His Highness Sheikh Mansoor bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Chairman of the Dubai Ports and Borders Security Council, today opened GISEC Global2025, the world’s third-largest cybersecurity event, and the biggest in the MENA region.

Speaking on the occasion, His Highness said: “Dubai continues to grow as a global hub where innovators come together to share ideas that push the boundaries of digital technology and build trust in an increasingly connected world.”

His Highness visited some of the 750 exhibiting brands, including the Dubai Electronic Security Center (DESC), Huawei, and the Microsoft Hub, accompanied by senior officials including His Excellency Helal Saeed Almarri, Director General of the Dubai World Trade Centre Authority.

Held under the theme of ‘Securing an AI-Powered Future,’ the 14^th edition of GISEC Global has attracted more than 750 of the world’s foremost names in cybersecurity, and 450 global CISOs and futurists from over 160 countries, as well as 25,000 visitors.

GISEC Global once again reinforces the UAE’s position as a cybersecurity leader and comes at a time when the global cybersecurity market is expected to be worth $298.5 billion by 2028, according to Markets and Markets.

A three-day event, organised by the Dubai World Trade Centre and hosted by the UAE Cybersecurity Council, GISEC Global 2025 features engaging panel discussions, cutting-edge innovation showcases, and a mix of new and returning programmes exploring the latest trends shaping the cybersecurity industry.

Among those making their debut is the Dubai Cyber Challenge. Organised by DESC, the ‘Capture the Flag’ competition will see teams from 25 Dubai government entities competing over two days, joining challenges in web security, reverse engineering and digital forensics.

This year’s edition, which covers nine halls, also sees the launch of GISEC North Star, a start-up pitch competition in partnership with Cyber71, enabling entrepreneurs to showcase their products to impress investors, government leaders and potential mentors. This year’s show start-up pavilion is its biggest ever, with 125 businesses taking part.

Placing the younger generation at the heart of the GISEC is the all-new Students Hackathon – School of Cyber Defence (CTF). Ten teams will battle it out in a hands-on experience competition, delving into real-world scenarios involving network security, incident management and threat analysis.

ITU, the United Nations specialised agency for digital technologies, reprises its Global Cyber Drill by ITU for GISEC Global 2025, uniting more than 130 national cybersecurity authorities and global CERTs/CIRTs/CSIRTs in the largest ever mission of its kind to enhance international cyber resilience, while Women in Cybersecurity will celebrate empowerment and inclusion with engaging dialogue from leaders shaping the future of cyberspace.

The GISEC CISO Circle, a global movement that began in 2021, brings together over 250 cybersecurity leaders for exclusive breakfast briefings and closed-door networking sessions, designed to foster the exchange of insights and ideas.

GISEC Global’s conference agenda positions artificial intelligence as both cybersecurity’s greatest weapon and most formidable threat. With dedicated sessions like ‘Harnessing AI for Cybersecurity Resilience’ and ‘Hacking with AI’, the event tackles AI’s dual-edged nature head-on. Top CISOs and ethical hackers will demonstrate how machine learning detects zero-day threats while exposing how malicious actors weaponise LLMs.

A mega conference programme will generate more than 350 hours of AI-based, cyber security-focused content from 350+ speakers across roundtables, panel discussions and top-level ministerial meetings. These include the high-level Ministerial Session led by ITU, exploring the cybersecurity challenges faced by developing countries, featuring His Excellency Dr. Mohamed Al Kuwaiti, Head of Cybersecurity, UAE Government, and top government ministers from Ghana and the Maldives, moderated by Dr. Cosmas Luckyson Zavazava, Director of the ITU Telecommunication Development Bureau.

Trixie LohMirmand, EVP at the Dubai World Trade Centre, the organisers of GISEC, said: “As we face an era where AI is both a powerful tool and a potential threat, GISEC Global 2025 stands as a vital platform for uniting the world’s cybersecurity leaders to chart a secure digital future. The event reflects the urgency and ambition driving the cybersecurity agenda not only in the region but worldwide, as the digital landscape rapidly evolves with AI at its core. This year’s edition brings together an unprecedented assembly of global experts, innovators and decision-makers who are united in shaping a safer, more resilient future.”

To learn more about GISEC Global 2025, visit www.gisec.ae