GISEC Global 2026 opens in Dubai as world's cyber leaders unite against threats

Dubai: As cyber professionals gather at GISEC Global 2026 in Dubai, the United Arab Emirates' cybersecurity defenses are already intercepting a staggering 416 attacks per second, amounting to 25,000 per hour and 600,000 daily, according to recent reports. The five-day event, which runs until September 18, brings together over 25,000 cybersecurity experts from more than 180 countries.

With AI taking center stage, this 15th edition of GISEC is themed "Cyber First: The New Digital Order," tackling the intersection of cybersecurity, economic stability, and national security. Spearheading the event is the UAE Cyber Security Council, with support from the Dubai Electronic Security Center and the Ministry of Interior.

Among the key topics are AI's role as both a weapon and a target in cyberattacks, data sovereignty concerns, and the risks associated with AI in cybersecurity. Notable speakers include UAE Cyber Security Council Head Dr. Mohamed Al Kuwaiti, Cyber Security Systems and Services Sector CEO Amer Ashraf, Visa CISO Subra Kumaraswamy, Under Armour CISO Alex Attumalil, and Aikido Security co-founder Roeland Delrue.

For attendees like Brian Sullivan, the focus is on AI's impact on enterprise protection and the associated risks. Meanwhile, Erduan Hoxha emphasizes data sovereignty as a top concern, while first-time attendee Farisa Khan expresses worry about the ease with which hacking tools can now be accessed due to AI.