Group-IB and UAE Cyber Security Council Announce Strategic Partnership to Advance Predictive Cyber Defense

Special to TAG-IT News 

Collaboration will focus on threat intelligence, incident response and cybersecurity capacity building and plans for a joint Innovation Center of Excellence to strengthen the UAE’s digital resilience

DUBAI - Group-IB, a leading creator of predictive cybersecurity technologies to investigate, prevent, and fight digital crime, announced a strategic partnership with the UAE Cyber Security Council (CSC) during GISEC Global 2026.The two organizations will focus their cooperation on threat intelligence exchange, coordination on incident response, and a joint program of technical training and workshops for UAE cybersecurity practitioners.

The collaboration builds on the UAE's established position as a regional leader in cybersecurity, combining the Council's national cybersecurity vision with Group-IB's adversary-centric intelligence, investigation expertise and predictive cybersecurity capabilities. As the UAE continues to advance one of the world's most ambitious digital transformation agendas, sustaining that momentum depends on intelligence shared at speed between government and private sector — anticipating how adversaries operate, rather than responding after the fact.

Areas of cooperation are expected to include the exchange of intelligence on cyber risks, threat actors, malicious infrastructure, malware, attack techniques and indicators of compromise. The organizations also intend to explore how intelligence on adversary behavior and infrastructure can be used to identify emerging threats earlier, support preemptive defense and improve readiness before attacks materialize.

Capacity building will be another focus, with both parties seeking to collaborate on specialized training, technical workshops, educational materials and joint working groups. These initiatives aim to support the development of national cybersecurity talent and strengthen practical readiness across the UAE’s digital ecosystem. 

As part of the collaboration, Group-IB and the UAE Cyber Security Council also intend to explore the establishment of a joint Innovation Center of Excellence in the UAE. The initiative would provide a platform for cybersecurity innovation, knowledge exchange and capability development, bringing together Group-IB’s global expertise and regional threat intelligence with the Council’s national cybersecurity vision. Further details on the scope and activities of the initiative will be defined as the collaboration progresses.

H.E. Dr. Mohamed Al Kuwaiti, Head of Cyber Security for the UAE Government, stated: 

Dmitry Volkov, CEO of Group-IB, stated: “Cybersecurity has traditionally focused on detecting and responding to attacks already underway. We believe the next step is to give defenders more time, using adversary intelligence, technology and AI to anticipate what is coming and take action before impact. Our collaboration with the UAE Cyber Security Council is an opportunity to put this Prediction-First approach into practice through intelligence sharing, investigations, capability development and coordinated response.”

Ashraf Koheil, Vice President of Sales, META and ANZ, Group-IB, added: “The UAE continues to demonstrate strong leadership in digital transformation and cybersecurity. This partnership creates an opportunity to bring Group-IB’s global expertise and regional threat intelligence closer to the country’s cybersecurity priorities. By working with the Council on knowledge exchange, capacity building and practical cooperation, we aim to contribute to a more resilient digital economy and deliver long-term value to the UAE’s cybersecurity ecosystem.”

The partnership underscores both organizations' shared commitment to countering evolving cyber threats through proactive defense, knowledge exchange and public-private cooperation. The organizations will formalize the scope of their cooperation in the coming months. This will include defining the scope and priorities of the proposed Innovation Center of Excellence. It also reflects Group-IB's continued investment in the region and its commitment to supporting national cybersecurity priorities through intelligence-led, locally relevant capabilities.