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- published 3/10/26 11:48 AM •
- updated •
- 5 MIN
CyberFirst UAE Summit 2026 to Advance National Cyber Resilience and Digital Trust
UAE Cyber Security Council announced that Abu Dhabi will host the CyberFirst UAE Summit 2026 on 3 February, as a high-level platform that brings together CISOs, senior cybersecurity executives, government authorities, and technology pioneers to strengthen the UAE’s cyber resilience and digital leadership amid an increasingly complex and evolving threat landscape.
With UAE accelerating its AED 100 billion-plus digital economy agenda, cybersecurity has emerged as a defining pillar of national development, safeguarding critical systems, sensitive data, and citizens across an interconnected digital ecosystem. The CyberFirst UAE Summit 2026 aligns closely with the UAE National Cybersecurity Strategy, which has positioned the country among the world’s most advanced cyber-ready nations.
In 2024, the UAE achieved a 100% score in the Global Cybersecurity Index, earning recognition as a global “Pioneering Model” for cyber readiness. This achievement reflects sustained national investment in governance, innovation, and digital trust, supported by a rapidly expanding cybersecurity market. Despite this progress, the regional threat landscape continues to intensify and cyber incidents across the GCC rising by nearly 40% year-on-year.
Highlighting the importance of collective resilience, H.E. Dr Mohamed Al Kuwaiti, Head of Cyber Security for UAE Government, said: “Cybersecurity today is no longer a technical function. It is a national imperative that underpins economic growth, public trust, and societal resilience. As digital transformation accelerates, the scale, speed, and sophistication of cyber threats demand a unified approach that brings together policy, innovation, and leadership.”
Dr Al Kuwaiti added: “The CyberFirst UAE Summit serves as a critical platform for collaboration, enabling decision-makers and industry leaders to align on strategy, share intelligence, and advance the adoption of secure-by-design frameworks. By strengthening cyber resilience today, we ensure that the UAE’s digital future remains trusted, competitive, and globally respected.”
This exclusive one-day summit will act 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 themes will include national cyber resilience, AI and cloud security, Zero Trust architectures, cyber governance and regulation, threat intelligence, supply chain security, and the role of leadership in building and sustaining digital trust.
A key highlight of the summit will be the Awards & Recognition Ceremony, celebrating excellence and leadership across the cybersecurity ecosystem. Award categories include Cloud & AI Security Excellence Award, Cybersecurity Leader of the Year – UAE & MENA, Cybersecurity Innovator of the Year, Cybersecurity Woman of the Year – UAE, Best Zero Trust Implementation Award, Cybersecurity Strategy and Vision Award, Best Cybersecurity Innovation Award, Threat Intelligence Leadership Award, and Cybersecurity Distribution Excellence Award.
The CyberFirst UAE Summit 2026 reinforces the nation’s vision of becoming a global hub for digital trust and cybersecurity excellence, ensuring a secure and resilient digital future for the UAE and the region. It is supported by leading industry partners, with sponsors that include Google Cloud Security, Anomali, OPSWAT, Pentera, AmiViz, hwg, Tenable, securonix, paramount assuring Value and Kron technologies.
Further information and registration details are available at https://uae.cyberfirstseries.com.
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