GISEC 2025: Dubai at the Forefront of Global Cybersecurity Innovation

GISEC Global 2025 has once again solidified Dubai’s position as a pivotal hub for cybersecurity dialogue, innovation, and collaboration. Held at the Dubai World Trade Centre, this three-day event marks its 14^th edition and continues to serve as a vital platform for industry leaders, cybersecurity experts, and government officials to discuss and advance global cybersecurity strategies. The event brings together key players from across the Middle East, Africa, and Asia, highlighting cutting-edge solutions, fostering strategic alliances, and offering invaluable insights to strengthen digital defenses across industries.

UAE’s Vision: Leading the Charge in Cybersecurity

The UAE has long been recognized as a global leader in cybersecurity, thanks to its forward-thinking national policies and strategies designed to enhance the country’s digital infrastructure. The UAE’s robust cybersecurity framework has been established through initiatives like the “Cyber Sniper” program, which aims to develop local talent, and the Dubai Electronic Security Center’s cybersecurity index, ensuring compliance with stringent security standards.

Ned Baltagi, Managing Director for the Middle East, Turkey, and Africa at SANS Institute, shared his perspective on the UAE’s proactive approach. According to Baltagi, “The UAE’s forward-thinking cybersecurity policies and national strategies are setting a global example. By aligning with frameworks like SCyWF and investing in programs that develop homegrown talent, the UAE is laying the foundation for a sustainable cybersecurity ecosystem.” He further emphasized the importance of institutions like the SANS Cyber Academies, which are integral in bridging skills gaps through industry-aligned training and certifications, thus contributing to regional cyber resilience.

Cybersecurity Innovation: The Role of AI

One of the central themes of GISEC 2025 revolves around the dual role of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in both advancing cyber threats and enhancing cybersecurity defenses. As cybercriminals increasingly use AI to create more sophisticated and evasive threats, the cybersecurity community is responding by deploying AI-powered solutions to bolster defenses.

Sujoy Banerjee, Associate Director at ManageEngine, discussed the growing complexity of cyber threats and the need for evolving regulatory frameworks to keep pace with new technologies. “Although AI was initially introduced to ease organizational burdens, it has become a tool for malicious actors, enabling them to carry out scalable attacks like hyper-realistic phishing and fake websites,” Banerjee said. He also stressed the necessity of updating cybersecurity policies and regulations to address AI-specific threats, such as data poisoning and the misuse of AI agents.

Meriam ElOuazzani, Senior Regional Director for META at SentinelOne, echoed similar sentiments, recognizing the transformative impact of AI in cybersecurity. “GISEC plays a crucial role in advancing the region’s cybersecurity landscape by uniting global innovation with regional ambition. It is here that the region crafts its cyber resilience blueprint and asserts its leadership on the global stage,” ElOuazzani explained. She also highlighted the emergence of agentic AI, which autonomously triages alerts, investigates threats, and initiates full-loop remediation processes. This proactive approach to defense enables faster response times and significantly enhances protection.

The Rise of AI-driven Ransomware

AI-driven ransomware has emerged as one of the most concerning developments in the cybersecurity space. Cybercriminals are increasingly utilizing AI to automate attacks, adapt them in real-time, and bypass traditional security measures. These new AI-powered ransomware threats are more targeted and increasingly difficult to detect, posing significant challenges to cybersecurity professionals.

Gopan Sivasankaran, General Manager at Secureworks, a Sophos Company, shared his insights on the evolution of AI-driven ransomware. “AI-driven ransomware is fundamentally changing the landscape of cyberattacks by making them faster, more targeted, and harder to detect,” Sivasankaran stated. He noted that the growing threat of AI-powered attacks is not only transforming the approach to cybersecurity but also reshaping the dynamics of cyber insurance. Insurers are now requiring organizations to demonstrate proactive detection, rapid response, and comprehensive visibility before offering favorable coverage. This shift has prompted businesses to invest in AI-powered security solutions, such as Sophos’ Extended Detection and Response (XDR) and Managed Detection and Response (MDR) systems, to reduce exposure to these evolving threats and meet rising insurance expectations.

Collaboration: A Key Element in Cyber Defense

GISEC 2025 also underscored the growing importance of collaboration between public and private sector organizations to tackle the region’s most pressing cybersecurity challenges. Maher Jadallah, Vice President for Middle East & North Africa at Tenable, highlighted GISEC’s role as a vital platform for such collaboration. “Every year, GISEC unites the global and regional cybersecurity community, facilitating knowledge exchange, fostering partnerships, and driving innovation,” he said.

Jadallah stressed the importance of a risk-based approach to vulnerability management, particularly in sectors like energy, utilities, and manufacturing, where operational technology (OT) is increasingly converging with IT systems. “By integrating continuous visibility across IT and OT assets with threat intelligence, security teams can focus on the most significant risks, ensuring resilience across critical infrastructure environments,” he added. This unified approach is essential in safeguarding industries that are frequently targeted by cybercriminals.

Upskilling and Retaining Local Talent

As cybersecurity threats evolve, so too must the workforce tasked with defending against them. A central theme at GISEC 2025 was the need to upskill local cybersecurity talent, given the widening skills gap in the region. Many organizations are increasingly prioritizing internal development over external hiring to address this challenge.

Ned Baltagi from SANS Institute pointed out that qualities like curiosity, adaptability, and cultural fit are often more valuable than technical credentials. “These traits already exist within the organization, and companies are recognizing their importance in building a resilient cybersecurity workforce,” he explained. SANS’ latest Workforce Research Report also supports this view, showing that 51% of organizations prefer to upskill their existing teams instead of hiring externally.

Investing in tailored training programs and certifications is critical to ensure that cybersecurity professionals are equipped to tackle the complex challenges of today’s rapidly evolving cyber threat landscape. By prioritizing continuous education and internal development, companies are enhancing their ability to respond to emerging threats and strengthening their overall cybersecurity posture.

The UAE’s Commitment to Cybersecurity Leadership

GISEC 2025’s opening day reinforced the UAE’s ongoing commitment to becoming a global leader in cybersecurity. As the region continues to face increasingly sophisticated cyber threats, the emphasis on AI-driven solutions, collaboration, and upskilling local talent has never been more important. Industry leaders stressed the need for proactive cybersecurity measures, continuous innovation, and international cooperation to build a secure digital future.

The UAE is well-positioned to lead the way in shaping the global cybersecurity landscape. As a host of GISEC, Dubai continues to play a key role in bringing together experts and stakeholders from around the world to address the most critical issues facing the cybersecurity industry today.

Shaping the Future of Cybersecurity at GISEC 2025

As GISEC Global 2025 unfolds, it is clear that Dubai remains a global epicenter for cybersecurity innovation and collaboration. With its cutting-edge technologies, forward-thinking policies, and commitment to nurturing local talent, the UAE is playing a pivotal role in addressing the rapidly evolving cybersecurity challenges facing the world today.

From the rise of AI-driven threats to the increasing demand for regulatory frameworks and cross-sector collaboration, the event serves as an important platform for shaping the future of global cybersecurity. As GISEC continues to grow, it will undoubtedly remain at the forefront of cybersecurity discussions, driving the development of solutions and partnerships necessary to safeguard our digital future.