New initiative will provide Emirati university students with cybersecurity training, hands-on experience and industry mentorship as part of efforts to develop the UAE’s national cyber skills pipeline.
The UAE Cyber Security Council (CSC) and Fortinet have launched a cybersecurity internship programme designed to provide Emirati university students with practical skills and experience for careers in cybersecurity.
The programme combines structured cybersecurity training with hands-on labs, mentorship and exposure to real-world security environments.
Its first phase will be delivered in partnership with a UAE-based university, with selected students receiving technical training and mentorship from Fortinet cybersecurity specialists.
Through the Fortinet Training Institute, participants will also have the opportunity to earn the Fortinet NSE 4 FortiOS certification. Training will cover areas including firewall policies, VPNs, authentication, routing, security profiles and threat protection.
The programme is expected to provide a model for future collaborations with other universities and educational institutions across the UAE.
It will be delivered as the first project of its kind under the UAE Cyber Security Council’s Cyberani Practical Training Initiative, with Fortinet participating as a Technology and Cloud Computing Partner.
Cyberani was launched in collaboration with the UAE Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research to provide university students with practical training opportunities across government and industry and help align academic learning with cybersecurity workforce requirements.
His Excellency Dr. Mohamed Hamad Al Kuwaiti, Head of Cyber Security for the UAE Government, said: “Developing a strong and sustainable national cybersecurity ecosystem starts with investing in the people who will shape and protect our digital future. Through initiatives such as Cyberani and our collaboration with Fortinet, we are creating practical pathways for Emirati university students to gain the knowledge, skills and real-world experience needed to build successful careers in cybersecurity. This partnership reflects the importance of bringing together government, industry and academia to develop national capabilities, foster innovation and ensure that our cybersecurity workforce is equipped to support the UAE’s ambitions for a secure and resilient digital future.”
The internship follows an MoU signed between the UAE Cyber Security Council and Fortinet earlier this year covering national cybersecurity capabilities and skills development.
The agreement also included plans to explore the establishment of a UAE Center of Excellence focused on areas including threat intelligence, talent development, startup enablement and policy collaboration. The internship programme is intended to help develop a talent pipeline that could support the planned centre.
Alain Penel, Regional Vice President, Middle East, Turkey and CIS at Fortinet said: “When we signed our memorandum of understanding with the UAE Cyber Security Council, we shared a vision of strengthening national cyber resilience not only through technology, but through people. This training program demonstrates that commitment in action. Participants will receive mentorship from cybersecurity professionals, develop practical skills aligned with industry needs, and build the career readiness needed to take their next steps in the cybersecurity field. We are helping build a pipeline of skilled local talent that can contribute to the UAE’s cybersecurity ecosystem today and support the planned Center of Excellence.”
