Strategic Overview
The UAE National Cybersecurity Strategy provides the federation’s comprehensive framework for addressing cyber threats across government, critical infrastructure, and the private sector. The strategy was developed under the direction of the UAE Cybersecurity Council, established in 2020 as the federal body responsible for cybersecurity policy, standards, and incident response coordination. The strategy reflects the reality that the UAE’s ambitious digital transformation agenda — spanning smart government, AI adoption, digital finance, and connected infrastructure — creates a proportionally expanding attack surface that must be managed.
The UAE has experienced a rapid increase in the volume and sophistication of cyber threats, ranging from state-sponsored espionage attempts to ransomware campaigns targeting commercial enterprises and phishing attacks on government services. The cybersecurity strategy establishes the institutional architecture, regulatory standards, and capability development programmes needed to detect, prevent, and respond to these threats at the national level.
Institutional Framework
The UAE Cybersecurity Council serves as the apex institution, reporting to the UAE Cabinet and coordinating with federal and emirate-level entities. The council’s mandate includes setting national cybersecurity standards, conducting risk assessments of critical national infrastructure, coordinating incident response across government and private sector, and representing the UAE in international cybersecurity cooperation.
At the operational level, the National Computer Emergency Response Team (aeCERT) provides technical incident response and threat intelligence services. Individual emirates and major government entities maintain their own security operations centres, with coordination mechanisms linking them to the federal architecture. Abu Dhabi, Dubai, and Sharjah have particularly advanced emirate-level cybersecurity operations, reflecting both the concentration of digital infrastructure and the maturity of their government technology ecosystems.
Critical Infrastructure Protection
Protection of critical national infrastructure — including energy systems, water desalination plants, telecommunications networks, financial systems, and transportation — is the strategy’s highest priority. The UAE’s infrastructure is among the most digitally connected in the region, and the consequences of a successful cyber attack on systems such as the electricity grid or desalination network would be severe. The strategy mandates cybersecurity standards for critical infrastructure operators, regular penetration testing and vulnerability assessments, and contingency planning for major cyber incidents.
The energy sector receives particular attention given its economic importance and the operational technology systems that control oil production, refining, and power generation. ADNOC, DEWA, EWEC, and other energy entities have implemented dedicated cybersecurity programmes, with the national strategy providing the overarching standards and coordination framework.
Talent Development and Awareness
The cybersecurity talent gap is a global challenge, and the UAE faces acute competition for skilled professionals. The national strategy includes provisions for cybersecurity education at university level, professional certification programmes, competitive cyber exercises and hackathons, and career pathways designed to attract Emiratis into the cybersecurity workforce. The Mohammed Bin Rashid Smart Government Establishment and the Khalifa University Centre for Cyber-Physical Systems contribute to both training and research.
Public awareness programmes target the broader population, recognising that individual cyber hygiene — password management, phishing awareness, software updates — constitutes the first line of defence against many threat vectors. Government-led campaigns and school curricula integration aim to build a digitally literate population that can participate safely in the increasingly connected economy.
International Cooperation
Cybersecurity is inherently transnational, and the UAE participates actively in international cooperation frameworks. Bilateral agreements with allied nations facilitate intelligence sharing on threat actors and attack methodologies. The UAE is a member of international cybersecurity organisations and participates in coordinated responses to global cyber incidents. The strategy positions international cooperation as essential for a country that serves as a major global business hub and digital economy connector.
Policy Intersections
The National Cybersecurity Strategy underpins virtually every digital initiative in the UAE policy portfolio. It is a prerequisite for the National AI Strategy, which depends on trusted data systems. It enables smart government services by securing citizen data. It supports the financial sector’s digital transformation by maintaining trust in electronic transactions. And it protects the critical infrastructure upon which the UAE’s daily functioning depends. As the UAE’s digital ambitions grow, the cybersecurity strategy must evolve in parallel to maintain the trust and resilience that a technology-driven economy demands.