TLDR: Dr. Mohamed Al Kuwaiti, the UAE’s Head of Cybersecurity, emphasized at Gitex Global 2025 that Artificial Intelligence is the nation’s new ‘frontier of sovereignty,’ akin to a vital resource. He highlighted the escalating threat of cyberattacks, projecting a global cost of $10.5 trillion in 2025, and urged a robust alliance between the public and private sectors to leverage AI for advanced defense, policy, and economic diversification.
Dubai, UAE – October 14, 2025 – Dr. Mohamed Al Kuwaiti, the Head of Cybersecurity for the UAE Government, delivered a stark warning and a visionary call to action at Gitex Global 2025, declaring Artificial Intelligence as the ‘new oil’ and a critical ‘frontier of sovereignty’ for the nation. He underscored the urgent need for a unified alliance between the public and private sectors to combat the rapidly evolving landscape of cyber threats and harness AI for national security and economic growth.
Dr. Al Kuwaiti highlighted the alarming increase in cyberattacks, noting that critical infrastructure is projected to be targeted with a more than 37 percent year-on-year increase. He revealed the severe financial repercussions, stating that a single data leak or online attack could cost over $4.8 million, contributing to a staggering global estimate of $10.5 trillion in cybercrime costs for 2025 alone. These figures emphasize the immense pressure on national defenses and the economy.
The UAE’s strategic response, as outlined by Dr. Al Kuwaiti, involves a multi-pronged approach centered on AI. This includes advancing ‘agentic AI orchestrators’ for automated detection and response, and deploying early-warning systems like ETHRETS, which utilize automation and AI to monitor threats across the dark web and critical infrastructure for rapid intervention. The overarching mission is to solidify the UAE’s position as the safest place globally, both physically and virtually.
Furthermore, the nation is establishing comprehensive policy and compliance frameworks, such as the Artificial Intelligence Cybersecurity Policy, IoT Security Policy, and Cloud Security Policy. These initiatives aim to ensure transparency, compliance, and the robust protection of sensitive data, including within sovereign and partially sovereign cloud environments.
Echoing the sentiment of AI’s transformative power, UAE Economy Minister Abdullah Bin Touq Al Marri, also speaking at Gitex Global 2025, addressed the growing menace of deepfake investment scams. He warned the public against fraudulent videos falsely portraying him endorsing investments and stressed the critical need for AI-driven detection tools to safeguard digital identities in an increasingly manipulated online world. Al Marri also noted the UAE’s significant progress in economic diversification, with the non-oil economy expanding from 69% five years ago to 77.3% today, with a target of 80% within the next five years, where AI is expected to play a pivotal role.
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Adding to the call for collective action, Lt. Colonel Dr Hamad Khalifa Alnuaimi, Head of Telecommunications at Abu Dhabi Police, emphasized cybersecurity as a ‘shared responsibility.’ He urged citizens to take greater personal ownership of their online safety, highlighting the availability of AI-powered tools, such as an AI chatbot on the Dubai Police’s gov.ae website, which allows users to upload suspicious emails or messages for instant verification. This initiative underscores the importance of individual awareness and the integration of AI in public safety measures.
