DUBAI – 22 February 2026: Around 70% of companies in the UAE are planning to establish artificial intelligence-driven Security Operations Centres (SOCs) to counter emerging AI-related cyber threats, according to cybersecurity firm Kaspersky.
The report highlights that organisations increasingly view AI as critical for strengthening threat detection and improving operational efficiency, particularly as cyberattacks become more sophisticated and AI-enabled.
The findings follow a recent announcement by the UAE Cybersecurity Council that national authorities had thwarted organised cyberattacks with a terrorist nature targeting the country’s digital infrastructure and vital sectors. According to officials, attackers exploited AI technologies to develop advanced offensive tools, signalling a significant evolution in digital attack methods.
Despite strong interest in AI adoption, companies face hurdles including shortages of skilled AI and cybersecurity professionals, as well as high integration costs. Nearly 30% of UAE firms said they are committed to leveraging AI to enhance SOC performance.
In terms of practical applications, 58% of UAE companies expect AI to strengthen threat detection through automated data analysis that identifies anomalies and suspicious activities. Meanwhile, 46% plan to use AI for response automation, enabling rapid execution of predefined incident response scenarios.
Organisations aim to use AI to automate routine security tasks, improve detection accuracy and reduce false positives, thereby enhancing overall security effectiveness.
Anton Ivanov, Chief Technology Officer at Kaspersky, noted that while organisations recognise the value AI brings to SOCs, moving from experimentation to full operational impact remains challenging due to talent shortages and complexity of in-house AI deployment.
As AI-driven threats continue to rise, UAE companies are accelerating investment in AI-powered cybersecurity capabilities to safeguard digital infrastructure and maintain resilience across critical sectors.
