UAE Cyber Security Council and Higher Education Ministry launch CYBRANI practical training initiative

CYBRANI will connect university students with industry and government partners, including Abu Dhabi institutions, to develop practical cybersecurity skills across six core disciplines.

CYBRANI links university study with industry experience

The UAE Cyber Security Council, in strategic partnership with the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research, has launched the CYBRANI Practical Training Initiative to strengthen the national cybersecurity talent pipeline by linking university education with practical industry experience.

Announced at GISEC Global 2026, the programme aims to give students from across the UAE hands‑on exposure to real‑world cybersecurity challenges, mentorship from sector specialists and placements with leading government and private organisations. The initiative is designed to align academic curricula with the practical skills sought by employers in the nation’s expanding digital economy.

Crucially for Abu Dhabi, the first phase will involve a number of local partners. Abu Dhabi Police and the Mawaheb Talent Hub of the Department of Government Enablement are among the public sector contributors. Participating private and defence organisations listed for the initial roll‑out include CPX, Core42, ANSEN, Cyber50 Defense, Sia and Fortinet.

Academic institutions taking part span several Abu Dhabi campuses and national universities: Khalifa University, United Arab Emirates University (UAEU), Mohamed bin Zayed University of Artificial Intelligence (MBZUAI), Zayed University, Abu Dhabi Polytechnic, Rabdan Academy and the Higher Colleges of Technology (HCT).

Curriculum focus and professional outcomes

Training under CYBRANI will cover six key areas: Governance, Risk and Compliance; Cybersecurity Operations; Cyber Threat Intelligence; Digital Forensics and Incident Response; Secure Software Development; and Artificial Intelligence in Cybersecurity. Students will be matched with practical projects and receive professional mentoring, supervision and networking opportunities intended to improve employability and job readiness.

The UAE Cyber Security Council will coordinate participating organisations and connect students with placement opportunities while the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research will support university engagement and ensure the initiative aligns with national educational objectives. Participants who successfully complete the programme will receive a Certificate of Completion jointly endorsed by the two bodies.

CYBRANI is presented as a collaborative effort between government, academia and industry to build a sustainable pipeline of national cybersecurity talent, strengthen cooperation across the UAE cybersecurity ecosystem and support the country’s digital transformation and long‑term cyber resilience.

Source: WAM