UAE to Launch New Cybersecurity Policies for Cloud, IoT

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) is set to bolster its cybersecurity landscape with three new policies, according to Mohammed Hamad Al-Kuwaiti, chair of the UAE Cybersecurity Council.

In a statement to the Emirates News Agency (WAM), Al-Kuwaiti said that the policies would focus on cloud computing, data security, IoT security and cybersecurity operations centers.

The prospective regulations are currently under development and no exact details have been released on what they’ll cover. UAE lawmakers want the new policies to enhance the country’s position as a global hub for advanced technologies. 

Al-Kuwait also confirmed that the UAE’s prospective encryption law, which would establish standards for data transmission security with quantum systems, will be completed by the end of the year.

Al-Kuwait said that the UAE “serves as an inspiring model for many countries worldwide aiming to develop their cybersecurity systems.”

The UAE is striving to quickly become one of the most technologically advanced nations, with the digital transformation encompassing all sectors such as health, energy, education and aviation.

The country's Cybersecurity Council is looking to secure digital transformations across the UAE. However, Al-Kuwaiti said this requires advanced cybersecurity systems to protect against potential attacks, especially given the evolving AI solutions used to identify digital vulnerabilities.

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Al-Kuwaiti warned that the UAE faces cyberattacks targeting the country’s key sectors, including financial services where hackers could obtain information to extort people for money.

In a previous incident in 2021, a bank manager in the UAE was tricked by a deepfake, resulting in the theft of $35 million by fraudsters.

The Cybersecurity Council chair warned that AI attacks could identify vulnerabilities in the infrastructure of UAE businesses.

Al-Kuwaiti told the Emirates News Agency that the upcoming legislation would ensure the UAE's cybersecurity system would prevent such attacks and handle hackers in line with the highest of international standards.