The UAE has positioned itself as a regional digital powerhouse, spanning finance, energy, retail, media, education, and critical infrastructure. As cloud adoption, artificial intelligence integration, and large-scale digital transformation accelerate across the country, cybersecurity leadership has become central to national resilience and economic trust. The following cybersecurity leaders stand out for their roles in securing complex enterprises, enabling innovation, and shaping the UAE’s cyber maturity across both public and private sectors.
Ali Al Kaf Alhashmi — Vice President, Cyber Security and Technology, Mubadala Investments
Ali Al Kaf Alhashmi brings more than a decade of experience across information security, risk management, and technology leadership. Holding a Master’s degree in Cyber Security, he currently serves as Vice President of Cyber Security and Technology at Mubadala Investments, where he leads strategic planning and technology risk management initiatives. His background includes senior roles in information security and risk, as well as early technical experience as an Information Security Engineer. Ali is recognized for aligning cybersecurity strategy with business success while safeguarding critical digital assets.
Aus Alzubaidi — Chief Information Security Officer, MBC Group
With over 18 years of experience, Aus Alzubaidi leads cybersecurity, information technology operations, and media technology at MBC Group. His work spans large-scale digital and cloud transformations, information technology and operational technology security governance, and the operationalization of generative artificial intelligence use cases, including copilots and chatbots. Aus is known for integrating cybersecurity with media and business operations, managing global teams, and aligning complex technical strategies with executive priorities. A frequent international speaker, his leadership has been recognized through multiple global Chief Information Officer and Chief Information Security Officer awards.
Ayoub Fathi — Chief Information Security Officer, noon.com
Ayoub Fathi leads group cybersecurity for Noon Group, protecting millions of customers across the Middle East and North Africa region. He joined Noon in 2017 and built its information security program from the ground up, scaling it across more than nine subsidiaries. Known for blending hands-on hacking expertise with board-level security strategy, Ayoub has uncovered critical vulnerabilities in major global platforms and was ranked among the world’s top hackers. His leadership spans governance, risk and compliance, product security, cloud security, and executive-level cyber risk oversight.
Dr. Ahmed Alketbi — Co-Founder and General Manager, Malcrove
Dr. Ahmed Alketbi combines executive leadership with deep public-sector cybersecurity experience. He is the Co-Founder and General Manager of Malcrove, a cybersecurity firm specializing in security advisory, cyber defence, and security assurance. Previously, he served as Chief Information Security Officer at Digital Dubai Electricity and Water Authority, Dubai Electricity and Water Authority, and Moro Hub, leading governance, risk management, and compliance initiatives across critical infrastructure environments. His work focuses on building digital resilience, managing cyber risk holistically, and advancing the maturity of security organizations across the UAE.
Hariprasad Chede — Chief Information Security Officer, National Bank of Fujairah
Hariprasad Chede is a seasoned cybersecurity and data privacy leader with over two decades of experience in the financial sector. As Chief Information Security Officer of the National Bank of Fujairah, he has positioned information security as a business enabler rather than a cost center. His leadership spans major transformation journeys—from centralized data centers to cloud-to-cloud environments—and the evolution of security operations into digital trust centers. His expertise includes governance, identity and access management, fraud monitoring, operational resilience, and board-level security metrics.
Faisal Khan — Associate Director, Information Security and Compliance, Dubai World Trade Centre
Faisal Khan brings nearly three decades of experience securing critical infrastructure and large-scale environments. As Associate Director of Information Security and Compliance at Dubai World Trade Centre, he focuses on transforming cybersecurity into a proactive, strategic advantage. Recognized as a Top 100 Cybersecurity Leader in the Middle East, his expertise includes cyber defense strategy, incident response, Zero Trust security architecture, artificial intelligence–driven threat mitigation, and governance. Faisal is known for aligning security programs with business growth in one of the region’s most prominent trade hubs.
Kausar Mukeri — Vice President and Chief Information Security Officer, GEMS Education
Kausar Mukeri leads cybersecurity for GEMS Education, the world’s largest private education company with more than 250 schools globally. With over 20 years of information technology and security experience, he oversees cybersecurity governance, architecture, and cloud security across a highly distributed environment. His background includes extensive industry certifications spanning governance, architecture, disaster recovery, and information security management. Kausar is recognized for designing secure cloud architectures, evaluating cloud service providers, and aligning long-term security strategy with organizational and compliance objectives.
Manish Agarwal — Chief Information Security Officer and Chief Information Officer, MH Enterprises LLC
Manish Agarwal is a results-driven technology executive with more than 19 years of experience leading enterprise information technology, cybersecurity, and digital transformation. At MH Enterprises LLC, he has delivered large-scale automation, enterprise resource planning modernization, and artificial intelligence–driven initiatives across multiple companies and warehouse operations. His work has resulted in measurable outcomes, including a significant reduction in cybersecurity incidents through proactive security frameworks. A multiple award winner, Manish combines deep technical expertise with business leadership to drive operational efficiency at scale.
Nisha Rani — Chief Information Security Officer, Emirates Leisure Retail
Nisha Rani serves as Chief Information Security Officer for Emirates Leisure Retail, leading cybersecurity strategy across MMI and Emirates Leisure Retail. Her background includes roles at Emirates NBD, Deloitte, Protiviti, and Tata Consultancy Services, with a strong focus on information technology governance and risk management. Holding certifications such as Certified Information Systems Security Professional and Certified Information Systems Auditor, she is recognized for making cybersecurity accessible and business-aligned. Nisha is a Digital Transformation 50 honoree, a Top 15 Women Leaders in the Middle East 2024 awardee, and an active industry speaker and mentor.
Ali Othman — Cybersecurity Country Head, HSBC (United Arab Emirates and regional markets)
Ali Othman leads cybersecurity across multiple countries for HSBC, spanning the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain, Oman, and Algeria. With over 15 years of experience across the Middle East and Asia-Pacific, he specializes in scaling cybersecurity programs that enable digital transformation and business growth. An artificial intelligence ambassador, Ali advocates for responsible artificial intelligence adoption in cybersecurity and regularly speaks at regional and global conferences. His work bridges fraud prevention, critical infrastructure security, and executive-level cyber strategy across diverse markets.
Securing the UAE’s Vision for a Digital-First Nation
As the UAE accelerates its national vision around smart cities, artificial intelligence adoption, cloud-first government, and globally connected industries, cybersecurity leadership has become a strategic pillar of economic stability and trust. These cybersecurity leaders are safeguarding not just organizations, but the systems that underpin finance, energy, commerce, education, media, and critical infrastructure across the Emirates. Their work directly supports the UAE’s ambition to remain a secure, innovation-led digital hub where resilience, trust, and technological progress advance together.