Updates & Highlights

The Cyber Security Council warns that nearly 30% of digital accounts in the Middle East remain vulnerable to cyberattacks, particularly abandoned, excessive, and fake accounts. Studies show that users download around 11,000 files each year, expanding their digital footprint and increasing the risk of exposure. The number of fake accounts in the region has also increased by about 30%, creating further opportunities for fraud and unauthorized access. Users are urged to delete inactive accounts, remove their email addresses from untrusted platforms, and regularly update passwords to protect their data and strengthen digital safety.

The Cyber Security Council stresses that securing digital accounts has become essential in an era shaped by artificial intelligence and expanding digital risks. Rapid technological growth has increased the likelihood of breaches through weak, neglected, or poorly protected accounts used by individuals and institutions. Past incidents show that attackers often gain access through simple passwords, leading to exposure of sensitive information. The Council urges users to rely on strong and unique passwords, activate multi factor authentication, install system updates, avoid public Wi Fi networks, and back up important data. These practices strengthen protection and reduce the risk of identity theft and cyberattacks.

His Excellency Dr. Mohamed Al Kuwaiti, Head of Cyber Security for the UAE Government, participated in the Second Ordinary Session of the Arab Cybersecurity Ministers Council, held in Riyadh. The Council’s agenda included several topics of mutual interest to Arab nations, with a focus on advancing joint Arab efforts in cybersecurity and strengthening the region’s preparedness to address emerging threats. The meeting also explored practical mechanisms to enhance cooperation and coordination among Arab states in the fields of security and cybersecurity, while promoting the exchange of expertise to improve readiness, resilience, and emergency response capabilities.

The rise of deepfake technology, powered by artificial intelligence, has created new challenges for digital safety and public awareness. These fabricated videos, images, and audio clips can spread false information, deceive audiences, and harm reputations. The Cyber Security Council urged the public to verify content before sharing and remain cautious of manipulated media. Deepfakes are increasingly being used for scams, impersonation, and misinformation, highlighting the need to strengthen digital literacy and collective awareness to protect individuals and institutions from emerging cyber threats.

The Cyber Security Council announces the second edition of the CyberQ Conference, to be held on November 26–27 at ADNEC, Abu Dhabi, under the theme ‘Where Quantum, AI, and Cybersecurity Converge.’ Gathering experts from over 100 countries, the event explores how quantum computing and AI are reshaping cybersecurity, from encryption and post-quantum cryptography to automated defenses and risk management. H.E. Dr. Mohamed Al Kuwaiti, Head of Cyber Security for the UAE Government, underscores the importance of innovation and global collaboration to build resilient digital systems, reaffirming the UAE’s leadership in securing the quantum era.

The UAE is redefining digital defense and setting new global standards in cybersecurity. In an interview with Forbes Middle East, H.E. Dr. Mohamed Al Kuwaiti, Head of Cyber Security for the UAE Government, highlights how the nation pioneers world-first platforms such as Crystal Ball and the National Cyber Security Operations Center to anticipate and neutralize threats. Built on innovation, collaboration, and “security by design,” the UAE’s model integrates AI, resilience, and public-private-people partnerships to protect vital sectors and ensure business continuity. Dr. Al Kuwaiti underscores that safeguarding the digital nation is a shared responsibility that keeps the UAE’s cyber frontier secure for all.

The Cyber Security Council and the Securities and Commodities Authority announced a strategic partnership to strengthen cybersecurity in the capital markets sector in line with global standards. The partnership focuses on developing regulatory frameworks and security standards that ensure the integrity of digital transactions and reinforce investor confidence. It also aims to attract leading global companies in digital and virtual assets, supporting the national digital economy and the “We the UAE 2031” vision. This collaboration reflects the UAE’s commitment to innovation and cybersecurity, unifying national efforts to secure digital finance and enhance the country’s position as a regional hub for financial and digital technologies.

Presight, a leading global company in artificial intelligence and big data analytics, signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Cyber security Council during Expand North Star 2025. The agreement was signed by H.E. Dr. Mohamed Al Kuwaiti, Head of Cyber Security for the UAE Government, and Thomas Pramotedham, CEO of Presight. The collaboration will empower AI startups to innovate responsibly and securely by integrating national cybersecurity expertise into Presight’s AI-Startup Accelerator. It will also establish a joint framework for research, technical enablement, and capacity building, strengthening cooperation between government, academia, and the private sector while reinforcing the UAE’s global leadership in digital innovation and resilience.

