UAE Elected Vice President of Organisation of Islamic Cooperation Team to Respond to Cyber Emergencies

The UAE was elected Vice President of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) team to respond to cyber emergencies during the 10th Regional Cybersecurity Week for Arab Countries and OIC Member States organized by the Arab Regional Cyber Security Center in cooperation with the Ministry of Transport, Communications and Information Technology in the Sultanate of Oman, with the participation of more than 400 specialists from 45 countries.

His Excellency Mohamed Sultan Al Suwaidi, UAE Ambassador to the Sultanate of Oman, remarked: “I congratulate the UAE on the election of its Chief of Cyber Security as Vice President of the OIC Computer Emergency Response Team, and I also congratulate the Sultanate of Oman on the election of the Director General of the National Center for Information Safety at the Ministry of Transport, Communications and Information Technology and the President of the Arab Regional Cyber Security Center and International Telecommunication Union as President , which reflects the confidence bestowed in him by international and regional organizations.”

His Excellency also thanked the Sultanate of Oman for hosting the 10th Regional Cybersecurity Week for Arab Countries and OIC Members, which highlights key files in this field and the strategic importance of securing electronic systems for governments.

During its participation, the UAE presented its experience in this sector, underscoring the UAE leadership’s interest and efforts to strengthen the country’s advanced position in maintaining sophisticated and secure digital infrastructure that keeps pace with its ambitions for the next 50 years. The UAE ranked fifth in the Global Cybersecurity Index 2020 issued by the UN International Telecommunication Union.

For his part, Dr. Mohamed Al Kuwaiti, Head of Cybersecurity at the UAE Government, said that through its participation in this regional forum, the UAE "benefits from other countries’ expertise while presenting its own experience, as it has made great technical and legislative strides in cybersecurity.”

He added, "The UAE has extensive experience in the fields of cloud computing security, and it has prioritized this field due to its pivotal role in accelerating secure digital transformation.”

Moreover, he underscored that the UAE is keen to continue strengthening its electronic infrastructure and cyber domains to protect its cyber security.

Dr. Al Kuwaiti added, "The event hosted by the Sultanate of Oman is a significant opportunity to learn about the experiences of other countries in enhancing the readiness and capabilities of institutions concerned with rapid response to risks and threats." 

He added: "The UAE plays an active role in improving the effectiveness of its cybersecurity response regionally and globally through cooperation with the International Telecommunication Union and the Arab Regional Cyber Security Center.”

He also stressed that the UAE has developed an advanced and professional cybersecurity model to enhance digital security and keep pace with comprehensive digital transformation.

The forum included a two-day exercise entitled: "General Perspectives on the Rapid Evolution of Cyber Threats" focused on enhancing communication and building the capacity of emergency response teams to address such threats. It presented four scenarios developed by the Arab Regional Cyber Security Center and the International Telecommunication Union on national centers for cyber security and emergency response in Arab and OIC countries.