CyberX Summit and Awards 2026: UAE Edition

EVENT OVERVIEW

50,000 electronic attacks countered daily by UAE Cybersecurity Council

223,800 assets ‘exposed’ to cyberattacks as AI-driven attacks rise

UAE Sees 32% Rise in Ransomware Attacks in 2024

The biggest cybersecurity gathering in Kuwait and Middle East

The Conference

The People

Best cybersecurity place to network and gain business

The Exhibition

The cyber security market in the UAE is expected to reach a projected revenue of US$ 10,396.7 million by 2030. A compound annual growth rate of 11.7% is expected of the UAE cyber security market from 2025 to 2030.

The UAE government actively promotes cybersecurity through the National Cybersecurity Strategy, implementing rolling compliance audits and embedding security spending into digital programs. The rise of state-sponsored cyberattacks and advanced persistent threats (APTs) in the region increases the urgency for organizations to invest in advanced security solutions to protect national digital assets .

CyberX Abu Dhabi brings together the UAE’s leading cybersecurity authorities, government decision-makers, C-suite executives, and global technology innovators to strengthen the nation’s digital defense landscape. This high-impact summit serves as a premier platform to exchange strategies, showcase cutting-edge technologies, and foster public–private collaboration for a secure and resilient digital future.

AGENDA

08:30 - 09:30

Registrations and Networking Break

Delegate registration will commence with a warm welcome, allowing attendees to check in, collect event materials, and prepare for a day of strategic insights and high-level networking

09:30 – 09:40

Welcome Address by the Conference Chairperson

Parvez Shariff, CEO & Commercial Director, BConnect Global

09:40 – 10:00

Opening Keynote Presentation: Securing Critical Communications in a Connected World

Speaker:

Dr. Hamad Alnuaimi, Head of Telecom Division, Abu Dhabi Police GHQ

10:00 – 10:45

Leadership Panel Discussion: Driving Cyber Resilience and Digital Trust in the UAE's Vision 2030 Journey

How government entities, regulators, and private sectors can collaborate to strengthen UAE's cyber resilience
Balancing Innovation with Security: The Leadership Dilemma
Developing local cybersecurity talent and leadership skills to sustain long-term resilience
How UAE leaders are forecasting and mitigating future cyber risks from AI-generated attacks to quantum decryption
Discussing leadership's role in embedding cybersecurity into business innovation

Panellists:

Musaab Hasan, Advisor - Information Security & Business Continuity / IT Head, Emirates College for Advanced Education
Khurram Sabir, Chief Risk Officer and Chief Internal Auditor, General Pension and Social Security Authority (GPSSA)
Andres Desa, Senior Vice President of Audit & Assurance – Cybersecurity, Mubadala Investment Company

Moderator:

Hani Bani Amer, Head - Information Security, Al Etihad Payments

10:45 – 11:00

Keynote Presentation:
The $10M Ultimatum, Case Study by Corelight

Speaker:

Karthik Ramakrishnan, Sales Engineering Lead | META, Corelight

11:00 - 11:45

Networking Coffee Break

Take a refreshing coffee break designed for informal networking, where delegates can recharge, engage in insightful conversations, and connect with fellow cybersecurity and business leaders

11:45 – 12:30

Securing the Intelligent Supply Chain: Managing Third-Party & AI Risk Across Digital and Operational Environments

AI Risk in the Modern Supply Chain - Data manipulation, model poisoning, and adversarial attacks
Software & Digital Supply Chain Vulnerabilities
Supply Chain Cyber Risk in Hyperconnected IT-OT-IoT Environments
Navigating Regulatory Mandates and Security Standards Across the Supply Chain Ecosystem
Threat intelligence sharing across ecosystems
Geopolitical Risk & the Fragility of Global Supply Chains

Panellists:

James Wiles, Chief Information Security Officer, Middle East & Africa, Cigna Healthcare
Bharat Raigangar, Global Head - AI Cyber Security & Risk Management, PhoxHealth
Vishnu Padmakumar, Head of Digital Security Section, General Pension & Social Security Authority (GPSSA)
Habib Ahmad Noor, Senior Specialist Procurement Risk Management, ADNOC Group
Ahmed Mahmoud, Head of Information Security Engineering, Leading International Bank

Moderator:

Ali Ismail Awad, Cybersecurity Professor & Educator, United Arab Emirates University

12:30 - 13:45

Networking Luncheons

13:45 – 14:30

Voices of Resilience: Women Transforming Cybersecurity

Leading cybersecurity teams in an increasingly complex threat landscape
Building cyber resilience across critical infrastructure and government
AI's impact on cyber defence and cybercrime
Incident response and crisis leadership
Developing the next generation of cyber talent through mentorship and sponsorship
Balancing operational continuity with cybersecurity

Speakers:

Anush Begoyan Eng, Chief Information Security Officer (Head of Cybersecurity), Global Digital Marketing Company
Dee Deu, Group Director Information Security, Chalhoub Group
Hessa Almatrooshi, Team Leader of Information Security, Ajman Free Zone (AFZ)

Moderator:

Shafeeqa Shakri, Cybersecurity Project Manager, Dubai Airports

14:30 – 15:15

Reimagining GRC for the Digital Enterprise: From Compliance to Cyber Resilience

Integrated Enterprise Risk Governance - Moving beyond siloed compliance to integrated risk governance
Aligning Cybersecurity with Enterprise Risk Management
Regulatory Complexity & Multi-Jurisdiction Compliance
Leveraging AI for risk intelligence and compliance monitoring
Integrating OT Security into Enterprise GRC Frameworks - Bridging the gap between IT and OT risk
Exploring how AI is reshaping internal audit, aiming to strengthen your GRC framework

Panellists:

Kiran Kumar, Chief Information Security Officer, ADI foundation
Alok Tuteja, Head of Governance, Esyasoft Holdings
Bader AL Zyouud, Head of Information Security Governance & Risk, Abu Dhabi Media
Ali Al Kaf Alhashmi, Vice President – Cyber Security and Technology, Mubadala Investment

Moderator:

Bharat Raigangar, Global Head - AI Cyber Security & Risk Management, PhoxHealth

15:15 – 15:30

Awards Ceremony

Join us as we celebrate organizations and individuals driving digital trust and securing the nation's Vision 2030 journey.

An exclusive evening of recognition, networking, and honoring excellence within the region's cyber ecosystem

15:30 – 16:30

Closing Address and Networking Breaks

DOWNLOAD AGENDA