Dubai: The Dubai Cyber Security Strategy was launched on Wednesday to strengthen Dubai’s position as a world leader in innovation, safety and security and manage cyber security risks among establishments and residents in Dubai.
The strategy was launched by His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai. He was accompanied by Shaikh Hamdan Bin Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and Chairman of the Executive Council.
On the launch of the Strategy, Shaikh Mohammad highlighted the UAE’s high ranking at both regional and international levels in providing security for individuals and organisations in the country. This is a result of the efforts of both federal and local governments in the UAE to build a safe and secure environment, which ensures the success of development goals.
Shaikh Mohammad said that cyber security has become an essential requirement in the digital era as the world has become more connected with the spread of smart technologies. He stressed the importance of developing strategies that enable us to maximise the benefits of technology and ensure our readiness to face any challenges it may bring us.
Shaikh Mohammed said: “We have set ourselves firmly on a path of excellence and creativity in the UAE, and today with the launch of the Dubai Cyber Security Strategy, we are adding a new achievement to the list of the government’s many accomplishments. This proves to the world that the more challenges we face, the more determined we are to achieve the highest excellence.”
The Dubai Ruler called for uniting the efforts of the government and private sector to ensure a secure cyberspace that makes Dubai digitally the safest city in the world.
“We want to harness technology to create a new reality in Dubai and a different life, a new model of development”.
The launch of the Strategy comes in line with the technological progress witnessed by the world, the smart transformation witnessed by the emirate of Dubai, and the accompanying challenges and risks that require mobilization of energies in order to achieve the objectives of the plan.
The Strategy aims to provide integrated protection against the dangers of cyberspace, support for innovation in cyberspace and the growth of the emirate and its economic prosperity.
The Dubai Cyber Security Strategy involves the implementation of five main domains.
Cyber Smart Nation, the first domain, aims to raise public awareness on the importance of cyber security, ensuring the building of a society that is fully aware of the dangers of cybercrime, as well as to develop the skills and capabilities required to manage cyber security risks among government and private institutions and individuals in Dubai, an official statement said on Tuesday.
Innovation, the second domain, is concerned with innovation and scientific research in the field of electronic security and the establishment of an cyber space that is free, fair and secure, and encourages innovation in the emirate of Dubai.
Cyber Security, the third domain, aims to build a secure cyberspace by establishing controls to protect the confidentiality, credibility, availability and privacy of data.
Cyber Resilience, the fourth domain, will focus on maintaining the flexibility of cyberspace and ensuring the continuity and availability of IT systems in the event of any cyber-attacks. It will also focus on providing a platform for exchanging information and support in the management of incidents related to cyber security and advanced mechanisms to combat threats.
Lastly, the aim of the National and International Collaboration domain is to establish local and global partnerships to consolidate cooperation frameworks with different sectors at the global and local levels to confront threats and risks in cyberspace. Local cooperation is one of the main aspects of Shaikh Mohammed’s vision; competing with leading countries around the world depends entirely on competencies and business approaches.
The next phase will witness a number of effective initiatives that will contribute to achieving the strategy’ objectives and providing a secure cyberspace for users, making Dubai’s cyber security experience a global model.
Shaikh Mohammad’s vision for Dubai was the inspiration for the Dubai Plan 2021, a plan that maps out the targets for the next five years in the emirate. Two of the core components of the plan are to make Dubai the most secure place to live, while also creating a smart, integrated and connected city. In this regard, the strategic plan of the Dubai Electronic Security Centre contributes to the accomplishment of these two objectives, but also to deal with electronic security threats, cyberattacks and all forms of cybercrime.
The plan addresses the aspirations of the wise leadership and ensures the electronic security of information and data systems in the emirate, and covers all government and private agencies, and individuals to enjoy the safe use of technology. Dubai Electronic Security Centre cooperates with all government agencies in the emirate to ensure that the level of electronic security is upgraded and that precautionary measures are taken to ensure that information security systems are in line with international standards.
The strategy was launched in the presence of Shaikh Ahmad Bin Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, chairman of the Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Knowledge Foundation; Shaikh Mansour Bin Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum; Mohammad Bin Abdullah Al Gergawi, Minister of Cabinet Affairs and The Future; Lt Gen Dahi Khalfan Tamim, deputy chairman of Dubai Police and General Security in Dubai; and Maj Gen Talal Humaid Belhoul.
