Meta and UAE Cyber Security Council launch Wearables Studio UAE
A federal partnership will train students, developers and startups to build secure, AI-driven wearable applications using Meta’s smart-glass platforms, with a showcase at GITEX Global 2026.
National programme to develop AI and cybersecurity skills for wearable technology
Meta, in partnership with the UAE Cyber Security Council and delivery partner Startupbootcamp, has launched Wearables Studio UAE, the country’s first dedicated programme to support education, innovation and talent development for AI-powered wearable technologies.
Unveiled at GISEC Global 2026 in Dubai, the initiative aims to equip UAE students, developers, entrepreneurs and startups with hands-on access to Meta’s wearable hardware and engineering expertise, alongside technical training and mentorship. The programme is explicitly aligned with the UAE National Strategy for Artificial Intelligence 2031 and seeks to accelerate locally relevant applications while embedding security and privacy from the outset.
The UAE Cyber Security Council, as the initiative’s national partner, will provide cybersecurity guidance and oversight. Dr Mohamed Al Kuwaiti, Head of Cyber Security for the UAE Government, said the integration of cybersecurity and privacy at the design stage is essential as AI becomes more prevalent in wearable devices and emphasised the programme’s role in developing future-ready talent.
Meta confirmed participants will work with its wearable platforms, including Ray-Ban Meta and Oakley Meta smart glasses, to prototype industry-ready experiences. Joelle Awwad, Director of Policy Campaigns and Programmes, Africa, Middle East and Türkiye at Meta, underlined the company’s intention to open its AI hardware leadership to the public so that students and startups can build practical, privacy-conscious applications.
Startupbootcamp will manage the on-the-ground delivery: outreach and participant selection, workshops, mentoring sessions, and a focused build sprint culminating in a pitchathon and a final showcase at GITEX Global 2026. The programme invites proposals that align with national priorities, listing sectors such as tourism and cultural heritage, healthcare, education, Arabic AI companions and smart retail.
To encourage practical outcomes, the top three teams will share a US$10,000 prize pool. The staged format—public ideation, expert-led technical sessions and a live build—intends to move concepts towards viable prototypes that consider user trust, data protection and cyber resilience as core design requirements.
By linking federal cybersecurity expertise with a major global technology company and an accelerator partner, Wearables Studio UAE represents a coordinated approach to talent development in a nascent area of human-computer interaction. The programme positions UAE-based innovators to explore wearable interfaces that can deliver contextual, immersive and accessible experiences across sectors while maintaining a security-first orientation.
Source: WAM