Emirates News Agency – UAE elected Vice President of Organisation of Islamic Cooperation team to respond to cyber emergencies

MUSCAT, 9th November, 2022 (WAM) — The UAE was elected Vice President of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) team to respond to cyber emergencies during the 10th Regional Cyber​​​security Week for Arab Countries and OIC Member States organised by The Arab Regional Cyber ​​Security Centre, in partnership with the Ministry of Transport, Communications and Information Technology of the Sultanate of Oman, involved more than 400 experts from 45 countries.

Mohamed Sultan Al Suwaidi, UAE Ambassador to the Sultanate of Oman, remarked, “I congratulate the UAE on the election of its Chief of Cyber​​security as Vice President of the OIC Computer Emergency Response Team, and I also congratulate the Sultanate of Oman on the election of the Director of the National Information Security Center of the Ministry of Transport, Communications and Information Technology, the Chairman of the Arab Regional Cyber ​​Security Center and the International Telecommunication Union as Chairman, which reflects the trust placed in him by international and regional organizations.”

Al Suwaidi also thanked the Sultanate of Oman for hosting the 10th Regional Cyber ​​Security Week for Arab States and OIC Members, which highlighted key documents in the field and the strategic importance of securing government electronic systems.

During its participation, the UAE showcased its experience in the field, highlighting the interest and efforts of the UAE leadership to strengthen the country’s leadership in maintaining a complex and secure digital infrastructure to keep pace with its next 50 years. of ambition. The UAE ranks fifth in the 2020 Global Cybersecurity Index published by the United Nations International Telecommunication Union.

Dr Mohamed Al Kuwaiti, head of cybersecurity for the UAE government, said that by participating in this regional forum, the UAE “benefits from the expertise of other countries while demonstrating its own experience as it advances legislation in technology and cybersecurity.”

He added: “The UAE has extensive experience in cloud computing security and it has made this area a priority due to its key role in accelerating the digital transformation of security.”

Furthermore, he stressed that the UAE is keen to continue strengthening its electronic infrastructure and cyber sector to protect its cyber security.

Dr. Al Kuwaiti added: “The event hosted by the Sultanate of Oman is an important opportunity to learn about the experience of other countries in improving the preparedness and capacity of relevant agencies to respond quickly to risks and threats.”

“The UAE has played an active role in increasing the effectiveness of regional and global cybersecurity responses through its collaboration with the International Telecommunication Union and the Arab Regional Cybersecurity Centre,” he added.

He also highlighted that the UAE has developed an advanced and professional cybersecurity model to enhance digital security and keep pace with the comprehensive digital transformation.

The forum included a two-day exercise titled: “A General View of the Rapidly Evolving Cyber ​​Threats” focused on enhancing communication and building the capacity of emergency response teams to deal with such threats. It presents four scenarios developed by the Arab Regional Centre for Cyber ​​Security and the International Telecommunication Union for national cyber security and emergency response centres in the Organization of the Arab and Islamic Conferences.