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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
AltoVolo Opens Orders For Limited Edition Sigma eVTOLs
Early buyers can now reserve build slots for AltoVolo’s 500-mile hybrid aircraft through a new online configurator.
AltoVolo has started taking pre-orders for its first electric vertical take-off and landing aircraft, the Sigma, moving the startup closer to commercial rollout. Customers can now secure a build slot with a £860 deposit and customize every detail online — from paintwork to seatbelt stitching. It’s the first configurator of its kind for a civilian eVTOL, mirroring how luxury car brands let clients tailor performance models before production.
The Sigma runs on a hybrid-electric tilting jet system built for long range and low noise. It can travel up to 500 miles at a 220-mph cruise, and is over 80% quieter than a helicopter. The three-seater weighs just 980kg and can maintain stable flight even if one jet fails. Safety systems include triple-redundant controls, thrust-vectoring stability and a ballistic parachute.
“We will be delivering an ultra-refined hybrid electric aircraft,” said founder and CEO Will Wood. “We believe there are thousands of customers for this type of cutting-edge technology”.
The first 100 units will come with exclusive materials and finishes. AltoVolo is also setting up a global service and maintenance network, with early planning for overhaul schedules already underway. The company’s focus on ownership experience echoes its ambition to anchor itself alongside established aviation brands rather than pure tech ventures.
To help new owners train, the company has built a full-scale simulator that replicates the Sigma cockpit in carbon fiber and leather. Pilots can log time toward a license using the system, aligned with the new US MOSAIC rules that ease certification for powered-lift aircraft. Certification work in Europe and the UK continues in parallel, signaling growing international alignment around light sport and eVTOL regulation.
Also Read: Snapchat Opens Qatar Office To Deepen Gulf Presence
Noise inside the cabin has become another design focus. Engineers are refining internal vibration levels and developing a responsive soundscape that shifts with each jet’s power load — part feedback, part theatre.
Urban air mobility projects across the Gulf and elsewhere are pushing regulators and manufacturers to meet in the middle. Dubai, Riyadh and Doha have each outlined plans for air taxi corridors this decade. AltoVolo’s hybrid Sigma, sitting between electric promise and aviation realism, looks built for that middle ground.
