UAE, May 14, 2026 – The UAE Cyber Security Council and Siemens signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to cooperate on cybersecurity across critical infrastructure and industrial sectors. The agreement, signed at “Make it in the Emirates 2026”, focuses on operational technology security, cyber defense, knowledge sharing and locally hosted security capabilities in the UAE.
As part of this collaboration, both parties plan to establish a Joint Innovation Center of Excellence for operational technology (OT) cybersecurity research, talent development and security deployment inside the UAE. The center will focus on industrial systems that connect physical operations with digital control, monitoring and response processes.
H.E Dr. Mohamed Al Kuwaiti, head of cybersecurity for the UAE government said: “The UAE under the direction of its leadership is committed to building a secure, innovation-driven digital economy. Our partnership with Siemens brings together global industrial cybersecurity expertise and our national vision to create a robust cyber defense ecosystem. This collaboration is part of the implementation of our National Cybersecurity Strategy to enhance our ability to detect, respond to, and recover from cyber threats across all sectors.”
“Cybersecurity is not just a technology challenge, it is a foundation for economic competitiveness and national resilience,” said Mohamed Khalifa, head of digital industries at Siemens in the Middle East. “This MoU with the UAE Cyber Security Council reflects our shared belief that securing critical infrastructure requires deep collaboration, local capability building, and world-class technology. Together, we are laying the groundwork for a more secure and sovereign digital future for the UAE.”
The MoU comes as ransomware, cyber espionage and attacks on OT systems continue to affect critical infrastructure worldwide. Under the agreement, the UAE Cyber Security Council and Siemens intend to pursue cooperation in four areas:
- Locally hosted security infrastructure: Assess deployment of a Security Information and Event Management system in the UAE using country cloud infrastructure.
- Secure cross-border integration: Review secure alert forwarding from the UAE-hosted SIEM to Siemens systems in Germany for coordinated incident response.
- Phased SOC expansion: Assess a phased increase in UAE-based Security Operations Center capabilities as demand changes.
- SINEC Guard deployment: Explore deployment of Siemens’ SINEC Guard on UAE cloud infrastructure for the local cybersecurity software market.
Information Sharing and Training
The MoU sets a framework for information exchange, incident response and joint technical work. The UAE Cyber Security Council and Siemens plan to share intelligence on information security risks, malware propagation and indicators of compromise. They also plan to provide advisory support during cybersecurity incidents and coordinate joint working groups staffed by experts from both organizations. The MoU builds on Siemens’ longstanding leadership in industrial cybersecurity, where the company protects some of the world’s most critical infrastructure, from energy grids and manufacturing plants to transportation networks and smart buildings.
The agreement includes technical workshops, cybersecurity training programs and knowledge exchange with local institutions, government entities and industry stakeholders. Siemens global cybersecurity team includes more than 1,300 experts and handles more than 1,000 incidents every month across energy grids, manufacturing plants, transportation networks and smart buildings. The work focuses on sharing OT cybersecurity expertise and supporting UAE-based cyber skills development as IT/OT threats overlap.
Source: Siemens AG
About UAE Cyber Security Council
UAE Cyber Security Council is a federal government body that develops cybersecurity policy, regulation, guidance, awareness programs and national cyber resilience initiatives in the United Arab Emirates. The UAE Cabinet established the council in 2020. Its headquarters city is Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates; a separate registered headquarters address is unknown. The council serves government entities, public sector employees, companies, infrastructure operators, individuals, families and other national stakeholders. Its work includes incident reporting channels, cybersecurity policies, training programs, threat updates, accreditation work and the National Cybersecurity Strategy for 2025 to 2031. It also works with public and private organizations, universities and international partners. H.E. Dr. Mohamed Hamad Al Kuwaiti heads the council.
About Siemens AG
Siemens AG is a technology company founded in 1847 and headquartered in Munich and Berlin, Germany. The company develops products and services in industrial automation, electrification, digital systems, and mobility. Its offerings include automation systems, industrial software, building technologies, rail transport systems, and power distribution solutions. Siemens also provides financial services and supports infrastructure projects. It serves industries such as manufacturing, energy, transportation, construction, and healthcare. The company works with enterprises, utilities, governments, and infrastructure operators worldwide. Siemens operates in more than 190 countries. It applies digital tools and AI to industrial and infrastructure use cases. Siemens holds a majority stake in Siemens Healthineers, a publicly listed healthcare technology company. Siemens has about 318,000 employees globally.