The UAE’s Cybersecurity Vanguard

While many countries are still figuring out how to defend against invisible cyberattacks, the UAE has emerged as a global leader, setting records, building world-first platforms, and leading international alliances to secure its digital future. Today, some of the most dangerous wars are fought in cyberspace, where a single attack can paralyze hospitals, shut down power grids, or freeze financial systems.

The UAE hasn’t just responded – it has pioneered the future of digital defense. From advanced platforms like Crystal Ball to the National Cyber Security Operations Center and record-breaking awareness campaigns, the country has positioned itself as a global model for cyber resilience. 

At the heart of this transformation is HE Dr. Mohamed Al Kuwaiti, Head of Cyber Security for the UAE.

A safe and secure digital nation

 “The UAE is ranked number one across the whole world in safe and secure cities. Now we focus on bringing this into the virtual world,” His Excellency says. “With key sectors such as healthcare, education, aviation, and energy moving through a major digital transformation, the UAE’s leadership is steering the nation toward an AI-powered future. With that leadership vision, we are working to remain a safe and secure nation for everyone.”

According to HE Dr. Al Kuwaiti, partnership is vital. “We cannot build this alone. We have more than 200 nationalities here and over 7,000 SMEs. It’s very important that we actually keep track of the attacks targeting the UAE.”

The power of partnership and innovation

The Crystal Ball platform, HE Dr. Al Kuwaiti explains, is a critical part of this ecosystem. “More than 60 nations work together to share attack information. If an attack happens in the West or East, by sharing information such as IP addresses, checksums, or payloads, we take proactive measures across the nation so that we don’t fall victim to similar threats. This is the power of partnership,” he says.

The UAE’s Head of Cyber Security also points to the importance of awareness. “We’re no longer only using technology; we must understand it and make everyone aware of it. We need to spread the culture of cybersecurity in every technology we build,” he says. “This is what we refer to as ‘Security by design.’ Whenever we develop new platforms, security must be an integral part of that design.”

Balancing AI and security

AI has transformed every part of modern life, but it also presents new risks. “One of our national cybersecurity strategy’s pillars is innovation. According to HE Dr. Al Kuwaiti, we need to innovate and strike a balance between the convenience of life, privacy, and security.

“Whenever we use AI in a secret or top-secret environment, we need to think twice, three times, and ensure compliance with our national cyber strategies and standards,” he explains. “This is where the power of AI lies: data classification, data sovereignty, cloud sovereignty. Having that infrastructure enables us to accelerate digital transformations.”

Redefining global cyber rules

Representing the UAE at global forums such as the White House and the UN, HE Dr. Al Kuwaiti outlines how the nation is shaping the future of cyberspace governance: “We need to adapt and embrace this technology. We are living now in the fourth revolution where technologies like cloud computing, quantum computing, and AI are transforming countless aspects of life.”

His Excellency identifies three key cyber threats: Cybercrime, which includes scams, frauds, and deepfakes; cyber terrorism, which spreads misinformation and radicalization; and cyber warfare, where technology is abused to conduct attacks.

To address these challenges, HE Dr. Al Kuwaiti calls for international collaboration: “It’s very important to have governance from international laws, like a Cyber Geneva Convention, for example. We also need partnership with the private sector, the public sector, and the people. That’s why we call it public-private-people partnership.”

Resilience at the core

“We don’t focus on cybersecurity as mere security; we’ve transformed it into cyber resilience. Business continuity is a pivotal aspect in every sector,” HE Dr. Al Kuwaiti says. “Even if we’re hit with cyberattacks, we continue our business regardless.”

Under the Supreme Council of National Security, the UAE conducts two major national cyber exercises each year, along with monthly simulations across sectors such as finance, healthcare, energy, and aviation. “When an attack happens, they are ready. They can back up, respond, and continue operation as if nothing happened,” HE Dr. Al Kuwaiti explains.

A national call to action

“Our message is to spread a culture of cybersecurity. It’s not one person’s or one country’s job, it’s everybody’s job,” says HE Dr. Al Kuwaiti. “We, the community, the society, are the first line of defense.”

Through innovation, partnerships, and global leadership, the UAE continues to set a benchmark for cybersecurity excellence protecting both its physical and digital worlds for generations to come.