Mastercard has signed an MoU with the UAE Cyber Security Council to strengthen trust in the nation’s digital ecosystem by enhancing cyber resilience through global best practices and forward-looking policies.
The collaboration, announced on the sidelines of the World Governments Summit (WGS) 2026 in Dubai, will launch a joint report on the current state of the country’s cybersecurity landscape.
The UAE Cyber Threat Insights Report highlights an increasingly complex threat landscape, detailing how diverse and sophisticated threat actors are targeting organizations, critical sectors and high-value national assets, signaling a wider escalation in cyber risk.
The report also emphasizes the UAE Government’s continued efforts to strengthen national cyber resilience through enhanced public-private coordination, ensuring collective readiness and reinforcing the country’s leadership in cybersecurity.
Through its collaboration with UAE Cyber Security Council, Mastercard will leverage its deep expertise in combating cybercrime and fraud to further strengthen the UAE’s cybersecurity posture.
Since 2018, the company has invested $10.7 billion in strategic cybersecurity acquisitions and future-ready solutions, while its AI tools have prevented $70 billion in fraudulent transactions globally over the past decade.
Dr. Mohamed Hamad Al Kuwaiti Head – UAE Cybersecurity Council
“As the UAE advances its digital transformation, exposure to cybercrime grows, with risks to critical sectors escalating exponentially, driven by AI and other threats. In this rapidly evolving landscape, UAE Cyber Security Council and Mastercard share an unwavering commitment to building a secure and prosperous digital future. We aim to use the company’s global know-how and advanced technology to bolster the UAE’s cybersecurity framework, enhance the country’s readiness to combat increasingly sophisticated cyber-attacks and consolidate its leadership in this space. Together, we will launch the next wave of innovation that will strengthen our nation’s ability to anticipate and mitigate threats.”
Jon M. Huntsman, Jr., Vice Chairman and President, Strategic Growth at Mastercard, said that, “At Mastercard, we are dedicated to safeguarding the UAE’s digital ecosystem in line with the ‘UAE 2031’ vision and the National Cybersecurity Strategy. The MoU with the UAE Cyber Security Council reinforces our position as a trusted partner, technology provider and policy advisor to the UAE government and a thought leader in the field of cybersecurity.”
According to Cybersecurity Ventures, cybercrime is projected to cost the global economy $15.6 trillion by 2029, effectively making it the world’s third-largest economy. Last year, UAE Cyber Security Council have reported that the UAE faces more than 200,000 cyberattacks daily, with over one-third aimed at government entities.
