News
UAE Central Bank Establishes Cybersecurity Operations Center
According to Check Point Research, the United Arab Emirates has seen roughly 311 weekly attacks per organization this year alone.
Cyber attacks are a growing problem around the world, and the United Arab Emirates has so far experienced on average 40 percent more attacks weekly in 2021 compared to 2020. According to Check Point Research, the country has seen roughly 311 weekly attacks per organization this year alone. To combat the growing number of cyber threats coming from nation states and independent cybercriminal groups alike, the Central Bank of the UAE (CBUAE) has announced the establishment of the CBUAE Networking and Cybersecurity Operations Center.
The main objective of the new Cybersecurity Operations Center will be the protection of the critical infrastructure that enables UAE’s financial sector to operate.
“In line with the CBUAE’s overarching vision, the CBUAE Networking and Cybersecurity Operations Center will strengthen the UAE’s monetary and financial systems,” said Dr. Sabri Hamed Al Azazi, Assistant Governor, Support Services and Operations, and Chief Operating Officer of CBUAE. “As Cybersecurity threats become increasingly sophisticated, it is critical that we have the necessary framework to protect our financial institutions, their infrastructure, processes, and people from these challenges”.
The Cybersecurity Operations Center will be situated in CBUAE’s Abu Dhabi headquarters. Its proximity to the nation’s major financial institutions should bring better collaboration among decision-makers, helping them respond to cybersecurity threats as they emerge.
Also Read: AI-Powered Dark Web Monitoring Solutions Premier At GITEX 2021
The UK technology comparison website Comparitech analyzed the cost of cyber crime in the UAE, the figure it came up with was $746 million a year. As alarming as the number may be, it doesn’t even tell the whole story because cyber crime in the region is still severely underreported by police, government entities, as well as individuals.
Hopefully, the new Cybersecurity Operations Center will help improve the resilience and preparedness of the financial sector so that the UAE can achieve sustainable economic growth.
News
UAE Prepares To Launch Two Satellites: Thuraya-2 And MBZ-SAT
HH Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum chaired the first meeting of the Supreme Space Council yesterday.
HH Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and Deputy Prime Minister of the UAE, chaired the first meeting of the Supreme Space Council in Dubai on December 16, 2024. The session highlighted the UAE’s ambitious space plans and took stock of the sector’s economic progress.
The council emphasized the growing role of private companies in advancing space technologies, noting that their contributions are now equal to that of the public sector. Members also praised initiatives like the Space Economic Zones Programme, which are designed to fuel innovation and investment in the space industry.
خلال ترؤسنا الاجتماع الأول للمجلس الأعلى للفضاء، بحثنا الاستثمارات الوطنية والمشاريع المقبلة في قطاع الفضاء والذي يشهد تطوراً مستمراً… وجددنا التزامنا بدعم ومواصلة تنفيذ برامج طموحة لاستكشاف الفضاء الخارجي حيث وصل حجم الاستثمارات في هذا القطاع إلى 40 مليار درهم خلال السنوات… pic.twitter.com/etJ33OnuSu
— Hamdan bin Mohammed (@HamdanMohammed) December 16, 2024
Discussing the UAE’s space journey, HH Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum remarked, “The national space sector continues to grow and advance, and we take immense pride in the remarkable achievements we have accomplished over the years”.
Sheikh Hamdan also received updates on two upcoming satellite projects: Thuraya-2 and MBZ-SAT. Thuraya-2, developed by Space42, is slated for launch this December. Meanwhile, the MBZ-SAT, created by the Mohammed Bin Rashid Space Centre (MBRSC), will soon follow. MBRSC, a major driver of the UAE National Space Programme, continues to lead the nation’s space-related developments.
Space42 took the opportunity to showcase its advancements, including ongoing collaborations between public and private entities. The company also outlined strategies to promote innovation, boost revenue streams, and create new opportunities for growth in the sector.
Also Read: IBM Opens New Doha Office To Support Qatar’s Digital Growth
The UAE’s current projects build on a growing legacy of space exploration. Back in 2020, the nation made headlines with its Mars mission, successfully sending a probe into the planet’s orbit in 2021. This mission, which is now in its second phase as of June 2024, has been collecting critical data to develop a comprehensive diurnal image of Mars.
The UAE also ventured into lunar exploration with an unmanned mission aimed at studying untouched regions of the Moon’s surface. While the probe ultimately crashed during its landing attempt after communication was lost seconds before touchdown, the effort represented a significant step in the country’s exploration ambitions.