The UAE Cyber Security Council (CSC) conducted a specialised cyber crisis simulation on Monday in collaboration with Immersive, a company focused on human-centric cyber resilience. The exercise aimed to strengthen the cyber readiness of government entities across the country.

The simulation comes amid rising concerns over digital threats, requiring continuous preparedness to protect the nation’s critical infrastructure. During the exercise, CSC teams and Immersive experts conducted advanced scenarios to confront, respond to, and halt potential cyberattacks targeting shared government services and key infrastructure.

The exercise tested participants’ decision-making under pressure, offering realistic threat simulations to enhance response capabilities. It focused on best practices in incident response, threat intelligence, and business continuity management. The effectiveness of existing plans in addressing evolving cyber threats was also assessed.

Communication proved crucial, with the simulation emphasising clear incident-response procedures, designated points of contact, and rapid, secure information exchange between entities.

Dr. Mohammed Hamad Al Kuwaiti, Head of Cybersecurity for the UAE Government, said the council remains committed to safeguarding the nation’s cyberspace. He highlighted that cyber awareness among individuals is a key component of national defence, describing people as the first line of protection against threats.

The exercise aimed to identify gaps and areas for improvement, using data-driven insights to refine strategies. Participants included SOC analysts, Chief Information Security Officers (CISOs), and business continuity teams, all working to coordinate responses across technical, operational, and leadership functions.

Scenarios involved a shared services entity facing a sophisticated cyberattack from an international actor. The simulation escalated from initially manageable suspicious activity to a large-scale crisis threatening essential operations. Teams assessed evolving information, maintained critical services, and coordinated strategic responses under pressure.

The exercise relied on a customised crisis simulation model focusing on complex networks and interconnections. A detailed report will follow, highlighting vulnerabilities and proposing measures to enhance national preparedness against advanced cyber threats.

The UAE Cyber Security Council reaffirmed its commitment to building a resilient cybersecurity ecosystem. The cyber crisis exercise strengthened the nation’s readiness and will guide future strategies to protect government services and critical infrastructure.

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