GISEC Global 2026 launches the new digital order Cyber First
- Portugal Business News - Valerie Charoux
- 25 minutes ago
- 3 min read
Cybersecurity News - GISEC Global 2026 launches the new digital order at the Cyber First Leadership Summit on September 16-18, 2026, at the Dubai Exhibition Centre, Expo City. Get a Free Visitor Pass for GISEC GLOBAL 2026 in Dubai by clicking here.
What is GISEC Global 2026?
GISEC Global, the world's third largest cybersecurity event and the Middle East & Africa's most influential cybersecurity platform, will open its 15th edition this month having expanded 20 percent year-on-year, reflecting increasing international demand for cybersecurity innovation, collaboration and investment.
Hosted and endorsed by the UAE Cyber Security Council, Dubai Electronic Security Center (DESC), Ministry of Interior and Dubai Police, GISEC Global 2026 will bring together more than 25,000 cybersecurity professionals, 750+ exhibiting brands, 350+ expert speakers and participants from 180+ countries to address the defining cybersecurity challenges shaping the future of the global digital economy.
"Artificial intelligence, geopolitical instability and the rapid evolution of digital technologies are fundamentally reshaping the cybersecurity landscape. As cyber threats become increasingly sophisticated and interconnected, no single nation or organization can address these challenges alone. The UAE is committed to fostering international collaboration, advancing cyber resilience and building trusted digital ecosystems that enable innovation and sustainable economic growth.¨ - H.E. Dr Mohamed Al Kuwaiti, Head of the UAE Cyber Security Council.
What is the new digital order Cyber First?
Reflecting cybersecurity's growing role in national resilience, economic competitiveness and digital trust, GISEC Global 2026 introduces Cyber First as its overarching strategic theme and thought leadership platform, recognizing that cybersecurity has evolved beyond a technical discipline to become a boardroom, government and national priority.
At the heart of Cyber First is the new Cyber First Leadership Summit, which will bring together ministers, national cyber authorities, global CISOs and technology leaders to examine the geopolitical impact of artificial intelligence, digital sovereignty, nation-state cyber threats and the resilience of tomorrow's digital economies.
Confirmed speakers include H.E. Dr Mohamed Al Kuwaiti, Head of the UAE Cyber Security Council; Subra Kumaraswamy, SVP & CISO, VISA, USA, Alex Attumalil, Global CISO, Under Armour (USA); and Roeland Delrue, Co-founder & COO, Aikido Security (Belgium), with additional international government leaders.
The expanded conference program reflects a rapidly evolving cyber landscape, where artificial intelligence, quantum computing, dual-use technologies, geopolitical instability and critical infrastructure resilience are reshaping the global security agenda.
What is the GISEC Global 2026 program?
The GISEC Global 2026 program centers on the Cyber First Leadership Summit, alongside which are:
The new National Defence & Sovereign Cyber Track that will explore cyber resilience through a national security lens
The Quantum Security Summit, which is hosted by UAE Cyber Security Council and Technology Innovation Institute that will prepare governments and organizations for the transition to the post-quantum era.
The Global Quantum Drill, evolving the former Global Cyber Drill into what is planned to be the world's largest quantum readiness exercise, alongside an expanded Government Program hosted by DESC and the UAE Cyber Security Council.
Dedicated conference stages will explore operational technology (OT) security, critical infrastructure protection, cyber diplomacy, ethical hacking, AI-powered cyber defence, cloud security and workforce development.
The exhibition will feature global technology leaders, cloud hyperscalers and cybersecurity innovators including Amazon Web Services (AWS), Google Cloud, Huawei, EDGE, CPX Holding, CyberKnight and Spire Solutions, alongside hundreds of international companies showcasing the latest advances in cyber resilience, AI-enabled defence and secure digital transformation.
