UAE’s Cybersecurity Council and Huawei ink MoU to strengthen local cybersecurity strategies

As per the memorandum, both parties will work towards strengthening strategic collaboration in cybersecurity, based on the public-private-partnership model, to help promote innovation, drive capabilities’ development and nurture a strong ecosystem.

“We are excited to be signing this agreement with Huawei in line with our mission of developing a comprehensive cybersecurity strategy and creating a safe and strong cyber infrastructure in the UAE. This step will also help drive our efforts to establish the UAE as a leading global hub for cybersecurity for the benefit of the nation,” said Mohammad Hamad Al Kuwaiti, head of Cybersecurity, UAE government.

Both parties have agreed to work together in building visibility and promoting thought leadership in cybersecurity, cooperating on research through an independent think-tank that both parties will establish, and jointly establishing a Cybersecurity Center of Excellence to deliver talent training that addresses the capacity-building needs for Emiratisation.

“We are honoured to be partnering with the UAE Cybersecurity Council. Huawei is committed to supporting the UAE’s efforts as the country accelerates its digital transformation journey,” said Aloysius Cheang, CSO at Huawei UAE.

“As cyber threats are continuously changing, our agreement with the Council will help us work towards providing a cybersecurity ecosystem that is safe and secure. This partnership will also help recognise Huawei’s long-term commitment to sustainable development in the UAE as a top digital hub globally,” he continued.

The partnership comes as spending on security including hardware, software, and services is also on the rise across the region, predicted to grow 7 percent to $3.76 billion in 2022 according to IDC.

The agreement was signed at the GISEC 2022 cybersecurity conference taking place from March 21 to 23 at the Dubai World Trade Center.