GISEC Global 2026, the Middle East and Africa’s premier cybersecurity event, opens at the Dubai Exhibition Centre (DEC) in Expo City, gathering digital security leaders, policymakers, and innovators from over 182 countries to establish a unified global defense framework.
A Global Nexus for Cyber First Architecture
Marking its milestone 15th edition, GISEC Global 2026 reinforces Dubai's position as an international hub for cyber resilience and digital sovereignty. Held under the theme Cyber First: The New Digital Order, the event addresses complex threats stemming from rapid artificial intelligence integration, shifting geopolitical dynamics, and advanced attacks against critical national infrastructure.
Hosted by the UAE Cyber Security Council, with the Dubai Electronic Security Center (DESC) serving as the Official Government Cybersecurity Partner, the four-day event runs through September 18. The gathering unites central bank governors, government ministers, enterprise CISOs, technology developers, and ethical hackers to strengthen cross-border security architecture.
Key Highlights of GISEC Global 2026
The Cyber First Global Summit: An executive forum convening state leaders, regulators, and enterprise executives to examine the direct intersections between cybersecurity readiness, national security, and global economic stability.
The Dubai Cyber Challenge: Held under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Mansoor bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Chairman of the Dubai Ports and Borders Security Council, this initiative puts live cyber defense and operational readiness to the test.
GISEC CISO Circle: A closed-door summit featuring over 250 enterprise security chiefs collaborating on threat intelligence sharing and incident response strategies.
Specialized Talent Platforms: Focused initiatives including Women in Cyber, North Star Startups, and Mentorship Labs designed to foster talent development and startup innovation across the cybersecurity ecosystem.
Countering AI-Driven Cyber Threats and Identity Manipulation
As malicious actors leverage artificial intelligence to automate scale and attack precision, traditional defense mechanisms are being fundamentally re-evaluated. Enterprise security data reveals that 60 percent of active ransomware campaigns are now AI-assisted, while polymorphic malware continuously alters its underlying code to bypass legacy detection protocols.
Deepfake technology and identity fraud represent critical operational risks for digital economies. Findings from the Entrust 2026 Identity Fraud Report—derived from over one billion identity verification checks across 195 nations—indicate that deepfakes now constitute one in five biometric fraud attempts worldwide.
To examine the broader social and technical implications of AI impersonation, four-time Emmy Award-nominated actor Michael Kelly (House of Cards) delivers a keynote address evaluating how deepfakes, synthetic media, and digital identity manipulation are eroding institutional trust in an interconnected world.
Global Leadership and Key Industry Speakers
Speaker | Role / Organization | Focus Area |
H.E. Dr. Mohamed Al Kuwaiti | Head, UAE Cyber Security Council | National Resilience & Sovereignty |
H.E. Amer Sharaf | CEO, Cyber Security Systems & Services Sector (DESC) | Government Infrastructure Protection |
Subra Kumaraswamy | SVP & CISO, Visa | Financial Network Security & Fraud Defense |
Alex Attumalil | Global CISO, Under Armour | Enterprise Risk & Consumer Data Protection |
Roeland Delrue | Co-Founder & COO, Aikido Security | Developer-First Security & Code Safety |
Michael Kelly | Actor & Public Speaker | Deepfakes, Trust, & AI Impersonation |
Sovereign Resilience and Digital Infrastructure Protection
As national security strategies increasingly emphasize data sovereignty, governments worldwide are prioritizing localized cloud infrastructure, sovereign AI deployment, and post-quantum cryptographic readiness. GISEC Global 2026 aims to accelerate the transition from reactive cyber defense to proactive, ecosystem-wide resilience across critical sectors including energy, finance, aviation, and telecommunications.
Event Overview and Organizer Specifications
Metric / Parameter | Event Detail |
Event Name | GISEC Global 2026 (15th Edition) |
Dates & Location | September 16–18, 2026 | Dubai Exhibition Centre (DEC), Expo City, Dubai, UAE |
Theme | Cyber First: The New Digital Order |
Global Reach | 750+ Exhibiting Brands | 350+ Speakers | 182 Participating Countries |
Host & Key Partners | UAE Cyber Security Council (Host) | DESC (Official Government Partner) |
Organizer | inD (Joint venture between Informa Group PLC and Dubai World Trade Centre) |
About the Organizer
GISEC Global is organized by inD, a prominent B2B live events operator in South Asia, the Middle East, and Africa. Operating over 40 event brands across sectors such as Technology, Energy, Healthcare, and Aviation, inD is a partnership between Informa Group PLC—listed on the London Stock Exchange—and Dubai World Trade Centre (DWTC). Headquartered in Dubai with over 1,000 specialists across the region, inD leverages international scale and local capability to support trade, foster technology adoption, and advance regional economic development.
