Mastercard has entered into a memorandum of understanding with the UAE Cyber Security Council to enhance trust and resilience across the country’s expanding digital ecosystem as part of the Mastercard UAE Cybersecurity Partnership. The partnership is focused on strengthening national cybersecurity capabilities through knowledge exchange, improved preparedness, and support for future focused cybersecurity policies as digital adoption continues to accelerate across sectors.
The agreement was announced alongside the release of a joint assessment that reviews the current cybersecurity environment in the UAE. The collaboration reflects a growing emphasis on coordinated action between technology providers and national cyber authorities as organisations face increasingly complex digital risks.
Cyber Threat Landscape And National Readiness
The newly released UAE Cyber Threat Insights Report outlines the changing nature of cyber risks affecting organisations and public systems. According to the report, threat actors are using more advanced techniques and targeting critical sectors and high value national assets. These attacks are no longer limited to financial gain and often seek to disrupt operations or undermine confidence in digital services.
The report also highlights sustained efforts by national authorities to strengthen cyber resilience. These efforts include deeper cooperation between public and private stakeholders to improve detection, response, and recovery capabilities. Strengthening shared awareness and preparedness is viewed as essential to maintaining stability as digital services expand across government, finance, infrastructure, and commerce.
Data shared in the report shows that the volume of cyber incidents remains high, with government systems among the most targeted. This trend underscores the importance of layered defenses and continuous monitoring as digital systems become more interconnected.
Through the Mastercard UAE Cybersecurity Partnership, Mastercard will contribute its experience in fraud prevention and cyber risk management to support national resilience efforts. The company has invested more than ten billion dollars since two thousand eighteen in cybersecurity acquisitions and technology development. Its AI-based systems have helped prevent tens of billions of dollars in fraudulent activity worldwide over the past decade, demonstrating how data-driven tools can support large-scale digital ecosystems.
Collaboration To Support Secure Digital Growth
The Mastercard UAE Cybersecurity Partnership aims to support the UAE’s broader digital growth by strengthening cyber frameworks that protect users, organisations, and critical infrastructure. Knowledge sharing on global best practices will help inform the development of policies that address emerging risks, including those linked to artificial intelligence and increased system automation.
Global estimates underline the scale of the challenge. Cybersecurity Ventures projects that cybercrime could cost the global economy more than fifteen trillion dollars annually by the end of the decade. Within the UAE, authorities have previously noted that the country faces hundreds of thousands of cyber incidents each day, highlighting the need for constant vigilance and adaptive security strategies.
Officials involved in the initiative emphasised that resilience, rather than prevention alone, is central to managing cyber risk. Ensuring continuity of digital services during incidents is seen as a critical factor for maintaining trust across the economy.
The collaboration will also support ongoing assessments of emerging cyber risks and help identify areas where additional safeguards are required. This includes protecting payment systems, digital identity platforms, and data-driven services that underpin everyday economic activity.
For businesses operating in the UAE, the Mastercard UAE Cybersecurity Partnership signals a continued focus on creating a secure digital environment that supports innovation and growth. As organisations adopt cloud platforms, digital payments, and connected technologies, robust cybersecurity frameworks become essential to sustaining confidence and operational stability.
The agreement reflects a broader shift toward collective responsibility in cybersecurity. By combining national oversight with private sector expertise, the initiative aims to strengthen readiness against evolving threats while supporting the secure expansion of the digital economy through the Mastercard UAE Cybersecurity Partnership.