His Excellency Dr. Mohamed Al Kuwaiti, Head of Cyber Security for the UAE Government, participated in the Second Ordinary Session of the Arab Cybersecurity Ministers Council, held in Riyadh. The Council’s agenda included several topics of mutual interest to Arab nations, with a focus on advancing joint Arab efforts in cybersecurity and strengthening the region’s preparedness to address emerging threats. The meeting also explored practical mechanisms to enhance cooperation and coordination among Arab states in the fields of security and cybersecurity, while promoting the exchange of expertise to improve readiness, resilience, and emergency response capabilities.

The Cyber Security Council stressed the importance of strengthening institutional cyber capabilities, adhering to recognized standards, and integrating security into strategic planning to ensure service continuity and data protection. The Council emphasized that with cyber threats increasingly targeting government, private, and critical sectors, cybersecurity has become a necessity rather than an option. Negligence, it warned, can result in financial and human losses, erosion of trust, and disruption of essential services.It further noted that the rapid escalation of attacks, driven by heavy reliance on digital services and internet-connected technologies such as online banking and remote energy control systems, has made these sectors more vulnerable to breaches.

His Excellency Dr. Mohamed Al Kuwaiti, Head of Cyber Security for the UAE Government, participated in the Second Ordinary Session of the Arab Cybersecurity Ministers Council, held in Riyadh. The Council’s agenda included several topics of mutual interest to Arab nations, with a focus on advancing joint Arab efforts in cybersecurity and strengthening the region’s preparedness to address emerging threats. The meeting also explored practical mechanisms to enhance cooperation and coordination among Arab states in the fields of security and cybersecurity, while promoting the exchange of expertise to improve readiness, resilience, and emergency response capabilities.

As part of the weekly awareness campaign of the Cyber Pulse initiative, the Cyber Security Council warned against neglecting to secure meetings held through collaboration applications, and stressed the importance of securing the use of cameras during online and virtual meetings, particularly remote work sessions. The Council stressed the importance of activating the “waiting room” feature and avoiding granting applications direct access to the camera. The campaign, which delivers weekly programs and awareness guidelines, also highlighted the need to use VPNs, enable automatic updates, and verify security software. CSC emphasized the importance of remaining vigilant when using cameras in government and private meetings, virtual classrooms, and electronic games to safeguard data and privacy.

Majalis Abu Dhabi, in collaboration with the Cyber Security Council, organized a high-level discussion session at Al Tiwayya Majlis under the title ‘The Family and the Fight Against Malicious Messages.’ Led by H.E. Dr. Mohamed Al Kuwaiti, Head of Cyber Security for the UAE Government, the session highlighted the role of families in protecting children and society from the risks of fraudulent digital messages that spread across platforms and social media to steal data or cause financial loss.

The Cyber Security Council, led by His Excellency Dr. Mohamed Al Kuwaiti, Head of Cyber Security for the UAE Government, participated in the 16th edition of the Billington Cybersecurity Summit in Washington, D.C., held under the theme “Cyber and AI Frontiers: Strategies for a Secure and Smarter Government.” The Council took part in a main session titled “Securing the Future – AI, Cyber Resilience, and Global Innovation,” which explored the impact of artificial intelligence and automation on the global cybersecurity landscape. On the sidelines, Dr. Al Kuwaiti also held high-level meetings with senior U.S. officials from the Department of the Treasury and global technology leaders to discuss strengthening international cooperation in financial cybersecurity, safeguarding critical infrastructure, and advancing joint initiatives.

Meta, in cooperation with the Telecommunications and Digital Government Regulatory Authority (TDRA) and the Cyber Security Council, launched the “Scambusters” campaign to raise awareness of growing cyber risks, with a focus on online fraud. The initiative aims to educate internet users on different types of scams, how to identify them, and the tools available to report and block them, thereby promoting a safe online culture. The campaign will run for two months as part of joint efforts to protect citizens and residents from digital threats driven by increasingly complex, cross-border criminal networks.