A significant majority of CEOs and senior managers in the UAE – 97.6 percent – are planning to boost their investments in artificial intelligence (AI) for cybersecurity, driven by a persistent rise in cyberattacks, according to a recent study released on Monday. The research, commissioned by Palo Alto Networks and conducted by Censuswide, indicated that 63 percent of respondents reported an increase in attacks compared to 2023, while 14 percent noted the same level of attacks as last year. The survey, which included 250 CEOs and senior managers from UAE-based companies, was conducted between September 18 and 25, 2024. The findings were unveiled on the opening day of Gitex Global, the world’s largest IT exhibition, which is set to run from October 14 to 18 at the Dubai World Trade Centre.
Despite the escalating threat landscape, UAE businesses seem confident in their ability to safeguard their operations through AI investments. Approximately 94 percent of respondents expressed confidence in the efficacy of AI tools in detecting and mitigating cyber threats compared to conventional cybersecurity solutions. The survey revealed that 90 percent of respondents had already integrated AI into their cybersecurity strategies, with 52 percent reporting extensive implementations and 38 percent indicating limited deployments. Views on how AI can enhance cybersecurity varied, with 42 percent believing it would primarily boost speed and efficiency through automation, 39 percent focusing on threat detection, and 35 percent emphasizing vulnerability management.
“While it is encouraging to observe that many CEOs and business leaders in the UAE are eager to invest in AI to bolster their security, it is crucial that organizations deploy AI correctly and recognize the value of adopting a fully integrated approach with platformization at its core,” said Ercan Aydin, Regional Vice President at Palo Alto Networks, Middle East and Africa. He added, “A fully integrated approach helps organizations eliminate the confusion often associated with AI implementations, enabling them to fully harness AI’s potential to stay ahead of evolving threats while simplifying their security posture.”
The study also highlighted that while most business leaders in the UAE recognize the importance of AI for cybersecurity, they face barriers to investment. Key concerns include cost, integration complexity, uncertainty about return on investment (RoI), and a lack of clear business benefits. Additionally, executives expressed concerns over the potential implications of using AI, with 50 percent worried about privacy issues, 48 percent concerned about potential misuse, 46 percent citing integration challenges, and 45 percent expressing cost concerns.
