The cybersecurity conversation in Dubai is moving beyond protecting networks and responding to attacks. At GISEC Global 2026, the focus increasingly centred on the wider questions of digital sovereignty, AI security, national resilience, critical infrastructure and the technologies that will shape the next generation of cyber defence.
The 15th edition of the event, held for the first time at Dubai Exhibition Centre, Expo City Dubai, brought together thousands of visitors from more than 130 countries, more than 750 global cybersecurity brands and over 350 speakers.
Governments, national cyber authorities, CISOs, technology companies, cybersecurity specialists and emerging professionals gathered under the theme ‘Cyber First: The New Digital Order’, with discussions examining how rapidly evolving technologies and geopolitical developments are changing the cybersecurity landscape.
The inaugural Cyber First Leadership Summit placed these issues at a senior policy and business level, bringing together ministers, national cyber authorities, global CISOs and technology leaders to discuss the geopolitical and economic implications of an increasingly contested digital environment.
A key theme throughout the event was the relationship between AI and cybersecurity. Discussions explored sovereign AI, secure AI adoption and the security implications of increasingly autonomous technologies, alongside established priorities such as threat intelligence, operational resilience and critical infrastructure protection.
The Global Leaders Series reinforced this focus, including an invitation-only Global Leadership Roundtable featuring H.E. Dr Mohamed Al Kuwaiti, Head of the UAE Cyber Security Council, and senior cybersecurity leaders from Visa, Schneider Electric and Under Armour. The discussion examined AI sovereignty and the protection of what was described as a US$28 trillion digital economy.
“Cybersecurity challenges increasingly transcend borders, making international cooperation essential to building resilient digital economies. The participation of cybersecurity leaders and professionals from across more than 130 countries at GISEC Global reflects the importance of bringing the international community together to exchange knowledge, strengthen partnerships and develop coordinated responses to emerging threats,” said H.E. Dr Mohamed Al Kuwaiti, Head of the UAE Cyber Security Council.
“The UAE remains committed to advancing this dialogue and supporting a secure and trusted digital future.”
Partnerships move from discussion to action
Beyond the conference programme, GISEC Global provided a platform for new partnerships and initiatives targeting practical cybersecurity challenges. The UAE Cyber Security Council and Group-IB announced a collaboration covering threat intelligence exchange, incident response and cybersecurity capacity building. The partnership also includes plans to establish a joint Innovation Center of Excellence in the UAE.
The initiative reflects the growing emphasis on collaboration between government and cybersecurity companies as organisations seek to improve their ability to identify, respond to and recover from cyber threats.
Building the cybersecurity workforce
Talent development was another significant component of this year’s programme. Microsoft and CPX, a G42 company, launched the second cohort of ‘She Protects’, a national cyber talent initiative supported by the UAE Cyber Security Council.
Following the inaugural cohort, which graduated 50 women and helped more than 10 participants secure internships and full-time roles, the new cohort will expand to more than 150 university students and recent graduates from across the UAE.
The programme combines security certification training, threat education, immersive cyber simulations and career-readiness support, with the objective of developing a larger pipeline of cybersecurity professionals.
DESC expands Dubai’s cyber capabilities
The Dubai Electronic Security Center (DESC), Official Government Cybersecurity Partner of GISEC Global, used the event to showcase initiatives spanning government cybersecurity, innovation and workforce development.
The second Dubai Cyber Challenge Government Edition brought together 30 teams representing Dubai Government entities. Competitors tackled challenges in web security, digital forensics, reverse engineering, cryptography and artificial intelligence.
Digital Dubai took first place, followed by the Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs and Port Security – GDFRA Dubai and the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA). AED 100,000 was awarded to the top three teams.
DESC’s School of Cyber Defence also attracted more than 400 registrations from university students across the UAE, offering specialised skills and practical experience for aspiring cybersecurity professionals.
The Centre unveiled SARAAB, described as the region’s first government-developed open-source AI model for deepfake detection. It also introduced the Dubai Cyber Skills Framework, designed to provide a unified reference for cybersecurity qualifications, certifications and career progression across the emirate.
Huawei turns attention to AI security
AI security was also a major focus for Huawei, the Lead Strategic Partner of GISEC Global 2026. The company showcased its approach to cybersecurity in the AI era through discussions covering sovereign AI, security operations, cyber resilience and proactive defence.
Huawei Cloud also launched its MaaS Security Whitepaper, setting out a shared-responsibility approach to securing enterprise-scale AI adoption.
The next security challenge could be quantum
GISEC Global 2026 also looked beyond today’s cybersecurity challenges with the announcement of Global Quantum X (GQX), a new event scheduled to launch alongside GISEC Global in Dubai in 2027. GQX will bring together governments, researchers, technology companies and cybersecurity leaders to explore quantum computing, quantum-secured communications and next-generation sensing.
For the cybersecurity community, the event’s co-location with GISEC Global is particularly relevant to areas such as post-quantum security, cryptographic transition, critical infrastructure protection and national quantum readiness.
The announcement extends GISEC’s agenda from responding to today’s cyber threats to preparing for technologies that could fundamentally change the security landscape.
Trixie LohMirmand, Executive Vice President of inD and organiser of GISEC Global, said: “The attendance of international executives and cyber leaders at GISEC Global reaffirms the confidence in Dubai and the UAE as a global nexus of tech collaboration. Leaders from corporates, economies and governments from more than 130 nations came with renewed commitment and conviction, affirming this as the stage for global cybersecurity business and partnerships.”
She added that Global Quantum X, in partnership with the UAE Cyber Security Council, will join GISEC Global in May 2027, while GITEX GLOBAL will bring the wider global technology ecosystem together in Dubai later this year.
GISEC Global will return to Dubai Exhibition Centre, Expo City Dubai, from 4–6 May 2027.
