Dubai welcomes global cybersecurity leaders as AI-powered threats rise worldwide.
Dubai: Cyber threats are hitting the UAE at an extraordinary pace, with around 416 attacks detected every second — equivalent to nearly 25,000 an hour and about 600,000 a day. Against this backdrop, cybersecurity experts and industry leaders from around the world have gathered at the Dubai Exhibition Centre to address the rapidly evolving digital threat landscape.
GISEC Global 2026, the Middle East and Africa’s largest cybersecurity event, opened today at the Dubai Exhibition Centre in Expo City Dubai under the theme “Cyber First: The New Digital Order.” Now in its 15th edition, the event runs until September 18 and is expected to welcome more than 25,000 cybersecurity professionals, over 750 exhibiting brands, more than 350 expert speakers and participants from upwards of 180 countries.
AI takes centre stage
Hosted by the UAE Cyber Security Council, GISEC Global is being held with the Dubai Electronic Security Center (DESC) as its official Government Cybersecurity Partner, alongside support from the Ministry of Interior and Dubai Police.
A major addition this year is the Cyber First Global Summit, which brings together government ministers, central bank governors, national cybersecurity authorities and global technology executives. Discussions will focus on the growing role of cybersecurity in protecting economies and national security, particularly as AI-driven technologies reshape both digital threats and cyber defence.
With ransomware campaigns becoming increasingly AI-assisted, malware gaining the ability to modify its own code to evade detection, and deepfakes emerging as a growing security concern, artificial intelligence is a central focus at this year’s GISEC Global. Discussions will examine AI from multiple perspectives — as a tool for cyberattacks, a potential target and a technology reshaping the wider threat landscape.
Among the prominent speakers taking the stage are Dr Mohamed Al Kuwaiti, Head of the UAE Cyber Security Council; Amer Ashraf, CEO of the Cyber Security Systems and Services Sector at the Dubai Electronic Security Center (DESC); Subra Kumaraswamy, Senior Vice President and Chief Information Security Officer (CISO) at Visa; Alex Attumalil, CISO at Under Armour; and Roeland Delrue, co-founder of cybersecurity company Aikido Security.
“Our first line of defence is still and yet is the community,” H.E. Dr Mohamed Al Kuwaiti said while speaking at GISEC Global 2026.
Al Kuwaiti stressed that preparing for future cyber threats will require a shift towards post-quantum cryptography, while cybersecurity must also be integrated into smart cities and essential services from the design stage.
He also highlighted the importance of building cybersecurity awareness across society, particularly among women, young people and children. Cybersecurity concepts have already been incorporated into educational curricula, he said, adding that the widespread availability of AI makes developing a strong culture of cyber awareness increasingly important.
What to expect from GISEC 2026
The opportunities and risks surrounding the use of artificial intelligence in cybersecurity are among the key topics attracting attention at GISEC Global 2026.
Among those keen to learn more is attendee Brian Sullivan, who said he was particularly interested in hearing how industry experts view AI’s growing role in protecting organisations, as well as the new security risks the technology could introduce.
“I am interested to hear from many speakers here today about the trends they are seeing, particularly with the use of AI to protect enterprises, but also to understand the risks that AI poses as well,” Sullivan said.
Data sovereignty has also emerged as a key topic of discussion at GISEC Global 2026, reflecting growing concerns over how and where sensitive information is stored, managed and protected.
Speaking to Gulf News at the event, visitor Erduan Hoxha highlighted data sovereignty as one of the important cybersecurity issues drawing attention at this year’s gathering.
“I am here to build relationships with industry professionals and gain a better understanding of the key challenges facing the cybersecurity sector. Data sovereignty is one of the major issues,” Hoxha said.
For some visitors, GISEC Global 2026 marks their first experience at the cybersecurity event. Farisa Khan is among the first-time attendees, joining the event to explore how artificial intelligence is making sophisticated hacking tools increasingly accessible, even to those with limited technical expertise.
“I feel like we obviously need much stronger security than before, as AI is making it possible for people with little or no experience to get into hacking. That is a serious threat,” Khan said.
