The UAE CyUAE Cyber Security Council and Visa Partner to Strengthen Cybersecurity Skills
The UAE Cyber Security Council and Visa have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to strengthen cybersecurity skills across UAE government entities.
The partnership will focus on cybersecurity training, knowledge sharing, skills development, and information exchange.
The agreement comes as the UAE continues to expand its digital services. As a result, strong cybersecurity skills are becoming more important for government organisations.
The two organisations announced the partnership during the Gulf Information Security Expo and Conference (GISEC) in Dubai.
UAE and Visa focus on cybersecurity training
The new agreement will help government employees gain more cybersecurity knowledge.
As part of the programme, the UAE Cyber Security Council will nominate government employees for specialised Visa training.
The selected employees will take part in two Visa courses. These are Payments Cybersecurity I and Payments Cybersecurity II.
After the training, participants can take the Visa Payments Cybersecurity Certification examination.
Visa will deliver the programme through Visa University. The platform provides learning and certification programmes for professionals around the world.
Training will cover digital payments and security
The programme will focus on several areas of cybersecurity.
For example, participants will learn about payments cybersecurity, risk management, and digital commerce.
These areas have become more important as digital payments continue to grow.
Government services also depend on digital systems. Therefore, employees need the right skills to protect data, systems, and online services.
The programme will give participants practical knowledge that they can use in their organisations.
UAE wants a stronger cybersecurity workforce
The UAE has continued to invest in digital services and technology.
However, digital growth also creates new security challenges. Cybercriminals continue to develop new ways to target organisations and their systems.
For this reason, skilled cybersecurity teams are important for government agencies.
Dr. Mohamed Hamad Al Kuwaiti, Head of Cyber Security for the UAE Government, said a skilled workforce is important to the country’s digital transformation.
He said the government needs well-prepared employees who can protect the systems and services that citizens rely on.
He also said the partnership with Visa supports the UAE’s goal of building practical cybersecurity skills within government.
Visa will share cybersecurity expertise
Visa will bring its experience in digital payments and cybersecurity to the programme.
Joanne Kubba, Senior Vice President of Government Affairs for Central and Eastern Europe, Middle East and Africa at Visa, said cybersecurity requires cooperation.
She also stressed the importance of continuous learning and knowledge sharing.
According to Kubba, Visa wants to work with the UAE Cyber Security Council to support cybersecurity education and strengthen skills across the country.
Why payments cybersecurity matters
Digital payments now play an important role in modern economies.
People and businesses use digital payment systems for everyday transactions. At the same time, these systems handle sensitive financial and personal information.
This makes payment security a major concern.
A successful cyberattack can expose data or disrupt important services. Therefore, organisations need trained professionals who understand these risks.
The Visa training programme will help selected UAE government employees understand the security challenges within the digital payments ecosystem.
Visa University will provide the training
Visa University will deliver the training courses under the agreement.
The selected government employees will first complete the Payments Cybersecurity I and Payments Cybersecurity II courses.
They can then take the Visa Payments Cybersecurity Certification examination.
This approach gives participants both training and an opportunity to test their knowledge.
In addition, the programme can help government organisations build stronger internal cybersecurity skills.
Knowledge sharing is also part of the agreement
The partnership is not limited to training.
The MoU also creates a framework for knowledge sharing and information exchange.
This is important because cyber threats continue to change.
New technologies can create new security risks. At the same time, cybercriminals can change their methods quickly.
Therefore, cybersecurity professionals need to keep learning.
Regular information sharing can help organisations understand new threats and improve their security practices.
GISEC provides a platform for the partnership
The MoU signing took place during GISEC in Dubai.
GISEC brings together cybersecurity professionals, technology companies, government organisations, and other industry stakeholders.
The event provides a platform for discussions about cybersecurity, digital threats, and new security technologies.
The UAE Cyber Security Council and Visa used the event to announce their new partnership.
What the partnership means for UAE digital services
The agreement highlights the growing need for cybersecurity skills as governments move more services online.
Digital platforms can make government services easier to access. However, these platforms also need strong protection.
Therefore, cybersecurity training can help government employees understand how to identify and manage digital risks.
The partnership will also give selected employees access to specialised knowledge from Visa.
As a result, the programme could help participating government organisations improve their cybersecurity knowledge and prepare for new digital threats.
A growing focus on cybersecurity skills
The UAE Cyber Security Council and Visa partnership shows how government and private companies can work together on cybersecurity education.
The programme will focus on training, certification, knowledge sharing, and professional development.
Meanwhile, the UAE continues to expand its digital ecosystem.
As more government services depend on technology, cybersecurity will remain an important part of digital transformation.
Through this MoU, the UAE Cyber Security Council and Visa aim to help government employees develop the skills needed to support a safer digital environment.
