Stay Informed

As part of the weekly awareness campaign of the ‘Cyber Pulse’ initiative launched by the Cyber Security Council, the Council highlighted the critical importance of cloud storage in addressing the growing digital and cyber threats. In its weekly awareness message, the campaign highlighted that cloud storage enables individuals and users to reduce risks, limit fraudsters’ access to user data, and safeguard personal information. The Council also pointed out several common cloud storage mistakes that individuals must avoid to protect their personal and financial data in cyberspace. The weekly awareness campaign noted that the most prominent of these mistakes include granting excessive identity and access management permissions, failing to enable multi-factor authentication, overreliance on public cloud storage that may expose sensitive data and facilitate the spread of malware, misconfigured security settings that leave critical systems vulnerable, absence of encryption (both at rest and in transit), and downloading applications without verifying their source or security standards. These mistakes expose many users to significant risks that directly threaten their digital security.

The Cyber Security Council established a strategic partnership with the Safe AI Cup 2026 to promote the ethical and secure use of artificial intelligence. Through this partnership, the Council sponsored and hosted the Safe AI Cup 2026, helping students across the UAE engage confidently with the digital era and deepen their understanding of AI technologies. As part of this effort, the Council also supported the students’ understanding of the role of artificial intelligence in their daily lives and in shaping the present and future through the CyberE71 program, contributing to the UAE’s long-term vision for a secure, sustainable, and resilient digital future. The Safe AI Cup 2026 is part of the ‘Safe AI for Society’ initiative, organized by the Emirates Safer Internet Society (eSafe), the Robotics and Automation Society (RAS), and the Global Innovation and Entrepreneurship (GIE), and hosted by the University of Dubai.

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.

As part of the weekly awareness campaign of the ‘Cyber Pulse’ initiative, launched by the Cyber Security Council, the Council called for the adoption of secure and safe electronic donation methods ahead of Ramadan. Secure payment methods reduce fraudulent activities by 25% and protect individuals and entities from theft, electronic fraud, and identity theft. The weekly awareness message warned against unsecured electronic payment mechanisms, fake advertisements, fake refund schemes, and messages imitating the logos of banks or trusted financial entities. It also urged the use of encryption, dual or multi-factor authentication, data tokenization, and fraud prevention systems, alongside regularly reviewing privacy settings and updating software and operating systems.

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.

Abu Dhabi hosted the CyberFirst UAE Summit 2026 on 3 February, bringing together CISOs, senior cybersecurity executives, government authorities, and technology pioneers to strengthen the UAE’s cyber resilience and digital leadership. The one-day summit acted as a catalyst for policy exchange, strategic collaboration, and innovation leadership, bringing together senior stakeholders from government, finance, utilities and energy, healthcare, manufacturing, and critical infrastructure sectors. Key topics discussed were AI and cloud security, Zero Trust architectures, cyber governance and regulation, threat intelligence, and supply chain security. The summit also featured an Awards & Recognition Ceremony to celebrate excellence and leadership across the cybersecurity ecosystem.

As part of the Cyber Security Council’s weekly Cyber Pulse awareness campaign, securing financial information online was highlighted as essential, with financial data remaining a key target for cybercriminals. The update notes that more than 60% of financial attacks start with stolen login details, often leading to unauthorized access, identity theft, and financial loss. Recommended precautions include using secure payment methods, avoiding saving financial data on devices, monitoring accounts regularly, ignoring suspicious ads or messages, and verifying communications through official channels. Additional measures include enabling two-factor authentication, keeping software updated, avoiding public Wi-Fi for banking, using strong unique passwords, and activating instant bank alerts to spot suspicious activity quickly.

H.H. Sheikh Hazza bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the Ruler’s Representative in Al Ain Region, today received at Al Maqam Palace a delegation from the Cyber Security Council, led by H.E. Dr. Mohamed Al Kuwaiti, Head of Cyber Security for the UAE Government. The meeting highlighted the Council’s efforts to strengthen digital infrastructure and build national capabilities in AI and cybersecurity, supporting an advanced digital ecosystem that keeps pace with global technological progress and ensures a secure environment for businesses and institutions across vital sectors. H.H. Sheikh Hazza bin Zayed Al Nahyan was also briefed on the Council’s plans to expand CyberE71, the entrepreneurship and innovation program within the cybersecurity ecosystem, to support innovative ideas from school and university students, as well as entrepreneurs in Al Ain Region. This will be done through capacity building and by providing a supportive environment that enables the development of pioneering solutions to protect cyberspace and advance the digital economy.