The UAE has long recognized the critical role of cybersecurity in safeguarding our national security, economic stability, and digital future. Through proactive measures, such as the establishment of strong cooperation with key partnerships with national, regional and international stakeholders, we have laid a strong foundation for a safer digital ecosystem.

CSC also support collaboration with both governmental and private organizations to strengthen the UAE’s cyber resilience, drive economic growth, and empower innovation, reinforcing the nation’s positions as a global leader in cybersecurity.

Recently, we announced a strategic collaboration between the UAE CSC and Google aiming to reinforce the UAE’s position as a global leader in cybersecurity innovation and education. This initiative, led by the CSC under a bilateral agreement with Google, will establish the first-ever Global Cybersecurity Excellence Center in the world.

In addition to these efforts to enhance cooperation at the national and international levels, the Council is keen to host and participate in international and regional events related to cybersecurity and rapid digital developments, especially events related to AI, IoT, and other events and conferences that contribute to identifying technologies, experiences, and the most prominent successful practices, which enhance cooperation with all partners to confront the common threats created by this accelerating reality.

With the global cybersecurity talent gap, how is the UAE addressing talent development and acquisition? Is AI a critical part of the solution?

Dr Al Kuwaiti: We are taking a decisive step to bridge this gap through initiatives centered on talent development and acquisition.

One standout initiative is the Cyber Pulse Innovation which targets all segments of society and aims to spread the culture of cybersecurity in the UAE community in line with the digital transformation in all sectors. This program is designed to train the next generation of Emirati cybersecurity experts and forms part of the broader initiatives, which aim to train or attract young talents in cybersecurity fields.

Developing a new generation of cybersecurity experts and developers is vital. Aligning with the UAE government’s directives to affirm the UAE’s position as a global tech hub and innovation-driven environment capable of attracting global expertise in these fields, the Council – in collaboration with global and regional partners – is adopting various policies to equip and train individuals and teams in cybersecurity, supporting them with the expertise needed to protect vital systems, harness AI-powered security tools, and respond effectively to cyber incidents.

Through role-based learning and methodologies based on real-life breaches, this works to shape the next generation of cybersecurity defenders.

The UAE’s National Cybersecurity Strategy also places strong emphasis on supporting talents through education and strategic partnerships, investing in upskilling initiatives, training students in AI and cybersecurity. Complementary programs offer specialized training in AI, cybersecurity, and data analytics — targeting students, professionals, and government employees to close the skills gap.