Abu Dhabi Islamic Bank (ADIB) has announced the winners of its UAE Cybersecurity Innovation Challenge, an initiative aimed at identifying and accelerating high-impact startups capable of strengthening the nation’s digital financial ecosystem.
Organised in partnership with the UAE Cyber Security Council and the DIFC Innovation Hub, the challenge concluded with the selection of three global innovators: Corgea (US), Nothreat (UK), and DTEX Systems (US).
The programme attracted more than 50 global pitches, with 10 finalists advancing to present before a judging panel that included representatives from Microsoft, Visa, and Al Etihad Payments. Submissions were evaluated on innovation, deployment readiness, and relevance to the UAE’s cybersecurity priorities.
Each winning startup brings a distinct approach to modern cyber risk:
- Corgea (San Francisco): A proactive security platform offering deep visibility into vulnerabilities and compliance gaps.
- Nothreat (London): A behavioural intelligence solution using real-time monitoring to detect and mitigate insider and external threats.
- DTEX Systems (California): A human-centric, AI-driven workforce cyber-intelligence platform unifying data loss prevention and insider threat management.
The challenge aligns with ADIB’s 2035 Vision and the UAE’s National Cybersecurity Agenda. In his opening address, H.E. Dr. Mohamed Hamad Al Kuwaiti, Chairman of the UAE Cyber Security Council, highlighted the country’s ambition to build “AI-driven, quantum-resilient cybersecurity infrastructure” to counter the growing volume of cyberattacks across sectors.
He reaffirmed the importance of the “Society as the First Line of Defence” initiative, underscoring collective responsibility in protecting digital sovereignty.
Fernando Plaza, Chief Digital Officer at ADIB, said: “Cybersecurity is fundamental to trust in digital banking and financial services. Engaging with emerging technologies and innovative startups allows us to identify practical, scalable solutions that strengthen resilience, support secure digital transformation, and respond to the evolving threat landscape facing the industry.”
Through ADIB Ventures, the bank aims to continue catalysing open innovation and building ecosystems that reinforce national cyber resilience.
