SANS Institute has announced SANS Gulf Region 2026, a cybersecurity training event featuring 13 specialized courses and two NetWars tournaments. The event will run from October 31 to November 26, 2026, at the Hilton Dubai Jumeirah Beach Resort. It will focus on key areas, including AI security, advanced threat detection, industrial control systems security and cyber resilience.

The program aims to address the Middle East’s evolving cybersecurity requirements as enterprises accelerate digital transformation and adopt AI-driven technologies. According to Mordor Intelligence, the regional cybersecurity market is estimated to reach USD 23.54 billion in 2026, with a compound annual growth rate of 14.55% projected through 2031.

However, developing the skills required to protect increasingly complex digital environments remains a challenge. PwC’s 2026 Global Digital Trust Insights: Middle East findings reveal that 53% of regional respondents identified a lack of knowledge in applying AI to cyber defense as a major hurdle. This highlights the need for specialized training to help cybersecurity professionals keep pace with emerging technologies and threats.

As AI becomes more integrated into business operations, cybersecurity teams must also develop the expertise to protect AI systems themselves. To address this requirement, SANS Institute has developed the AI Security Maturity Model for the Gulf Region. The framework provides a structured approach to assessing AI security readiness, identifying gaps and prioritizing improvements across AI protection, utilization and governance.

The model is designed to help organizations develop more mature AI security practices while reinforcing the importance of continuous, hands-on training.

“The Middle East has seen remarkable progress in digital transformation, but the pace of adopting technologies must be matched by an equally strong investment in cybersecurity capabilities,” says Ned Baltagi, Managing Director, Middle East, Turkey and Africa at SANS Institute.

He added that businesses integrating AI and interconnected systems need specialized skills and practical experience to manage the associated risks. This requires a shift from reactive skills development to continuous training that anticipates changes in threats and technologies.

Through SANS Gulf Region 2026, the institute will focus on practical skills and real-world cybersecurity challenges facing organizations across the region.

This year’s curriculum covers five areas: Cyber Defense, Offensive Operations, Industrial Control Systems, Cloud and AI Security, and Leadership. A new course, SEC545: GenAI and LLM Application Security, will focus on securing generative AI applications and large language models.

The program also includes significant updates to LDR519: Cybersecurity Governance, Risk, and Compliance. Six courses will focus on AI, reflecting the growing need to understand and manage cybersecurity risks associated with AI adoption.

Additional training will cover network monitoring and threat detection, enterprise penetration testing, security automation for red, blue and purple teams, and industrial control systems and supervisory control and data acquisition (ICS/SCADA) protection. Participants will also explore defensible security architecture built around Zero Trust principles.

Together, these courses address technical and strategic requirements across established cybersecurity disciplines and emerging security challenges.

Alongside the training sessions, the event will feature two NetWars Core tournaments. These interactive exercises will allow participants to apply their knowledge to simulated cybersecurity scenarios.

The AI-focused challenges will cover prompt injection, malware reverse engineering, multifactor authentication (MFA) bypass, web application security and Internet of Things (IoT) vulnerabilities. Participants will investigate and respond to interconnected threats within a fictional organization facing compromised systems and vulnerable AI models.

The event will also host evening community talks on cybersecurity leadership, the role of AI in learning, and modern influence operations. SANS experts, including Mark Williams and Jeff McJunkin, will contribute to these sessions.

Training courses will be available both in person and through live online sessions, giving participants different ways to access the program.

With SANS Gulf Region 2026, SANS Institute aims to strengthen cybersecurity capabilities across the Middle East. The program will combine technical training, leadership development and practical exercises to help professionals address evolving threats and protect increasingly complex digital environments.

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