CYBRANI will provide university students across the UAE with practical cybersecurity training and mentorship opportunities.
The UAE Cyber Security Council and the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research have launched the CYBRANI Practical Training Initiative to strengthen the country’s cybersecurity talent pipeline by linking university education with practical industry experience. The initiative was announced during GISEC Global 2026.
According to the announcement, CYBRANI will provide university students across the UAE with opportunities to develop practical cybersecurity skills, work on real-world challenges, engage with industry experts, and gain exposure to government, technology, and cybersecurity organisations.
The programme brings together government, academia, and industry to strengthen links between academic learning and the practical skills required by the cybersecurity sector. The first phase will involve Abu Dhabi Police, Mawaheb Talent Hub of the Department of Government Enablement, CPX, Core42, ANSEN, Cyber50 Defense, Sia, and Fortinet, which will provide practical training, mentorship, supervision, and industry exposure.
Participating academic institutions include Khalifa University, United Arab Emirates University, Mohamed bin Zayed University of Artificial Intelligence, Zayed University, Abu Dhabi Polytechnic, Rabdan Academy, and the Higher Colleges of Technology.
Training will cover governance, risk and compliance; cybersecurity operations; cyber threat intelligence; digital forensics and incident response; secure software development; and artificial intelligence in cybersecurity. Participants who successfully complete the programme will receive a certificate jointly endorsed by the UAE Cyber Security Council and the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research.
Why does it matter?
Developing cybersecurity skills is becoming increasingly important as digital technologies are adopted across government services, businesses, and critical infrastructure. Combining academic learning with practical experience can help address skills shortages in specialised fields such as cyber operations, threat intelligence, and incident response, while supporting the development of a future cybersecurity workforce.
