ISR Officers Forum In Dubai Advances Cybersecurity Regulation And Certification Initiatives

Dubai Electronic Security Centre convened the Multaqa ISR Officers to align Dubai government and semi-government cybersecurity leaders on regulation, technology and skills. The forum examined Dubai’s changing cyber risk environment, highlighted new regulatory frameworks, and reinforced how Information Security Regulation Officers support resilience, compliance and digital trust across the emirate’s public sector.

On the importance of the initiative, Yousuf AlShabinai, Chief Executive at Dubai Electronic Security Centre, said, "The Multaqa ISR Officers is about advancing cybersecurity in the city towards new milestones, By empowering ISR Officers with modern regulations we are building stronger digital trust, improving resilience, and continuing to position Dubai as a global leader in cybersecurity". The statement framed the forum’s focus on structured professional development.

In line with Dubai’s leadership’s wider digital transformation agenda, the Multaqa ISR Officers forum presented an extensive update on new strategic cyber projects and regulations. Speakers explained how the latest frameworks balance global standards with local priorities, aiming to keep pace with complex cyber threats while maintaining effective oversight of incident response, auditing processes and risk management activities.

Technical sessions during the Multaqa ISR Officers event explored current cybersecurity priorities, including incident response planning. Participants took part in a scenario-based incident management exercise designed around Dubai Electronic Security Centre’s Incident Management Framework. The exercise aimed to improve cross-entity coordination, clarify communication channels during cyber events, and highlight how ISR Officers should document and escalate incidents.

A central component of the Multaqa ISR Officers gathering was the detailed update on the ISR Officer Certification Programme. Presenters set out the strict criteria for certification, highlighting the responsibilities of Auditors in checking adherence. The programme aims to standardise capabilities across government and semi-government entities and raise operational excellence within Dubai’s broader ISR ecosystem.

The strategic panel on Multaqa ISR Officers adoption and implementation followed the certification briefing. Representatives from several government bodies discussed ways to raise information security maturity and accountability. Speakers shared experience on embedding ISR policies, measuring performance, and integrating regulatory requirements into day-to-day operations, reflecting different stages of cybersecurity development across the participating entities.

Multaqa ISR Officers focus on human element and compliance

The event also underlined the human dimension of cybersecurity within the Multaqa ISR Officers programme. The opening session included an interactive phishing awareness activity, which asked attendees to identify sophisticated social engineering attempts in real time. The exercise reinforced the need for continuous vigilance and positioned user awareness as a core component of Dubai’s wider cyber resilience strategy.

Compliance and Critical Information Infrastructure featured strongly in later Multaqa ISR Officers discussions. Dubai Electronic Security Centre specialists provided briefings on certification schemes, recent policy updates and regulatory expectations. Participants examined certification workflows, sector-specific obligations, and detailed implementation questions, receiving practical guidance on interpreting ISR requirements and managing complex compliance tasks within critical infrastructure and other sensitive environments.

The Multaqa ISR Officers forum finished with an award segment honouring the first and second batches of Certified ISR Officers, recognising individuals who met stringent cybersecurity standards. Final remarks stressed the ongoing partnership between Dubai Electronic Security Centre and ISR Officers across entities, and presented a shared roadmap to support Dubai’s cybersecurity capabilities over the coming years.

With inputs from WAM