Held underneath the patronage of the UAE Cybersecurity Council, the inaugural AICyberFest concluded at GITEX 2025 with closing pitching classes and an awards ceremony celebrating the UAE’s most promising cybersecurity abilities. Bringing collectively over 80 college students from 17 universities throughout the UAE, the nationwide competitors challenged members to develop AI-powered cybersecurity options throughout two key tracks — AI for Compliance & Audit Assessment and AI-Powered SIEM Analyst. In the course of the closing pitching session, three finalist groups introduced their initiatives to an skilled jury, culminating within the announcement of the highest winners — marking a milestone in advancing the nation’s digital resilience via synthetic intelligence.
H.E. Dr. Mohamed Al Kuwaiti, Head of Cyber Safety for the UAE Authorities, emphasised: “The progress we’ve witnessed is outstanding. Every of you has added nice worth to our shared mission. In occasions of evolving threats and rising applied sciences, your contribution types an important line of protection. We actually recognize your dedication and sit up for reaching much more collectively.”
Following a rigorous analysis, the jury introduced the winners:
🏆 First Place: Workforce No Time — 42 Abu Dhabi (Ahmad Kanbari, Haithem Bendjaballah, Mukhammadusmon Ganiev)
🥈 Second Place: Workforce Zenith — Abu Dhabi College (Wardah Jamil, Muaaz Hafiz Ahmed Muaaz, Bilal Bashir)
🥉 Third Place: Workforce Unity — Heriot-Watt College (Dmitry Zadorin, Stanislav Merkulov, Fedor Galkin)
Ahmed Al Zarouni, CEO of TechFirm LLC and founding father of AICyberFest, praised the scholars’ achievements: “The standard of the initiatives was excellent — from idea to execution. It’s inspiring to see such sturdy, forward-thinking groups shaping the subsequent era of cybersecurity innovation within the UAE.”
Organized by TechFirm LLC, a UAE-based know-how firm specializing in AI-driven cybersecurity, the occasion was supported by main trade companions. AMD joined as Industrial Accomplice, contributing its world experience in high-performance computing. Different companions — together with Honor, KERNO, Kaspersky, Examine Level, Circularo, Aruba, Ras Infotech, KnowBe4, CADD Emirates, and SecureWay — helped foster innovation and collaboration throughout the UAE’s cybersecurity ecosystem.
As one of many key highlights of GITEX 2025, TechFirm’s AICyberFest has positioned itself as a platform connecting training, trade, and know-how — empowering youth to guide the subsequent wave of cybersecurity innovation within the UAE.
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