GISEC Global 2025 opened in Dubai with a powerful message: artificial intelligence is redefining the cybersecurity landscape, offering both unprecedented opportunities and serious risks.
As the third-largest cybersecurity event in the world, this year’s edition is focused on “Securing an AI-Powered Future.”
More than 750 cybersecurity companies, 450 global CISOs and futurists, and over 25,000 visitors from 160+ countries have gathered to explore how AI is transforming cyber defence strategies. With the cybersecurity market projected to hit $298.5 billion by 2028, the event has become a critical hub for industry dialogue.
In a keynote speech, Dr Mohamed Al-Kuwaiti, Head of the UAE Cybersecurity Council, warned that the UAE faces over 200,000 cyberattacks daily—most targeting government entities. He called for urgent evolution in cybersecurity practices to keep pace with AI-driven threats and stressed the importance of governance, ethics, and innovation in securing the digital future.
Eugene Kaspersky, founder and CEO of Kaspersky, echoed those concerns. He described the current threat landscape as “AI vs AI,” where both attackers and defenders use advanced tools to outmaneuver each other. He emphasized the need for organisations to invest in secure AI systems to prevent a future dominated by cybercrime.
The event also spotlighted Dubai’s digital resilience. Faisal Abdulaziz of the Dubai Electronic Security Centre highlighted efforts to embed cybersecurity in the city’s smart transformation, with a strong emphasis on talent development and critical infrastructure protection.
Microsoft’s Aarti Borkar stressed that secure infrastructure is key to unlocking AI’s full potential. With data leaks and AI-driven threats on the rise, she urged companies to build systems with security at their core from the very beginning.
GISEC Global 2025 continues this week, tackling issues like weaponised AI and next-gen defence solutions.
News Source: Emirates News Agency
