The UAE Cybersecurity Council launched the Cyber Pulse initiative in June 2022, marking a transformative journey towards strengthening the nation's digital resilience. After successfully implementing Cyber Pulse 2.0, the initiative is now transitioning into Cyber Pulse 3.0, building on the momentum and achievements of the past years. Cyber Pulse is at the forefront of empowering the UAE’s cybersecurity landscape, driving awareness, innovation, and international collaboration.

 

Cyber Pulse consists of 4 workstreams:

 

Cyber Drills

The Cyber Drills workstream is designed to test the institutional readiness of organizations across 10 key sectors in the UAE. Through simulated cyber-attacks, these drills enhance the skills of cybersecurity professionals, preparing them for real-world threats. The workstream includes a detailed execution plan for conducting these drills, supported by comprehensive training documentation and reports. Participants are provided with a training deck tailored to the Cyber Range platform, ensuring practical engagement. A dashboard per sector tracks key performance indicators (KPIs) to measure each sector’s progress and preparedness.
 

Global Eminence

The Global Eminence workstream promotes the UAE's position as a global leader in cybersecurity by actively participating in international forums, awards, and indices. This includes contributing to key global cybersecurity indices and drafting reports for submission to the Global Cybersecurity Index (GCI). A comprehensive collection of documents and evidence supports these submissions. To track the UAE’s progress, a dedicated dashboard with KPIs monitors the success of the initiative and measures the impact of ongoing efforts.
 

Cyber Future Leader

Focusing on the development of national talent, the Cyber Future Leader workstream is designed to mentor and train the next generation of cybersecurity professionals. The program targets both C-level executives from 10 key sectors and young individuals aspiring to excel in the field. It includes structured programs such as the C-Level Summit, which gathers hundreds of leaders across sectors, and a Youth and Young Bootcamp aimed at inspiring future cybersecurity talent. Progress is measured through a dashboard with KPIs, ensuring the initiative meets its talent development goals.
 

Awareness

The Awareness workstream is dedicated to raising cybersecurity awareness across various sectors through targeted outreach campaigns and training sessions. Campaigns are tailored to different audience segments and supported by bilingual training materials, ensuring broad accessibility. A "train the trainer" approach equips leaders to deliver cybersecurity training more effectively. Quarterly campaigns are planned and executed, with reports documenting their impact. A dashboard tracks KPIs to measure the progress and success of these efforts, ensuring continuous improvement in cybersecurity awareness across the UAE.
 

Key Achievements in 2023 and 2024:

1. Cyber Drills for All Levels:
   
   Cyber Pulse has conducted multiple cyber drill sessions targeting diverse audiences, from technical staff to leadership levels:

   • Dubai Airshow 2023 Cyber Drill: A groundbreaking session with 30+ UAE leaders participating in a simulated ransomware attack. This allowed leadership across the nation to discuss and exchange perspectives on dealing with critical cyber threats.

   • Technical Cyber Drill 2024: Engaging over 40 technical staff from 10 of the UAE’s vital sectors, this session included a Capture the Flag scenario mimicking real-life cyber situations, showcasing the collaborative efforts and problem-solving skills of participants.

   • Global Cyber Drill at GISEC 2024: In partnership with the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), a global-level cyber drill was conducted at GISEC 2024, further solidifying the UAE’s presence on the international cybersecurity stage.
      

2. Global Leadership in Cybersecurity:
   The UAE has made significant strides towards becoming a global cybersecurity leader, stepping up to the 1st tier in the Global Cybersecurity Index 2024 by the ITU.
    

3. Recognition for Leadership:
   H.E. Dr. Mohamed Al Kuwaiti, head of the UAE Cybersecurity Council, has been honored with various prestigious awards, most notably the Lifetime Achievement Award presented by Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed Al Maktoum, for his outstanding contributions to cybersecurity.
    

4. International Recognition for Cyber Pulse:
   The Cyber Pulse initiative itself was recognized as an Outstanding Cybersecurity Project by the ITU WSIS Awards 2023, highlighting its impact and innovation.
    

5. National Cybersecurity Awareness Program:
   This initiative under Cyber Pulse was named a Champion Project at the ITU WSIS Awards 2024, acknowledging its role in promoting cyber safety and awareness at the national level.
    

6. C-Level Summit 2024:
   In 2024, Cyber Pulse successfully organized a C-Level Summit, gathering over 180 executives from 10 vital sectors across the UAE. This summit fostered dialogue on the future of cybersecurity and increased awareness among top leadership about the importance of cyber resilience.
    

7. Youth and Young Bootcamp:
   Focusing on the next generation of cybersecurity leaders, Cyber Pulse organized a Youth and Young Bootcamp, empowering young talents and providing them with the skills and knowledge to excel in the field.

 

More objectives:

• Identify and train future leaders across different sectors, providing them with the knowledge and tools to manage cybersecurity risks and respond effectively to incidents.

 

•  Raise national awareness on the importance of cybersecurity, highlighting best practices, trends, and available resources for the UAE population.

 

•  Maintain the UAE’s cybersecurity excellence by introducing innovative programs and fostering cross-sector coordination to tackle evolving threats.