UAE Launches National Accelerator to Build Homegrown Cybersecurity Startups

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The program aims to produce a new generation of national cybersecurity companies capable of developing innovative solutions that meet the needs of both local and international markets.

MITSloan ME Editorial

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UAE Launches National Accelerator to Build Homegrown Cybersecurity Startups

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The UAE is reinforcing its national cybersecurity commitment with the launch of a national accelerator program dedicated to cybersecurity startups.
The Khalifa Fund for Enterprise Development (KFED), in partnership with the UAE Government Cybersecurity Council, has launched a specialized program to produce a new generation of national cybersecurity companies capable of developing innovative solutions that meet the needs of both local and international markets.
Unveiled during an MZN Hub Al Ain event, in the presence of Dr. Mohamed Al Kuwaiti, Head of Cyber Security for the UAE Government, and KFED CEO Mouza Obaid Al Nasri, the program has been developed in collaboration with CyberE71, the country’s flagship cybersecurity startup incubator.
“Cybersecurity is no longer merely a technical sector; it has become a strategic driver of the digital economy and one of the fundamental pillars of the security and sustainability of societies,” said Dr. Al Kuwaiti.
Building upon the existing memorandum of understanding (MoU) between KFED and the council, the initiative aims to attract, develop, and support cybersecurity startups through a comprehensive approach. The framework will provide startups with specialized mentorship, partnership-building opportunities, and access to experts, investors, and key industry stakeholders.
Meanwhile, CyberE71 will provide access to specialized knowledge, market opportunities, and partnerships to make startups competitive globally.
Dr. Al Kuwaiti envisions the program serving as a practical model for collaboration among national entities to accelerate the growth of cybersecurity companies. “We are working to build an integrated national ecosystem that not only protects the digital space but also empowers entrepreneurs and supports startups capable of developing innovative cybersecurity solutions that originate in the UAE and expand into global markets,” he said.
According to Al Nasri, the initiative will boost economic diversification by strengthening business capabilities, creating new opportunities, and enhancing competitiveness.
The announcement comes after the successful completion of the first group in a government-supported cybersecurity startup accelerator, managed by the UAE Cybersecurity Council with partners including Amazon Web Services (AWS), CrowdStrike, and e&. This program is a key element of the UAE Cybersecurity Technology Innovation Bureau’s (CTIB) long-term plan, aligned with the nation’s overall cybersecurity strategy, which seeks to foster the development of over 500 cybersecurity startups in the coming years.