Cybersecurity spending across the Gulf is set to more than double by 2030, crossing a massive Dh120 billion, as artificial intelligence, sovereign cloud initiatives, and hyper-scale data centres reshape the region’s digital future, according to a new Grand View Research report.

The study, Cyber Resilience in the Gulf: Where Technology Meets Sovereign Risk (2025 Edition), points to rapid digital transformation in the UAE and Saudi Arabia as the biggest driver of this growth. 

With mega-investments going into national data centres, AI clusters, and cloud corridors, countries are now prioritising not just technology adoption but long-term sovereign resilience.

“Cyber resilience is no longer just an IT function; it’s becoming a national capability,” said Swayam Dash, Managing Director at Grand View Research. 

“It now influences how nations attract investment, maintain trust, and sustain growth.”

UAE-Saudi Lead the Charge

Together, the two countries account for more than 60 per cent of cybersecurity spending in the Gulf.

• In the UAE, investments are flowing into AI-driven threat intelligence, zero-trust models, and sovereign cloud ecosystems under the Cybersecurity Strategy 2025–31.
• Saudi Arabia, under Vision 2030, is embedding cyber readiness across large-scale industrial, financial, and infrastructure projects led by its National Cybersecurity Authority (NCA) and SDAIA.

From Firewalls to Full Frameworks

The report highlights a major shift in the region’s cybersecurity mindset, from protecting networks to institutionalising resilience. 

Key milestones include:

• ADGM’s Cyber Risk Management Framework
• Saudi Central Bank’s cyber stress-testing regime
• Cross-border CERT intelligence sharing across GCC nations

Dash says this unified approach is the Gulf’s “biggest advantage,” enabling nations to move together on cybersecurity, business continuity, and defence.

AI Takes Centre Stage

AI-driven cybersecurity is the fastest-growing segment:

• UAE’s AI cyber market will surge from Dh4.4 billion to Dh19.7 billion by 2030.
• Saudi Arabia is expected to jump from Dh4.59 billion to Dh16.47 billion in the same period.

The region is also investing heavily in local talent, with the Middle East & Africa cybersecurity training market set to reach Dh4.99 billion by 2030.

As digital infrastructure becomes the backbone of economic transformation, industry experts say cybersecurity is becoming a new economic benchmark, and increasingly, a sign of sovereign strength.

The future of money in the UAE isn’t coming; it’s already here. The Ministry of Finance and Dubai Finance Department have just completed the country’s first-ever government transaction using the Digital Dirham, marking a major moment in the UAE’s journey toward fully digital payments. The move doesn’t just test new tech; it shows how close we are to a world where government, business, and everyday payments happen instantly, securely, and without the old banking delays.

What Is the Digital Dirham?

The Digital Dirham is the UAE’s official digital currency issued by the Central Bank, not a cryptocurrency, but a highly secure, government-backed digital version of the dirham.

It’s being rolled out under the Financial Infrastructure Transformation (FIT) Programme, which aims to modernise the UAE’s payment systems and move the country toward a fully integrated digital economy.

Why the First Government Transaction Matters

Completing the first real transaction shows that:

• The technology works in real-world conditions
• Government systems across the UAE are technically integrated
• Settlements can happen faster, more securely, and with full transparency
• The UAE is serious about becoming a global leader in digital finance

The transaction was processed in under two minutes via the mBridge platform, a multi-CBDC settlement system that allows instant government-to-government payments without intermediaries.

How the Digital Dirham System Works

The transaction was executed through mBridge, a platform built for settling payments using different central bank digital currencies.

With mBridge + the Digital Dirham, UAE government entities can:

• Issue and receive digital payments instantly
• Settle financial transactions directly with the Central Bank
• Reduce costs and eliminate intermediaries
• Improve accuracy and prevent delays
• Increase transparency across all government financial operations

This system is now fully integrated with the UAE’s Digital Dirham pilot phase.

Why the Digital Dirham Is the Future

Here’s what this milestone means for the years ahead:

1. Faster, cheaper, and more secure payments

Digital settlements replace traditional bank transfers, making transactions nearly instantaneous.

2. A fully digital government finance ecosystem

Federal and local entities will eventually transact fully in Digital Dirham — ensuring accuracy, automation, and better auditing.

3. A foundation for private-sector adoption

Once government systems scale, businesses will follow.
Expect quicker payroll, supplier payments, and cross-border settlement.

4. A competitive edge for the UAE

By being among the first nations to launch a working CBDC, the UAE positions itself as a global leader in fintech innovation.

5. A step toward a fully integrated digital economy

This aligns with the nation’s long-term vision: A smart, cash-free, fully digital financial ecosystem.

What Leaders Are Saying

UAE leaders have framed this as a historic milestone:

A pillar of the UAE’s digital economy

Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed said the Digital Dirham is a strategic pillar in building an integrated digital economy and strengthening the UAE’s role as a global financial hub.

A leap in financial efficiency

Sheikh Maktoum bin Mohammed said using the Digital Dirham in government payments boosts transparency, efficiency, and integration across the public financial ecosystem.

A global confidence booster

Central Bank Governor Khaled Mohamed Balama emphasised that this milestone reinforces the UAE’s leadership in next-generation financial innovation and advanced payment systems.

Future Currency

The first Digital Dirham government transaction is more than a pilot test — it’s the beginning of a new era of how money will move in the UAE.

With faster settlements, stronger security, and unified digital infrastructure, the Digital Dirham is on track to become the country’s future currency and transform how the government, businesses, and eventually consumers transact.

Dubai’s most walkable lifestyle hub is getting a sleek new extension. Meraas, part of Dubai Holding Real Estate, has awarded a Dh440 million contract to GCC Contracting to develop City Walk Northline, a premium residential expansion that’s set to reshape life in one of the city’s most vibrant neighbourhoods.

Expected to be completed by 2027, City Walk Northline will feature three modern residential buildings that seamlessly blend with the area’s contemporary energy, offering residents a fresh take on urban living with more space, more light, and more lifestyle experiences right at their doorstep.

A new home in the heart of the action

City Walk Northline 1 will house 114 one- to three-bedroom apartments, while Northline 2 will feature two eight-storey towers with 190 units, all designed with open layouts, elegant finishes, and private terraces that extend the indoors into Dubai’s year-round sunshine.

Set between Jumeirah Street and Sheikh Zayed Road, the new development gives residents instant access to the best of the city, from Coca-Cola Arena and Dubai Mall to Jumeirah Beach, all just minutes away.

Designed for the way Dubai lives

The new residences will introduce a refined, minimalist aesthetic, inspired by City Walk’s architectural rhythm and landmarks such as The Green Planet and Central Park. Interiors will be bathed in natural light, with premium materials, sleek kitchens, and timeless design touches that balance comfort and style.

Residents can look forward to infinity-edge pools, modern gyms, shaded terraces, and stylish communal lounges, all designed to offer a private retreat from the city buzz while staying connected to its energy.

A community built around lifestyle

For residents, the expansion means even more walkable dining, leisure, and green spaces, reinforcing City Walk’s identity as a place where people can live, work, and play without ever needing to leave the neighbourhood.