Building cyber resilience through AI with SANS Institute

As cybersecurity becomes increasingly intertwined with national resilience and digital transformation in the Middle East, the skills organizations require are evolving. No longer just a technical concern, cybersecurity has become a strategic priority supporting economic growth and digital advancement. The focus now extends beyond technical expertise to developing sustainable cybersecurity capabilities throughout the organization.

This involves specialized practitioners, security leaders, and critical-infrastructure professionals, all supported by continuous learning pathways to keep skills current with the rapid pace of change.

For organizations in the UAE today, the critical question is whether they possess the right capabilities to secure their digital ambitions. The UAE’s cyber threat landscape in 2026 is diverse, encompassing AI-powered phishing, deepfake-enabled social engineering, state-sponsored attacks, ransomware, data breaches, scams, and distributed denial-of-service (DDoS) campaigns.

Particularly concerning is the growing threat of ransomware targeting critical infrastructure and financial services, which is expected to persist throughout the year. In response to these threats, resilience will hinge not only on deploying appropriate security technologies but also on cultivating the expertise to effectively respond to emerging risks.

Consequently, hands-on competencies in AI, cloud, zero-trust, and ICS/OT security will remain crucial.

At GISEC 2026, the SANS Institute is leveraging both hands-on training and extensive industry and government collaboration to convert emerging security challenges into tangible skills. Through their partnership with the UAE Cybersecurity Council, SANS is broadening access to advanced training and globally recognized certifications.

Additionally, they are supporting capacity building, information sharing, awareness initiatives, and advisory services. CyberE71, the Council’s platform for cybersecurity innovation and entrepreneurship, plays a pivotal role in this collaboration. By linking SANS Institute’s training and technical expertise with cybersecurity startups, entrepreneurs, university talent, and the wider innovation community, CyberE71 ensures that capability development extends beyond professional training, integrating advanced cybersecurity skills with innovation and entrepreneurship in the UAE.