The UAE Cyber Security Council (CSC), Core42, a G42 company, Microsoft and Open Innovation AI are advancing the implementation of Microsoft’s MDASH, moving beyond its availability in the UAE towards phased adoption across participating government entities.
The next phase will involve pilot programmes, technical workshops, onboarding and implementation support to help government organisations integrate the technology into their software security processes. The collaboration will also enhance the UAE’s National AI Test and Validation Lab with MDASH-enabled code security capabilities, helping identify software vulnerabilities and strengthen the protection of critical digital services.
The initiative builds on the National AI Test and Validation Lab, established earlier this year with the participation of the Cyber Security Council and Open Innovation AI. Operating under CSC governance, the Lab provides a controlled environment for testing and validating the security, safety and trustworthiness of AI models, agents and applications.
Under the expanded collaboration, the Cyber Security Council will guide adoption in line with national cybersecurity priorities. Core42 will provide the deployment environment, onboarding and implementation support through its Sovereign Enabled Public Cloud offering and Insight sovereign controls. These capabilities are intended to help participating entities maintain security, privacy and operational control over their digital environments.
Microsoft’s MDASH employs a multi-model, agentic approach to identify, validate and prioritise software vulnerabilities. Open Innovation AI will support its integration into the National AI Test and Validation Lab, enabling participating government entities to assess software risks and strengthen security assurance before broader deployment.
H.E. Dr Mohamed Al Kuwaiti, Head of Cyber Security for the UAE Government, said the initiative would help move MDASH from availability to practical adoption across government entities, guided by national cybersecurity priorities.
“Securing the UAE’s digital future starts with securing the code behind our critical services,” Al Kuwaiti said. He added that combining sovereign infrastructure, advanced AI capabilities and the National AI Test and Validation Lab would help government entities identify vulnerabilities earlier, accelerate remediation and strengthen trust in AI-powered public services.
Talal M. Al Kaissi, Chief Executive Officer of Core42, said the company would provide the sovereign-enabled infrastructure and operational support required to facilitate responsible adoption across the public sector and regulated industries. He noted that the collaboration, drawing on expertise across G42, would help organisations strengthen software assurance, improve visibility into security risks and deploy AI-powered cybersecurity capabilities with greater confidence.
Amr Kamel, General Manager of Microsoft UAE, emphasised the importance of keeping security central to digital transformation as AI adoption accelerates. He said the partnership brings together AI-powered protection, sovereign capabilities and national collaboration to help government entities identify vulnerabilities earlier and safeguard critical services.
Dr Abed Benaichouche, Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Open Innovation AI, highlighted the need to address security across the AI ecosystem, from underlying infrastructure to the behaviour of AI agents.
Within the National AI Test and Validation Lab, Microsoft’s MDASH will work alongside Open Innovation AI Fabric and its AI security capabilities to identify vulnerabilities and assess risks across AI systems. Benaichouche said this integration would give government entities greater visibility into potential weaknesses and support informed security decisions before systems are deployed.
The next phase establishes a coordinated approach to strengthening government software security through AI-powered vulnerability assessment, sovereign infrastructure and a governed testing environment. By extending MDASH into the National AI Test and Validation Lab, the partners aim to help participating entities improve software assurance while retaining oversight of their digital environments.
