Quantum computing and artificial intelligence (AI) are rapidly changing the cyber threat landscape, said industry experts at the GISEC Global 2026 expo even as governments and companies race to strengthen defences against increasingly sophisticated attacks.
The three-day event at Dubai Exhibition Centre in Expo City Dubai brought together government officials, cybersecurity executives, technology specialists and young researchers to discuss threats ranging from post-quantum security to AI-enabled financial crime and operational technology attacks.
Cybersecurity leaders at GISEC Global 2026 put spotlight on the growing risks posed by AI that is accelerating attacks and quantum computing that challenges existing encryption, as governments and companies assess how to protect critical infrastructure and digital systems from increasingly sophisticated attacks.
The event, organised by inD under the theme "Cyber First: The New Digital Order", included discussions on how governments and businesses can prepare for changes to the cyber threat landscape driven by artificial intelligence, quantum computing and increasingly organised cybercrime.
Preparing for quantum threats
The final day included a Quantum Security Summit focused on the transition to post-quantum cryptography (PQC), with speakers discussing how governments and critical infrastructure operators can prepare for the potential impact of quantum computers on existing encryption systems.
Dr Bushra Al Blooshi, Executive Director of Cybersecurity Governance and Risk Management at the Dubai Electronic Security Center, discussed national approaches to PQC migration and the development of implementation timelines.
Dr Saeed Aldhaheri, Chairman of the Robotics & Automation Society, outlined a proposed roadmap for protecting UAE data and critical digital infrastructure ahead of what is known as "Q-Day", referring to the point at which a sufficiently capable quantum computer could break widely used cryptographic systems.
"Quantum computing is bringing the need for post-quantum readiness into sharper focus," Aldhaheri said. "The UAE must begin migrating to quantum-safe cryptography now, strengthening crypto agility, national capabilities and talent to protect sensitive data before quantum threats become a practical reality."
Other sessions examined enterprise migration and the international response to quantum risks, with contributions from technology companies including IBM and Google Cloud, as well as specialists in quantum computing and cybersecurity.
Young researchers enter the spotlight
The event also highlighted younger cybersecurity specialists, with teenage researchers Bandana Kaur, a security research engineer, and Ryen Agil, a junior cybersecurity engineer, discussing their experiences identifying vulnerabilities and developing technical skills.
Their participation underscored the industry's focus on building a pipeline of cybersecurity specialists as demand grows for expertise in areas including vulnerability research and offensive security.
The use of artificial intelligence by criminals and law enforcement was another focus, particularly in relation to financial crime.Yashasvi Yadav, Additional Director General of Police at the Maharashtra State Cyber Department in India, and Major Khalid Tahlak, Deputy Director of the Cyber & AI Crimes Department for Monitoring and Security Programs at Dubai Police, discussed the increasingly cross-border nature of financial cybercrime.
They said authorities need to act quickly to intercept stolen funds before they are transferred between jurisdictions, while AI is being used by law enforcement to analyse large volumes of data, identify potential money-mule accounts and detect deepfakes.
"AI is a double-edged sword," Yadav said. "Whoever leverages the AI potential better would be the winner in this."
Testing resilience in critical infrastructure
Cybersecurity specialists also used a two-hour operational technology tabletop exercise to simulate the response to a compromised industrial control environment.
The exercise, led by Captain John Ballentine and Thomas Plank, required participants to assess an affected operational technology system and make decisions under time pressure.
The session highlighted the role of preparedness, coordination and decision-making alongside technical controls in responding to attacks on critical infrastructure.
On the event's Critical Infrastructure Stage, Major General Vasileios Chatzidakis of Greece and Lieutenant Colonel Saeed M. AlShebli of the UAE Ministry of Interior discussed the challenges of maintaining national cyber sovereignty while operating in an interconnected digital environment.
The discussion examined the balance between national control of critical digital capabilities and the need for cooperation between governments, regional partners and the private sector.
AI in cybersecurity operations
Speakers also discussed the role of human judgement as organisations increase their use of AI in cybersecurity operations.
Prashant Haldankar, Managing Director and Group Chief Information Security Officer at Sekuro, said attackers were already operating at machine speed, requiring defenders to use AI to respond more quickly while retaining human oversight for important decisions.
"At Sekuro, we're exploring how AI can help our teams and our clients keep pace, while making sure human judgement stays at the centre of every decision that matters," Haldankar said.
The role of people in cybersecurity was also discussed during a session on women in the sector. Aysha Ahmed BinHaji, a cybersecurity adviser at Bahrain's National Cyber Security Center, highlighted the importance of diverse expertise, continuous testing and learning from incidents in strengthening resilience.
"We don't focus on tasks. We focus on mission," she said.
The discussions at GISEC reflected the broadening scope of cybersecurity, from preparing encryption systems for potential quantum threats to responding to AI-assisted crime and developing the next generation of security specialists.-TradeArabia News Service
