GISEC Global 2026 opens in Dubai
GISEC Global 2026 brings together cybersecurity leaders from 182 countries with AI threats, digital sovereignty and cyber resilience high on the agenda.
The event runs from September 16 to 18 at Dubai Exhibition Centre in Expo City. The 15th edition is hosted by the UAE Cyber Security Council, with Dubai Electronic Security Center (DESC) as the official Government Cybersecurity Partner and support from the Ministry of Interior and Dubai Police.
Held under the theme Cyber First: The New Digital Order, the event will bring together government leaders, national cyber authorities, enterprise CISOs, technology companies, ethical hackers and cybersecurity professionals.
Global cyber leadership converges in Dubai
A new addition this year is the Cyber First Global Summit, where ministers, central bank governors, national cybersecurity authorities, CEOs and international institutions will examine the links between cybersecurity, economic stability and national security.
The wider program will feature speakers including H.E. Dr Mohamed Al Kuwaiti, Head of the UAE Cyber Security Council; H.E. Amer Sharaf, CEO of Cyber Security Systems and Services Sector at DESC; Subra Kumaraswamy, Senior Vice President and Chief Information Security Officer at Visa; and Alex Attumalil, Global Chief Information Security Officer at Under Armour.
60% of ransomware campaigns are now reported to be fully AI-assisted.
AI-enabled cybercrime and identity fraud
Artificial intelligence will be a major focus as cybercriminals increasingly use AI to scale and refine attacks.
GISEC said 60% of ransomware campaigns are now reported to be fully AI-assisted, while polymorphic malware is making detection more difficult by continuously altering its code.
Deepfakes and identity fraud will also feature prominently. According to the Entrust 2026 Identity Fraud Report, based on more than one billion identity verification events across 195 countries, deepfakes accounted for one in five biometric fraud attempts.
Deepfakes accounted for 20% of biometric fraud attempts
Source: Entrust 2026 Identity Fraud Report
Actor Michael Kelly, known for his role as Doug Stamper in House of Cards, will also take part in a keynote on deepfakes, digital identity and AI-powered impersonation.
Technology and cyber readiness
GISEC Global 2026 will showcase technologies across AI, quantum computing and OT/ICS security, alongside live cyber drills and international cooperation forums.
The program also includes Women in Cyber, North Star Startups and Mentorship Labs, while the GISEC CISO Circle will bring together more than 250 cybersecurity leaders for closed-door briefings and collaboration.
The Dubai Cyber Challenge will be held under the patronage of H.H. Sheikh Mansoor bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Chairman of the Dubai Ports and Borders Security Council.
Digital sovereignty on the agenda
Digital sovereignty will be another central theme as governments look to protect national data, critical infrastructure and key technologies.
Sessions will cover sovereign cloud environments, localized AI and post-quantum readiness, alongside broader discussions on critical infrastructure protection, responsible AI governance and digital trust.
