Global payments leader Mastercard has entered a strategic partnership with the UAE Cyber Security Council in a move designed to significantly strengthen the United Arab Emirates’ cyber resilience as the country accelerates its digital transformation agenda. The collaboration, formalised through a memorandum of understanding, signals a deeper public-private alignment aimed at safeguarding critical infrastructure, government systems, businesses, and citizens from escalating cyber threats.
The agreement was unveiled during the World Governments Summit 2026 in Dubai, a platform known for spotlighting global cooperation on future-focused governance and technology. Alongside the announcement, both parties released a joint analytical publication that examines the evolving cybersecurity landscape in the UAE and outlines priority areas for national preparedness.
A response to a rapidly evolving threat landscape
The newly launched UAE Cyber Threat Insights Report paints a detailed picture of an increasingly complex and aggressive cyber environment. According to the findings, threat actors are deploying more sophisticated techniques, often powered by automation and artificial intelligence, while targeting high-value assets and essential sectors. Government institutions, financial systems, and other nationally significant platforms are among the most frequent targets, underscoring the strategic nature of modern cyberattacks.
The report also highlights that cyber risks are no longer isolated technical issues but systemic challenges with implications for economic stability, public trust, and national security. As digital services expand across sectors such as finance, healthcare, energy, and smart infrastructure, the potential impact of cyber incidents continues to grow in scale and severity.
Leveraging global expertise for national resilience
Under the partnership, Mastercard will bring its international experience in fraud prevention, cybercrime mitigation, and digital trust to support the UAE’s national cybersecurity framework. Over the past several years, the company has made substantial investments to stay ahead of emerging threats, including more than $10bn channelled into cybersecurity acquisitions and advanced technology development since 2018. Its AI-powered systems have reportedly stopped tens of billions of dollars in fraudulent activity worldwide, demonstrating the scale at which modern cyber defence can operate.
This expertise will be shared with the UAE Cyber Security Council through structured collaboration, knowledge exchange, and support for forward-looking cybersecurity policies. The goal is not only to respond to existing threats but also to improve the country’s ability to anticipate and counter future risks before they materialise.
Cybercrime’s growing economic impact
The urgency of such initiatives is reinforced by global projections. Industry estimates suggest that cybercrime could cost the world economy more than $15tn annually by the end of the decade, placing it on par with the largest national economies. Within the UAE, the scale of attempted attacks is already significant, with authorities previously warning of hundreds of thousands of cyber incidents occurring each day, a substantial proportion of which are directed at government entities.
These figures highlight why sustained collaboration between public institutions and technology leaders has become essential. No single organisation can address the threat alone, particularly as attackers operate across borders and exploit rapidly advancing technologies.
Strengthening policy, preparedness, and innovation
Beyond technology deployment, the Mastercard-CSC partnership places strong emphasis on policy development and institutional readiness. By sharing global best practices and insights from international markets, the collaboration aims to support the UAE in refining its cybersecurity regulations and aligning them with global standards, while still addressing local priorities.
Officials involved in the initiative have stressed that cybersecurity must evolve in step with digital growth. As artificial intelligence, cloud computing, and connected systems become more deeply embedded in everyday services, national strategies must be agile enough to adapt without slowing innovation.
Supporting the UAE’s long-term digital vision
The partnership is closely aligned with the UAE’s broader economic and digital ambitions, including long-term national visions focused on innovation, competitiveness, and trust in digital services. By reinforcing cybersecurity foundations today, the country aims to ensure that future growth is both sustainable and secure.
For Mastercard, the agreement reinforces its role beyond payments technology, positioning the company as a strategic advisor and long-term partner in national digital ecosystems. For the UAE Cyber Security Council, the collaboration adds international depth to its mandate of protecting the nation’s digital space and maintaining global leadership in cybersecurity readiness.
As cyber threats continue to grow in sophistication and frequency, initiatives such as this signal a clear recognition that resilience is built through cooperation, intelligence-sharing, and continuous investment. In an increasingly connected world, the UAE’s approach reflects a broader global shift toward collective defence of the digital economy.
