As cyber threats evolve amid advances in artificial intelligence, geopolitical tensions, and emerging quantum computing technologies, organisations worldwide are reassessing their cybersecurity strategies to better protect critical infrastructure and digital assets. The Gulf Information Security Expo & Conference (GISEC) Global 2026, scheduled from September 16 to 18 at the Dubai Exhibition Centre, Expo City Dubai, aims to address these challenges by convening governments, industry leaders, and technology innovators across the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region.
Recognized as the largest cybersecurity event in MENA, GISEC Global 2026 will highlight next-generation cyber defense technologies and strategies to prepare for the shifting global threat landscape. According to the World Economic Forum’s Global Cybersecurity Outlook 2026, 91% of the world’s largest organisations have revised their cybersecurity plans due to geopolitical volatility, while advancements in quantum computing are prompting governments and enterprises to enhance their cyber resilience.
A key feature of the expanded conference program is the Quantum Security Summit, co-hosted by the UAE Cyber Security Council and Technology Innovation Institute. This summit will serve as a platform to discuss post-quantum cryptography, quantum-safe migration strategies, hardware-based security, and other critical topics related to securing digital communications in the emerging post-quantum era. Complementing these discussions, the Global Quantum Drill will simulate one of the largest quantum readiness exercises worldwide, evolving from the previous Global Cyber Drill.
The importance of protecting critical sectors is underscored by sessions focused on energy, utilities, transport, manufacturing, and finance. GISEC Global 2026 will offer live demonstrations and operational technology (OT)-focused threat simulations, enabling operators to bolster resilience in complex environments. Exhibitors from across the globe will present innovations in artificial intelligence-driven defense, secure digital transformation, and sovereign cloud security.
Highlighting the increasing emphasis on recovery capabilities, Ayman Hammoude, Senior Director of Sales Engineering at Cohesity, noted that only a small fraction of organisations worldwide can recover from a cyberattack within 24 hours. He stressed that cyber resilience strategies are evolving beyond prevention to include trust validation and collaborative intelligence sharing between industry and governments as crucial for minimizing disruption and accelerating recovery.
The event supports key UAE initiatives including the Dubai Cyber Security Strategy, Dubai Economic Agenda 2033, Digital Economy Strategy, and the broader We the UAE 2031 vision. These frameworks aim to solidify the UAE’s role as a leading global hub for cybersecurity innovation and digital resilience.
Experts at GISEC emphasize that while emerging technologies like AI will help organisations identify and respond to threats at machine speed, technological solutions must be accompanied by robust governance, cross-disciplinary expertise, and continuous security processes. Industry leaders argue for a shift towards ongoing risk monitoring and dynamic response capabilities, rather than attempting to eliminate all threats periodically.
As GISEC Global 2026 gathers stakeholders from government, academia, and the private sector, the focus will be on fostering collaboration and practical solutions to address the complex challenges of securing critical digital infrastructure in an increasingly connected world.