GISEC Global 2026 adds Cyber First theme for Dubai summit

GISEC Global 2026 will open in Dubai on Sept. 16-18 with a new Cyber First agenda centered on AI, digital sovereignty and cyber resilience. The event expects more than 25,000 attendees as governments, security leaders and tech firms gather to address fast-changing global cyber risks.

Why it matters: - AI is changing cyber defense and attack tactics at the same time, making cybersecurity a boardroom and national security issue. - The event is designed to bring governments, industry and academia together around practical responses to threats that now affect economies, public trust and critical infrastructure. - The UAE is using GISEC Global 2026 to reinforce its position as a regional hub for cyber policy, investment and international cooperation.

What happened: - GISEC Global 2026 will take place Sept. 16-18, 2026, at Dubai Exhibition Centre, Expo City Dubai, under the theme “Cyber First: The New Digital Order.” - The event is organized by inD, a joint venture between Dubai World Trade Centre and Informa. - The 15th edition is opening after growing 20% year-on-year. - Organizers expect more than 25,000 cybersecurity professionals, 750+ exhibiting brands, 350+ expert speakers and participants from 180+ countries. - The event is hosted and endorsed by the UAE Cyber Security Council, Dubai Electronic Security Center, Ministry of Interior and Dubai Police.

The details: - The World Economic Forum’s Global Cybersecurity Outlook 2026 found that 94% of organizations expect AI to be the biggest driver of cybersecurity change over the coming year, while 87% see AI-related vulnerabilities as the fastest-growing cyber risk. - Cyber First is the new strategic platform for the event and reflects cybersecurity’s growing role in national resilience, economic competitiveness and digital trust. - The new Cyber First Leadership Summit will bring together ministers, national cyber authorities, global CISOs and technology leaders. - The summit will focus on AI’s geopolitical impact, digital sovereignty, nation-state cyber threats and the resilience of future digital economies. - Confirmed speakers include H.E. Dr Mohamed Al Kuwaiti, Head of the UAE Cyber Security Council; Subra Kumaraswamy, SVP & CISO at VISA; Alex Attumalil, Global CISO at Under Armour; and Roeland Delrue, co-founder and COO of Aikido Security. - The expanded conference program will also cover quantum computing, dual-use technologies, geopolitical instability and critical infrastructure resilience. - New additions include the National Defence & Sovereign Cyber Track and the Quantum Security Summit, hosted by the UAE Cyber Security Council and Technology Innovation Institute. - The program will also introduce the Global Quantum Drill, which is planned as the world’s largest quantum readiness exercise. - An expanded Government Programme will be hosted by DESC and the UAE Cyber Security Council. - Dedicated stages will cover operational technology security, critical infrastructure protection, cyber diplomacy, ethical hacking, AI-powered cyber defense, cloud security and workforce development. - Exhibitors will include Amazon Web Services, Google Cloud, Huawei, EDGE, CPX Holding, CyberKnight and Spire Solutions, along with hundreds of other international companies. - The event supports the Dubai Cyber Security Strategy, the Dubai Economic Agenda D33, the Digital Economy Strategy and We the UAE 2031. - More information is available at the event website.

Between the lines: - The theme shift to Cyber First signals a move away from treating cybersecurity as a niche technical field and toward treating it as a strategic issue for governments and business leaders. - The focus on quantum readiness, sovereign cyber defense and AI-enabled attacks shows organizers are positioning the event around the next phase of risk, not just current threats. - The strong lineup of public-sector hosts and global vendors suggests Dubai is aiming to be a convening point for policy, talent and commercial dealmaking in cybersecurity.

What's next: - GISEC Global 2026 will unveil additional DESC initiatives and developments at the event. - The Cyber First Leadership Summit and related tracks will set the agenda for discussions on AI, sovereignty and digital resilience when the conference opens in September. - Organizers are also pushing a larger exhibition footprint than last year, reinforcing expectations for another scale-up in attendance and commercial activity.

The bottom line: - GISEC Global 2026 is broadening from a major cybersecurity exhibition into a policy and strategy platform for the digital era.