At the World Governments Summit in Dubai, UAE Telecommunications and Digital Government Regulatory Authority Deputy Director General, Mohammed Al-Zarooni, stressed the need for governments to invest in digital resilience infrastructure for future preparedness. Reflecting on the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic, Al-Zarooni highlighted how countries that had invested in digital infrastructure were able to adapt quickly, with the UAE being able to seamlessly transition education to digital platforms.
Bahrain’s National Cyber Security Centre CEO, Salman Al-Khalifa, emphasized that trust in digital systems and governance is critical. He noted that without trust, citizens would be hesitant to engage with digital systems, which could undermine their effectiveness.
Al-Khalifa also raised concerns about the rapid growth of artificial intelligence (AI) and its potential to assist cybercriminals. He urged governments to prepare for the challenges posed by AI in cybercrime.
Al-Zarooni underscored the importance of cybersecurity awareness, stating that those unaware of the risks are most vulnerable to cybercrime. He concluded by stressing that cybersecurity is a global issue, and without international cooperation, true digital resilience cannot be achieved.
