- Dr. Mohamed Al Kuwaiti Calls for International Cooperation, Public-Private Partnerships and Innovation to Build a Secure Digital Future
NEW YORK: The United Arab Emirates reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening global cybersecurity, secure digital transformation and responsible emerging-technology governance during the 81st United Nations General Assembly (UNGA81) High-Level Week in New York.
Dr. Mohamed Al Kuwaiti, Head of Cyber Security for the UAE Government, emphasized that cybersecurity has become a critical foundation for digital transformation, trusted digital economies and secure smart cities.
“Cybersecurity is a fundamental enabler of secure digital transformation, trusted digital economies, and secure smart cities,” Dr. Al Kuwaiti said, stressing the need to integrate security into digital systems from the outset.
“As governments, infrastructure, and communities become increasingly connected, security must be embedded by design across digital services, emerging technologies, and smart systems,” he added.
UAE Shares Experience in Cyber Resilience and Responsible AI
During UNGA81 High-Level Week, the UAE participated in a wide range of high-level roundtables, strategic dialogues, bilateral meetings, thematic discussions and official engagements involving governments, international organizations, global institutions and private-sector leaders.
Through these engagements, the UAE shared its experience in cyber resilience, responsible artificial intelligence governance, post-quantum readiness and secure digital transformation.
The UAE also contributed to broader international discussions covering human development, strategic philanthropy, humanitarian resilience and sustainable development, reflecting the country’s emphasis on linking technological progress with wider social and economic priorities.
Call for Stronger International Cybersecurity Cooperation
Dr. Al Kuwaiti stressed that cybersecurity requires sustained international cooperation, as digital threats increasingly transcend national borders.
“The UAE emphasised that cybersecurity is a shared international responsibility. Digital risks do not stop at national borders, and effective resilience requires stronger cooperation in threat-intelligence exchange, policy and standards coordination, capacity building, joint readiness, responsible AI governance, and preparation for emerging risks, including the post-quantum transition,” he said.
He underscored the importance of coordinated international efforts to strengthen cyber resilience, harmonize policies and standards, develop technical capabilities and prepare governments and industries for emerging technological risks.
Private Sector Seen as Strategic Partner
The UAE also highlighted the importance of closer cooperation between governments, businesses, universities and research institutions in developing sustainable national cybersecurity capabilities.
“The UAE also highlighted the importance of the private sector as a strategic partner in building sustainable national cyber capabilities,” Dr. Al Kuwaiti said.
He noted that effective partnerships should extend beyond technology adoption to encompass co-development, knowledge transfer, research and development, specialized training, testing environments and Centres of Excellence that bring together government, industry, academia and international expertise.
“Such partnerships can help transform international expertise into local capabilities, national talent, and long-term innovation capacity, while strengthening technological sovereignty and accelerating the deployment of advanced cyber solutions,” he added.
AI and Advanced Technologies Driving Future Readiness
Dr. Al Kuwaiti further highlighted innovation as a central component of the UAE’s future-readiness strategy, particularly through the responsible application of artificial intelligence, automation and advanced analytics.
“Innovation remains central to the UAE’s future-readiness agenda,” he said, noting that advanced technologies can strengthen situational awareness, improve decision-making, enhance early detection and response, and increase operational efficiency across government and cybersecurity operations.
The UAE is also working to strengthen its broader innovation ecosystem by supporting startups, accelerators, incubators, pilot programmes and scale-up pathways, helping promising technologies progress from concepts and prototypes to deployable national capabilities.
“This approach connects government demand, private-sector expertise, research, and investment to build the next generation of cyber and digital solutions,” Dr. Al Kuwaiti said.
UAE Presents Integrated Vision for a Secure Digital Future
Concluding his remarks, Dr. Al Kuwaiti outlined the UAE’s broader approach to digital development, bringing together cybersecurity, secure digital transformation, smart-city security, international cooperation, strategic partnerships and innovation.
“The UAE’s approach brings cybersecurity, secure digital transformation, secure smart cities, international cooperation, strategic partnerships, and innovation together within one integrated future-readiness agenda,” he said.
He added that the objective is to help build a secure, resilient and competitive digital ecosystem centred on people, while strengthening the capacity of governments, businesses and communities to benefit from emerging technologies in a responsible and sustainable manner.
BY: The Times Union
