UAE Cyber Security Council, Siemens sign OT security MoU

Key Takeaways

• The UAE Cyber Security Council and Siemens have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to enhance cooperation on cybersecurity across critical infrastructure and industrial sectors.
• The partnership aims to secure operational technology environments in the UAE through joint work on cyber defense, knowledge sharing, and development of locally hosted security capabilities.
• The MoU establishes a framework for cooperation in areas such as locally hosted security infrastructure, secure cross-border integration, and phased SOC capability expansion.

Introduction to the Partnership

The UAE Cyber Security Council and Siemens have joined forces to strengthen cybersecurity across critical infrastructure and industrial sectors in the UAE. The partnership, signed at the 2026 edition of Make it in The Emirates, sets the stage for collaborative work on cyber defense, knowledge sharing, and the development of locally hosted security capabilities.

Areas of Cooperation

The UAE Cyber Security Council and Siemens intend to cooperate in several key areas, including:

• Locally hosted security infrastructure: Exploring the deployment of a Security Information and Event Management (SIEM) platform within the UAE using country cloud infrastructure to support data sovereignty and local operations.
• Secure cross-border integration: Assessing secure alert-forwarding mechanisms from the UAE-hosted SIEM to Siemens systems in Germany to support coordinated incident response across locations.
• Phased SOC capability expansion: Assessing a phased increase in UAE-based Security Operations Center (SOC) capabilities based on demand, with the goal of supporting scalable and locally based cyber defense operations.
• SINEC Guard deployment: Exploring options to deploy Siemens' SINEC Guard solution on UAE cloud infrastructure, with localized market positioning to support the UAE's cybersecurity software sector.

Comparison of Security Solutions

A Cooperation Framework

The MoU establishes a framework for information exchange and joint incident response, enabling the parties to share information on security risks, malware activity, and indicators of compromise. The partnership also includes plans for collaborative advisory support during cybersecurity incidents and coordinated joint working groups staffed by experts from both organizations.

Workforce Development and Knowledge Sharing

Through technical workshops, cybersecurity training programs, and knowledge exchange, the parties intend to identify opportunities to share OT cybersecurity expertise with local institutions, government entities, and industry stakeholders. This aims to support cybersecurity workforce development in the UAE, with a focus on operational technology environments.

Bottom Line

The partnership between the UAE Cyber Security Council and Siemens marks a significant step towards enhancing cybersecurity across critical infrastructure and industrial sectors in the UAE. With a focus on securing operational technology environments, the collaboration is poised to drive innovation, knowledge sharing, and the development of locally hosted security capabilities, ultimately supporting the UAE's digital transformation efforts and bolstering its cybersecurity posture.