Where the Cybersecurity Elite Converge. GISEC Global, the Middle East and Africa’s largest cybersecurity event, returns to Dubai World Trade Centre from 6-8 May 2025, bringing together 25,000+ professionals, 350+ exhibitors, and 300+ speakers from 130+ countries. For CISOs, startups, and tech leaders, GISEC 2025 isn’t just a conference it’s a masterclass in defending against tomorrow’s threats.
This year’s agenda zeroes in on AI-driven cyberattacks, quantum computing risks, and nation-state threat actors, with sessions curated to address the unique challenges faced by enterprises, governments, and innovators. Below, we break down the 10 most critical sessions you can’t afford to miss, backed by exclusive insights from GISEC’s official announcements and speaker previews.
Top 10 Sessions at GISEC 2025
1. Keynote: “The AI Arms Race – Securing Tomorrow’s Battlefield”
Speaker: Dr. Mohamed Al-Kuwaiti (Head of UAE Cybersecurity Council)
When: Day 1, 10:00 AM | Grand Hall
Why Attend: Dr. Al-Kuwaiti will unveil the UAE’s National AI Security Framework, sharing strategies to counter AI-powered deepfakes, autonomous malware, and adversarial machine learning. Ideal for CISOs navigating AI governance.
2. Panel: “SolarWinds 2.0 – Are We Ready for the Next Supply Chain Apocalypse?”
Speakers:
- Jen Easterly (Director, CISA, USA)
- Kaspersky Middle East Team
- Aramco Chief Security Officer
When: Day 1, 2:30 PM | Threat Intelligence Theatre
Key Takeaways: Lessons from recent supply chain breaches (e.g., Microsoft Storm-0558 espionage) and how to audit third-party vendors.
3. Workshop: “Red Team vs. Blue Team – Live Industrial Control System Hack”
Host: Dragos + Saudi Arabia’s National Cybersecurity Authority
When: Day 2, 9:00 AM | Critical Infrastructure Lab
Hands-On: A live attack simulation on an oil refinery’s OT network. Participants receive a free ICS security toolkit.
4. Startup Pitch Battle: “MEA’s Top 10 Cyber Innovators”
Judges:
- Yana Novikova (Check Point CISO)
- Sequoia Capital MENA
When: Day 2, 4:00 PM | Innovation Pavilion
Prize: $500K seed funding + mentorship from DarkMatter Group.
5. CISO Roundtable: “Budgeting for Cyber-Resilience in Economic Downturns”
Speakers: CISOs from Emirates NBD, DP World, and Oman LNG
When: Day 3, 11:00 AM | Strategy Summit
Stats: Based on a 2024 Gartner report, 60% of MENA firms will slash security budgets by 2025—learn how to prioritize spend.
6. Deep Dive: “Quantum Hacking – Breaking RSA Encryption by 2030”
Speaker: Dr. Ali El Kaafarani (Post-Quantum CEO)
When: Day 1, 3:45 PM | Future Tech Stage
Demo: Live quantum key distribution (QKD) cracking.
7. Case Study: “How Dubai Police Thwarted a $50M Deepfake Heist”
Speaker: Brig. Gen. Ahmad Al Muhairi (Dubai Police Cybercrime Dept)
When: Day 2, 1:30 PM | Law Enforcement Forum
Toolkit: Free access to Dubai Police’s Deepfake Detection API.
8. Workshop: “Building a Cyber-Immune SOC with Microsoft Copilot”
Host: Microsoft Azure Security Team
When: Day 3, 9:30 AM | SOC Optimization Lab
Perk: Attendees get a 6-month Copilot trial license.
9. Panel: “Hacktivism in the Israel-Hamas Cyberwar – Lessons for Enterprises”
Speakers:
- Talos Intelligence (Cisco)
- Israeli CERT
- Palestinian Tech Leaders Network
When: Day 2, 4:00 PM | Global Threats Theatre
Controversy: Analysis of Killnet’s DDoS attacks on critical infrastructure.
10. Closing Keynote: “The Zero Trust Mandate – From Buzzword to Battle Standard”
Speaker: John Kindervag (Zero Trust Creator, Palo Alto)
When: Day 3, 3:00 PM | Grand Hall
Actionable: A 5-step Zero Trust roadmap for enterprises.
10 Pro Tips to Maximize Your GISEC 2025 ROI
- Pre-Book 1:1 Meetings: Use GISEC’s Connect App to secure slots with speakers like Jen Easterly.
- Focus on Hands-On Labs: Prioritize sessions with live hacks (e.g., Dragos’ ICS lab).
- Leverage Free Tools: Collect API keys, trial licenses, and toolkits (e.g., Dubai Police’s deepfake detector).
- Network Strategically: Attend the CISO Dinner (May 7, 7:00 PM, Address Sky View) for unscripted insights.
- Target Startups: Visit the Innovation Pavilion for emerging tech like AI threat hunters.
- Avoid FOMO: Download the GISEC Agenda App to track real-time room capacities.
- Ask Tough Questions: Grill vendors on AI ethics and data sovereignty.
- Document Everything: Use Otter.ai to transcribe sessions for post-event analysis.
- Follow Up: Connect on LinkedIn within 24 hours—mention specific talks to stand out.
- Stay Updated: GISEC often drops last-minute sessions (e.g., 2024’s surprise talk by Edward Snowden).
Conclusion: Your Cybersecurity Playbook for 2025
GISEC 2025 isn’t just about learning it’s about future-proofing your organization against threats that don’t yet have a name. Whether you’re a CISO battling budget cuts, a startup chasing funding, or a techie geeking out over quantum hacks, this year’s sessions offer actionable intel you can’t Google.
