The UAE Cyber Security Council (CSC) has joined forces with US-based industrial cybersecurity firm Dragos Inc. to establish an Operational Technology (OT) Cyber Security Centre of Excellence in the UAE, under the Make it in the Emirates initiative.
The centre is designed to strengthen the country's cyber resilience by localising advanced security capabilities, accelerating innovation, and building a skilled cybersecurity workforce equipped to protect critical national infrastructure.
At its core, the facility will offer a specialised OT environment where professionals can simulate real-world cyberattack and defence scenarios, gaining hands-on expertise in OT and industrial control systems (ICS) security.
Robert M. Lee, CEO and Co-Founder of Dragos, highlighted the urgency behind the initiative.
"Industrial and critical infrastructure in the UAE and the wider Gulf region face growing threats, with global threat groups active in the region,"
he said, adding that the centre will help operators understand how threats are detected and how effective defence is implemented in practice.
Dr Mohamed Al Kuwaiti, Head of Cyber Security for the UAE Government, pointed to a surge in cyberattacks targeting critical infrastructure as the driving force behind the project. He described the centres as advanced platforms enabling proactive threat anticipation, continuous monitoring, and early detection of cyber incidents.
The partnership reflects a broader public-private collaboration model aimed at building sustainable cyber capabilities while reinforcing the UAE's position as a regional and global hub for cybersecurity excellence.
The initiative aligns with national strategies focused on digital sovereignty, critical infrastructure protection, and long-term technological leadership across the Gulf region.
News Source: Emirates News Agency
