Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates – 17 June 2026:
Under the supervision of the Central Bank of the UAE (CBUAE) and the UAE Cybersecurity Council, the UAE Banks Federation (UBF), the sole representative and unified voice of UAE banks, organised the fifth edition of Cyber Wargaming 2026 as part of its ongoing efforts and initiatives to develop the banking sector, protect its digital infrastructure, and provide a seamless and secure banking experience for all customers.
This initiative is part of ongoing efforts to develop the banking sector, protect its digital infrastructure, and provide a seamless and secure banking experience for all customers.
Cyber Wargaming 2026, which has established itself as the largest event of its kind in the Middle East, attracted more than 350 participants including representatives from UBF member banks, Al Etihad Payments, e&, Du, Gulf Insurance Group, leading financial and technology institutions, cybersecurity experts, and UBF’s strategic partners.
The fifth edition featured a series of simulations designed to assess the capabilities of banks’ management teams and cybersecurity professionals across UBF member banks and participating organisations in responding to cyber incidents. The exercises helped identify strengths and areas requiring further enhancement through simulated attacks designed to improve participants’ understanding of the techniques, tactics, and procedures used by threat actors, as well as the evolving sources of cyber threats. The event also recognised outstanding organisations and teams for their contributions and excellence in the field of cybersecurity.
His Excellency Ebrahim Al Zaabi, Assistant Governor for Monetary Policy and Financial Stability at CBUAE, reaffirmed that strengthening cyber resilience is a shared responsibility which requires continuous collaboration and close coordination among all stakeholders, highlighting the CBUAE’s ongoing efforts to enhance regulatory and supervisory frameworks and continuously elevate cybersecurity standards.
H.E. underscored the vital role of financial institutions in driving sustained investment in secure digital infrastructure, enhancing monitoring and incident response capabilities, and fostering a strong culture of cybersecurity awareness. These efforts are essential to protecting customers, safeguarding the integrity of the financial sector, and strengthening its preparedness to address the growing cyber threat landscape.H.E. praised UBF’s Cyber Wargaming initiative as an important national platform for testing preparedness, strengthening coordination, and enhancing incident response to further develop financial sector’s capabilities to manage crises, and recover effectively.
H.E. Dr. Mohammed Hamad Al Kuwaiti, Chairman of the Cybersecurity Council, said: “Cybersecurity has become even more critical amid growing challenges and threats accompanying rapid digital transformation. It represents a fundamental pillar of development, playing a pivotal role in protecting critical systems, sensitive data, and society within an interconnected digital ecosystem. The UAE National Cybersecurity’s Strategy has contributed to positioning the country among the world’s leading nations in cybersecurity readiness.”
H.E. added: “We reaffirm our commitment to continuing our efforts to provide a secure cyber environment that enables institutions and businesses to innovate and grow. Cyber Wargaming reflects the forward-looking vision of the banking and financial sector to enhance its preparedness and resilience against potential threats, ensuring a safe and seamless environment for customers while accelerating digital transformation, reinforcing the UAE’s leadership in cybersecurity and digital innovation, and securing a safe and prosperous digital future.”
In his opening remarks, Mr. Jamal Saleh, Director General of UBF, said: “Cybersecurity is a key pillar of financial stability, resilience, and trust in our banking sector. We will continue all our initiatives and efforts in close collaboration with the Central Bank of the UAE and the UAE Cybersecurity Council to provide customers with the highest quality banking services in a secure and trusted environment.
We are proud of the important role that Cyber Wargaming has played since its launch in 2021 in strengthening cyber defence capabilities and enhancing knowledge of areas requiring continuous improvement to reinforce our cyber resilience. This is particularly important given the rapid pace of technological advancement and the increasing sophistication of cyber threats.”
The Director General of UBF added: “The UAE Banks Federation remains committed to working closely with the CBUAE, the UAE Cybersecurity Council, our member banks, and all strategic partners to strengthen the resilience of the banking sector and ensure the continued delivery of seamless and secure banking services that reinforce customer confidence. These efforts also support maintaining the UAE banking sector’s position as the world’s highest-ranked in customer trust in 2025 for the third consecutive year, further reinforcing the UAE’s status as one of the world’s leading financial and banking hubs.”
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About UAE Banks Federation (UBF):
Established in 1982, UAE Banks Federation (UBF), the sole representative and unified voice of UAE banks, comprising 63 members of banks and financial institutions operating in the UAE. UBF advocates the interests of all its members and enhances cooperation and coordination between them in order to elevate the UAE’s banking ecosystem for the benefit of members, customers, and the overall UAE economy.
UBF’s mission and objectives are focused on representing its members and defending their rights and interest. UBF provides a platform for cooperation and the exchange of ideas and expertise among its members and plays a significant role in raising public awareness about the contributions of the UAE banking sector to the economic and social development of the country.
UBF has a 22-member Advisory Council consisting of CEOs and General Managers from member banks and financial institutions, which oversees the implementation of UBF’s policies and activities. The CEOs Council also makes directional decisions through UBF’s General Secretariat for UBF’s 31 technical and 6 advisory committees, which in turn are tasked to discuss all issues relevant to the UAE banking and financial services ecosystem. UAE Banks Federation also includes a CEOs Consultative Council, which consists of chief executives of other member banks.