UAE launches Operational Technology Cybersecurity Centre of Excellence with Dragos, plus national AI lab and IBM innovation hub
UAE Government Cybersecurity Council partners with Dragos to create an Operational Technology cybersecurity centre of excellence, alongside a national AI testing lab and an Abu Dhabi innovation centre.
The UAE Government Cybersecurity Council announced a strategic partnership with global firm Dragos to establish an Operational Technology cybersecurity centre of excellence in the United Arab Emirates, unveiled during the Make in UAE 2026 platform. The new centre, described by officials as a national hub for protecting industrial control systems, sits alongside two further initiatives — a national AI testing and verification lab launched with Cisco and Open Innovation AI, and a joint innovation centre planned with IBM in Abu Dhabi.
UAE and Dragos to Establish OT Cybersecurity Centre of Excellence
The centre of excellence will focus on Operational Technology cybersecurity, aiming to shield critical infrastructure from increasingly sophisticated attacks. Officials said the initiative responds to a sharp rise in threats targeting energy, transportation and industrial control systems globally.
The partnership will combine Dragos’s operational technology expertise with the UAE’s strategic priorities to localize advanced cyber capabilities. Leaders expect the centre to operate as a regional reference point for OT threat detection, incident response and resilience-building.
National AI Testing and Verification Lab Launched with Cisco and Open Innovation AI
At the same platform, the council unveiled a national laboratory for testing, verifying and accrediting artificial intelligence systems developed or deployed in the UAE. The lab, created with Cisco and Open Innovation AI, is intended to validate AI models, applications and autonomous agents against national cybersecurity policies and international standards.
The facility is described as the first national-level capability dedicated to AI verification, providing government entities and private sector operators with a trusted pathway to adopt AI responsibly. Systems that meet the lab’s technical and safety criteria will receive a national accreditation mark to increase market and regulatory confidence.
Joint Innovation Centre with IBM to be Based in Abu Dhabi
Separately, the council and IBM announced plans to open a joint innovation centre in Abu Dhabi to accelerate trusted AI, cybersecurity, and next-generation digital solutions. The centre will act as a collaborative platform linking government agencies, private industry, academic institutions and international partners.
Officials said the Abu Dhabi hub will blend technology deployment with policy engagement, enabling pilot programmes, proof-of-concepts and workforce development projects. The partnership is positioned to support the UAE’s ambition to lead regionally in secure, trustworthy digital transformation.
Focus on Local Capability, Talent and Digital Sovereignty
A central objective of these initiatives is to localize cyber and AI capacities and build specialized national talent. The council emphasised that the centre of excellence and the AI lab will create training pipelines and certification opportunities for Emirati professionals.
Strengthening digital sovereignty was highlighted as a policy priority, with the initiatives intended to reduce external dependencies and ensure national control over critical systems. The projects are expected to support local innovation ecosystems while adhering to globally recognised security and ethics frameworks.
Operational Oversight, Monitoring and Accreditation Frameworks
The Operational Technology centre is being designed as an active monitoring and early-detection platform, using behavioural analytics and continuous surveillance tools to identify anomalous activity before incidents escalate. The council noted the importance of rapid detection and coordinated response for industrial environments where consequences can be severe.
The AI testing lab will operate under the council’s supervision and apply comprehensive verification processes to assess robustness, safety and alignment with UAE cyber policies. Accredited systems will be issued a national mark, intended to streamline procurement and compliance for regulators, operators and end users.
Regional Implications and Strategic Roadmap
Together, the three announcements signal a broader UAE strategy to position itself as a regional hub for secure digital infrastructure and responsible AI adoption. Observers expect neighbouring states and regional operators to engage with the new facilities for capacity building and collaborative defence measures.
The council outlined a roadmap that includes operationalising the centres, expanding industry partnerships and scaling workforce programmes. Timelines and specific implementation milestones were presented as near-term priorities to ensure the initiatives deliver measurable improvements in national cyber resilience.
The coordinated launch of an Operational Technology cybersecurity centre of excellence, a national AI verification lab, and an Abu Dhabi innovation centre reflects a concerted push by the UAE to fortify critical systems and accelerate trustworthy technology adoption. These efforts aim to combine international expertise with domestic oversight to protect infrastructure, support economic growth and nurture the next generation of cybersecurity and AI professionals.