GISEC Global 2026: Why UAE Businesses Need to Prepare for AI-Driven and Quantum Cyber Threats

Artificial intelligence, quantum computing and increasing geopolitical uncertainty are changing the cyber risks facing organisations in the UAE.

These issues will be central to GISEC Global 2026, which takes place at Dubai Exhibition Centre, Expo City Dubai, from 16 to 18 September.

Hosted and endorsed by organisations including the UAE Cyber Security Council and Dubai Electronic Security Center, this year's event will focus on AI-powered cyber defence, critical infrastructure protection, cloud security, operational technology and preparations for the post-quantum era.

The themes reflect a wider shift in how organisations need to approach cyber security.

Cyber risk is no longer solely an IT issue. For businesses increasingly dependent on digital infrastructure, cloud platforms, connected systems and artificial intelligence, a serious cyber incident can create operational, financial, legal and reputational consequences.

AI Is Changing the Cyber Threat Landscape

Artificial intelligence provides organisations with significant opportunities to improve productivity, automate processes and strengthen security.

The same technology can also help threat actors operate more effectively.

According to figures highlighted ahead of GISEC Global 2026, 94% of organisations surveyed for the World Economic Forum's Global Cybersecurity Outlook expect AI to be the biggest driver of cyber security change over the coming year, while 87% identify AI-related vulnerabilities as the fastest-growing cyber risk.

AI can potentially assist attackers with activities including:

• Developing more convincing phishing communications.
• Automating reconnaissance.
• Identifying technical vulnerabilities.
• Generating malicious code.
• Creating realistic impersonation material.
• Scaling social-engineering campaigns.
• Analysing stolen information more rapidly.

The result is not necessarily an entirely new category of cybercrime.

Instead, AI can allow existing techniques to become faster, more personalised and more difficult to identify.

For organisations, this means established controls may need to be reassessed against a changing threat environment.

AI Can Also Strengthen Cyber Defence

Artificial intelligence is not only increasing risk.

It is also being incorporated into cyber defence.

AI-enabled systems can help organisations analyse large volumes of security data, identify unusual behaviour and prioritise potential threats more quickly.

Potential applications include:

• Detecting anomalies across networks.
• Identifying unusual account activity.
• Analysing malicious files.
• Prioritising vulnerabilities.
• Supporting threat intelligence.
• Detecting suspicious communications.
• Accelerating incident investigation.

However, introducing AI into security environments creates its own governance considerations.

Organisations need to understand where automated systems are being used, what information they can access and how decisions are validated.

AI can support experienced cyber security teams, but it does not remove the need for human oversight.

Conflict Advisory Group's Cyber Security capabilities support organisations seeking to identify vulnerabilities, investigate incidents and strengthen their resilience against evolving digital threats.

Why Quantum Security Is Becoming a Business Issue

GISEC Global 2026 will also place significant emphasis on quantum security, including a dedicated Quantum Security Summit and a Global Quantum Drill focused on readiness for future threats.

Quantum computing remains an emerging technology, but its potential implications for encryption mean organisations cannot treat it solely as a distant technical issue.

Many digital systems rely on encryption to protect:

• Confidential communications.
• Financial information.
• Customer records.
• Intellectual property.
• Authentication systems.
• Commercially sensitive data.

Powerful future quantum computers could potentially undermine some of the encryption methods used today.

The immediate business issue is therefore preparation.

Organisations with sensitive information that needs to remain confidential for many years should consider whether their technology strategy accounts for developments in post-quantum security.

Critical Infrastructure Requires Greater Resilience

Another major theme at GISEC is the protection of critical infrastructure.

The UAE's rapid development has created highly connected infrastructure across sectors including energy, transport, finance, telecommunications, logistics and government services.

Connectivity creates efficiency, but it can also create dependencies.

A disruption affecting a technology provider, cloud platform or operational system can potentially have consequences far beyond the initial point of compromise.

Organisations should therefore consider not only how to prevent an attack but also how they would continue operating if important systems became unavailable.

This requires attention to:

• Business continuity.
• Backup arrangements.
• Alternative suppliers.
• Recovery procedures.
• Incident communications.
• Operational dependencies.
• Third-party technology exposure.

Cyber resilience is ultimately about an organisation's ability to withstand disruption and recover effectively.

Third-Party Dependencies Can Create Hidden Exposure

Modern organisations rarely operate their entire technology environment internally.

They rely on cloud providers, software platforms, managed service providers, data centres and other specialist suppliers.

A business may therefore have strong internal security while remaining exposed through a critical third party.

Risk assessments should consider:

• Which suppliers have access to sensitive information.
• Which systems are operationally critical.
• Whether alternative providers exist.
• What happens if a supplier becomes unavailable.
• How quickly access can be revoked.
• Whether third parties maintain appropriate security controls.
• Whether contractual obligations adequately address incidents and disclosure.

Understanding these dependencies is increasingly important as organisations adopt more cloud services and AI-enabled platforms.

Cyber Security and Risk Advisory Are Increasingly Connected

Cyber security traditionally focused heavily on technical protection.

Today, organisations also need to consider the wider business consequences of cyber disruption.

A serious incident can affect:

• Operations.
• Revenue.
• Regulatory compliance.
• Supply chains.
• Client relationships.
• Reputation.
• Strategic decision-making.

This is where cyber security and wider corporate risk management increasingly overlap.

Conflict Advisory Group's Risk Advisory services help organisations assess exposure, understand emerging risks and develop proportionate strategies for operating in complex environments.

Cyber risk should form part of that wider assessment rather than being considered independently of business strategy.

What UAE Organisations Should Review

The issues being discussed at GISEC Global provide a useful opportunity for organisations to examine their current cyber resilience.

Key questions include:

• Are critical systems clearly identified?
• Are cyber risks regularly reassessed?
• Are third-party technology dependencies understood?
• Are sensitive systems appropriately segmented?
• Are backups regularly tested?
• Is multi-factor authentication used appropriately?
• Can unusual account or network activity be identified?
• Is there a documented incident-response process?
• Do senior decision-makers understand their responsibilities during a major incident?
• Are emerging AI and quantum-related risks considered in longer-term planning?

The appropriate controls will differ between organisations.

The objective should be to identify the systems and information that matter most and ensure protection is proportionate to the consequences of compromise.

Preparing for Incidents, Not Just Preventing Them

No organisation can eliminate cyber risk completely.

Effective cyber resilience therefore requires both prevention and preparation.

Incident-response planning should establish how an organisation would:

• Identify an incident.
• Contain the immediate threat.
• Preserve relevant evidence.
• Determine what has been affected.
• Maintain critical operations.
• Communicate internally and externally.
• Recover systems safely.
• Review lessons after the event.

Testing these processes before an incident occurs can expose weaknesses that might otherwise remain hidden until they are needed.

Cyber Resilience Is Becoming a Strategic Priority

GISEC Global 2026 reflects how rapidly cyber security is moving beyond the traditional boundaries of IT departments.

Artificial intelligence is changing both attack and defence capabilities. Quantum computing is creating longer-term questions around encryption. Critical infrastructure and cloud dependence are increasing the potential consequences of disruption.

For organisations operating in the UAE, the challenge is therefore not simply to purchase more security technology.

It is to understand where the organisation is exposed, which systems are most important, what third-party dependencies exist and how quickly the business could respond if something went wrong.

Organisations seeking to assess their cyber exposure, strengthen resilience or respond to a suspected incident can contact Conflict Advisory Group to discuss their requirements in confidence.