UAE strengthens cybersecurity in capital markets through partnership

• UAE Cybersecurity Council and the Securities and Commodities Authority to craft strong regulatory and technical standards.

The UAE is making bold moves to reinforce its leadership in cybersecurity and secure digital finance.

The UAE Cybersecurity Council and the Securities and Commodities Authority (SCA) initiated a strategic partnership focused on fortifying the cybersecurity foundations of the nation’s capital markets. This aligns tightly with the UAE’s vision for a safe, innovative, and globally competitive digital economy under its “We the UAE 2031” strategy.

The new alliance is designed to set world-class security standards for the financial sector. By revamping regulatory frameworks and enhancing cyber protections, the initiative aims to solidify investor confidence and attract top-tier global digital asset firms, including virtual asset service providers.

The ultimate goal is to make the UAE a beacon for digital financial innovation and inclusion throughout the region.

Waleed Saeed Al Awadhi, CEO of the SCA, has been a vocal advocate for this vision. He underscores that the SCA’s partnership with the Cybersecurity Council springs from a core dedication to nurturing a robust and sustainable digital transformation across all financial market activities.

“Crafting strong regulatory and technical standards has been a recurring theme in his leadership, as these measures remain critical for countering cyber risks and building lasting trust in digital transactions.”

Enhancing investor confidence

On the cybersecurity front, Dr. Mohamed Al Kuwaiti, Head of Cybersecurity for the UAE Government, sees this partnership as pivotal for broadening the country’s cyber resilience.

He highlights that in the financial sector, where trust and credibility are non-negotiable, bolstering cybersecurity enhances investor confidence and lays the groundwork for a vibrant, safe digital economy.

Of course, the urgency of these efforts is underscored by an increasingly hostile threat landscape. Threat actors—including sophisticated Advanced Persistent Threat (APT) groups—are evolving in both their motives and their methods, making it imperative for financial institutions to boost early threat detection and proactive cyber monitoring.

The SCA, in line with the directives of the UAE’s wise leadership, is determined to remain a regulatory pacesetter, both regionally and on the global stage.