Control Systems (ICS), SCADA, Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT), OT risk management, AI-powered threat detection and response, supply chain security, regulatory readiness, and cross-sector collaboration to advance cyber resilience.