UAE to Launch National Cyber Centre of Excellence With Thales Partner

The UAE Cyber Security Council will establish a National Cyber Centre of Excellence through a new long-term partnership with global technology group Thales, announced during the Dubai Airshow 2025. The initiative aims to strengthen the country’s cybersecurity capabilities across space, communications and critical digital infrastructure. Under the agreement, the centre will house three core components. The first is a Space META Security Operations Centre, which will focus on protecting satellite systems and ground stations and will operate in coordination with the National SOC. A second component, the Cyber Evaluation Lab, will test and assess hardware and software in controlled environments to support national cybersecurity policies. The third is a Crypto Lab, which will develop and validate cryptographic technologies for space and other sensitive sectors, including work in post-quantum cryptography and quantum key distribution. The partnership is intended to expand the UAE’s capacity to monitor, secure and advance its digital and space infrastructure while fostering specialised skills in high-security technology domains. Thales and the UAE Cyber Security Council will also work with local industry partners as the centre develops its operational frameworks and tools.