The upcoming GISEC Global 2026 event aims to address the evolving cyber threat landscape by gathering cybersecurity experts, government officials, and industry leaders to discuss strategies for protecting critical infrastructure.
Scheduled from September 16-18, 2026, at the Dubai Exhibition Centre, Expo City Dubai, this major cybersecurity event in the MENA region is organized by inD. It aims to enhance readiness against cyber risks influenced by geopolitical tensions, advancements in artificial intelligence, and quantum computing.
Long-term Security Strategies
The World Economic Forum's Global Cybersecurity Outlook 2026 highlights a significant shift, with 91% of large organizations globally restructuring their cybersecurity strategies in response to political volatility. The increasing focus is on developing quantum-ready security measures to counter future threats. These developments are driving both government and business sectors to reassess their long-term security strategies and bolster cyber resilience.
The increasing focus is on developing quantum-ready security measures to counter future threats
GISEC Global's extended conference lineup will include the Quantum Security Summit, spearheaded by the UAE Cyber Security Council and Technology Innovation Institute. This summit will also feature the Global Quantum Drill, an evolution of the previous Global Cyber Drill, marking a significant move towards enhancing quantum readiness.
Secure Digital Communications
The event will cover diverse topics such as post-quantum cryptography, strategies for quantum-safe migration, and the transition to hardware-based security. Discussions will also focus on the emerging certification landscape and governance for enterprise migration, contributing to the development of secure digital communications.
Ibrahim Sukari, Founder of Attack Insights, Australia, remarked on the relevance of GISEC, noting, "GISEC is where the region's security leaders come to separate what works from what is marketed, and that is exactly where Attack Insights belongs. We are an Australian company built on one idea: don't tell an organization what might be a risk, prove what an attacker can actually reach."
Protecting Critical Infrastructure
GISEC Global 2026 will present advanced cyber defense solutions tailored for various sectors
With quantum readiness becoming a strategic priority, the need to fortify the resilience of current operational environments remains crucial. GISEC Global 2026 will present advanced cyber defense solutions tailored for various sectors, including energy, transport, and finance. The event will feature live demonstrations and simulations aimed at enhancing resilience across complex operational environments.
Exhibitors will display the latest AI-driven security advancements, secure digital transformation technologies, and sovereign cloud security solutions, along with autonomous security operations and large-scale threat intelligence services.
Building Cyber Resilience through Collaboration
As cyber threats grow more sophisticated, the focus is shifting towards recovery strategies alongside prevention. Ayman Hammoudeh, Senior Director of Sales Engineering at Cohesity, highlighted the urgency, stating, "Only 2% of organizations worldwide can recover from a cyberattack within 24 hours, highlighting how few businesses and governments are truly resilient when disruption strikes." He emphasized the importance of preparedness and trust validation in recovery strategies.
GISEC Global serves as a vital platform for international collaboration, enabling knowledge exchange, partnership strengthening, and developing practical solutions. The event is aligned with the Dubai Cyber Security Strategy, the Dubai Economic Agenda D33, and the broader Digital Economy Strategy, aiming to advance secure digital transformation and economic resilience.
As artificial intelligence, geopolitical tensions and emerging quantum computing capabilities reshape the global cyber threat landscape, organizations are rethinking how they protect critical infrastructure, safeguard digital assets and prepare for the emerging cyber risks.
GISEC Global 2026, the biggest and most influential cybersecurity event in the MENA, organized by inD, will bring together governments, critical infrastructure operators, technology innovators and cybersecurity leaders at Dubai Exhibition Centre, Expo City Dubai, from 16–18 September 2026 to accelerate readiness for the evolving threat landscape.
Long-term security strategies
According to the World Economic Forum's Global Cybersecurity Outlook 2026, 91% of the world's largest organizations have adapted their cybersecurity strategies in response to geopolitical volatility, while governments and enterprises are accelerating investment in quantum-ready security as they prepare for future cyber threats. At the same time, geopolitical fragmentation and advances in quantum computing are driving governments and enterprises to strengthen cyber resilience and rethink long-term security strategies.
Reflecting these challenges, GISEC Global's expanded conference program introduces the Quantum Security Summit, hosted by the UAE Cyber Security Council and Technology Innovation Institute, alongside the Global Quantum Drill, which evolves the former Global Cyber Drill into what is planned to be the world's largest quantum readiness exercise.
Secure digital communications
Sessions will explore post-quantum cryptography, quantum-safe migration strategies, hardware-based security, cryptographic discovery, sovereignty considerations, enterprise migration governance and the emerging certification landscape shaping secure digital communications.
Ibrahim Sukari, Founder, Attack Insights, Australia, said: "GISEC is where the region's security leaders come to separate what works from what is marketed, and that is exactly where Attack Insights belongs. We are an Australian company built on one idea: don't tell an organization what might be a risk, prove what an attacker can actually reach. Bringing that attacker's view to the UAE and the wider region, and working alongside the teams defending critical infrastructure here, is a real privilege."
Protecting critical infrastructure
While quantum readiness is becoming a strategic priority, organizations must also strengthen the resilience of today's operational environments. GISEC Global 2026 will showcase advanced cyber defense solutions for sectors including energy, utilities, transport, manufacturing and finance, alongside live demonstrations, threat simulations and OT-focused sessions designed to help operators strengthen resilience across complex environments.
The exhibition will feature global technology companies and cybersecurity innovators showcasing the latest advances in AI-enabled defense, secure digital transformation, sovereign cloud security, autonomous security operations and national-scale threat intelligence.
Building cyber resilience through collaboration
As cyber threats become increasingly sophisticated, recovery has become just as important as prevention.
Ayman Hammoudeh, Senior Director, Sales Engineering, Cohesity, said: "Only 2% of organizations worldwide can recover from a cyberattack within 24 hours, highlighting how few businesses and governments are truly resilient when disruption strikes. The question is no longer if an attack will occur, but how prepared your organization is to respond and recover.”
“As cyber resilience strategies mature, recovery prioritisation is evolving into trust validation, with organizations increasingly focusing on what services can be trusted, rather than simply what can be restored first. Strong partnerships between industry and government, combined with proactive intelligence sharing, wisdom and preparedness, are essential to minimizing disruption and accelerating resilience when attacks occur. In an increasingly connected world, cyber resilience is a shared responsibility."
GISEC Global provides an international platform where governments, industry and academia exchange knowledge, strengthen partnerships and develop practical solutions to protect critical infrastructure, accelerate secure digital transformation and build more resilient economies. The event also supports the ambitions of the Dubai Cyber Security Strategy, the Dubai Economic Agenda D33, the Digital Economy Strategy and We the UAE 2031.
