United Arab Emirates Introduces Inaugural Cybersecurity Excellence Awards, Highlighting Digital Innovation and Leadership
UAE's Cybersecurity Excellence Awards & Recognition Programme Set to Launch
The UAE Government Cybersecurity Council has announced the launch of the Cybersecurity Excellence Awards & Recognition Programme, scheduled to take place on 18th June 2025 at Space42 Arena in Abu Dhabi. This initiative, carried out under the directives of the nation's leadership, aims to elevate the UAE's global cybersecurity stature and foster a culture of excellence, creativity, and collaboration across the cybersecurity sector.
The programme seeks to honour outstanding achievements and innovations in digital security, as well as drive innovation in the cybersecurity sector. It is not limited to recognising exceptional work but also aims to bolster cross-sector cooperation and enhance the nation's capacity to tackle evolving digital threats.
The Cybersecurity Excellence Awards & Recognition Programme will recognise both institutional and individual achievements in the cybersecurity sector. Potential categories include Individual Awards, such as CISO of the Year, Rising Star, Women in Cybersecurity, and Organizational Awards, spanning domains like Governance, Risk & Compliance (GRC), Managed Security Services, Quantum-safe Security, Ransomware Protection, Zero Trust Security, Network Optimization, and Digital Content Management.
The nomination criteria for the awards are expected to emphasise excellence in leadership and innovation, measurable impact on an organization's security posture, risk management, and resilience, demonstrated innovation and use of emerging technologies, contribution to the cybersecurity community or industry advancement, a track record of successful project implementation or transformation, and for individual awards, demonstrated professional achievements and leadership.
Participation in the programme is likely to be open to individuals and organizations operating within or serving the UAE and Middle East region. The submission window for nominations is anticipated to occur several months before the event, with nomination being self-submitted or by third parties, showcasing comprehensive details of accomplishments or projects. Some awards may include judging by industry experts or panels based on set scoring criteria.
The awards ceremony will culminate in an event hosted at a prominent UAE location, with supporting documentation and a detailed application form submitted electronically. The programme will spotlight best practices and success stories in cybersecurity, as well as highlight leadership in secure digital transformation and cyber resilience.
The Cybersecurity Excellence Awards & Recognition Programme is part of the UAE's broader vision of promoting proactive cyber risk management and cultivating a sustainable digital future. This initiative marks a significant step in reinforcing the UAE's regional and global leadership in digital resilience.
For precise official criteria, categories, and guidelines specific to the UAE Cybersecurity Excellence Awards 2025, contacting the event organisers or UAE government cybersecurity agencies directly would be necessary, as the current public data is limited to related but not identical programmes.
| Aspect | Details / Likely Features | |-------------------------|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | Categories | Individual (CISO of the Year, Rising Star, Women in Cybersecurity), Organizational (GRC, Zero Trust, etc.) | | Nomination Criteria | Leadership, innovation, impact, use of technology, risk management, community contribution | | Participation | Submission window (e.g., May-June), electronic nomination, judged by expert panel, open to UAE & regional | | Event | Awards often integrated into conferences such as 100 CISO Summit & Cyber AI Summit |
- The UAE Government Cybersecurity Council has announced the launch of the Cybersecurity Excellence Awards & Recognition Programme, scheduled to take place on 18th June 2025, aiming to bolster the UAE's global cybersecurity stature and foster a culture of excellence, creativity, and collaboration across the cybersecurity sector.
- The programme will honour outstanding achievements and innovations in digital security, driving innovation in the cybersecurity sector and enhancing the nation's capacity to tackle evolving digital threats.
- The Cybersecurity Excellence Awards & Recognition Programme will recognise both institutional and individual achievements in the cybersecurity sector, with potential categories including Individual Awards like CISO of the Year, Rising Star, Women in Cybersecurity, and Organizational Awards spanning Governance, Risk & Compliance (GRC), Managed Security Services, Quantum-safe Security, Ransomware Protection, Zero Trust Security, Network Optimization, and Digital Content Management.
- Participation in the programme is likely to be open to individuals and organizations operating within or serving the UAE and Middle East region, with the submission window for nominations occurring several months before the event.
- The awards ceremony will culminate in an event, showcasing best practices and success stories in cybersecurity, as well as leadership in secure digital transformation and cyber resilience, making a significant step in reinforcing the UAE's regional and global leadership in digital resilience.
