Qatar on Saturday hosted the first Arab Cyber Exercise, held as part of the National Cyber Drill organised by the National Cyber Security Agency (NCSA) in its 12th edition under the theme “Cross-Border Attacks.”
The exercise, which brings together 21 Arab countries and the General Secretariat of the Council of Arab Cybersecurity Ministers, aims to enhance joint cooperation among Arab states in the field of cybersecurity, strengthen collective action, and promote the exchange of expertise in a way that supports cyber readiness and digital security and stability in the region.
On the occasion, Ahmed Mohammed Al Hammadi, General Director of the National Cyber Security Agency, stated that the nature of cross-border threats targeting the region’s digital infrastructure has created a new security reality that requires specialised preparedness and proactive awareness, Qatar News Agency (QNA) reported.
Al Hammadi emphasised that the scenario designed by the National Cyber Security Agency this year was crafted with great precision to account for the specific operational environments of official cybersecurity institutions and centers in each country.
He added that National Cyber Drills in Qatar have been conducted since 2013 and serve as a benchmark for assessing the readiness of institutions and entities in responding to cyber risks.
These exercises, according to him, enhance institutional and economic development and have become an annual national practice and an important management tool aimed at identifying and addressing gaps, as well as evaluating the effectiveness of response and recovery strategies to minimise impacts on the society, the economy, and the sustainability of national stability.
For its part, the General Secretariat of the Council of Arab Cybersecurity Ministers affirmed the importance of the exercise in strengthening cooperation among Arab countries and exchanging expertise in cybersecurity as a strategic step toward advancing the region’s cybersecurity ecosystem.
President of the National Cyber Security Agency (NCSA) HE Engineer Abdulrahman Ali Muhammad Al Farahid Al Malki has affirmed that the First Arab Cyber Exercise embodies Qatar’s steadfast commitment to strengthening the cybersecurity framework in the region.
Engineer Al Malki stated that the first Arab Cyber Drill, hosted in Doha on Saturday under the umbrella of the Council of Arab Cybersecurity Ministers, serves as a joint operational platform aimed at enhancing digital readiness, boosting cyber incident response capabilities, and developing coordination mechanisms among Arab states.
He added that organising the exercise reflects a strategic Arab vision to confront growing cyber threats, especially those that transcend borders, which require an advanced regional cooperation infrastructure, effective information sharing, and the use of cutting-edge tools and technologies in threat detection, digital forensics, and offensive and defensive testing.
He emphasised that NCSA believes Qatar’s cyberspace security is an integral part of the broader Arab cybersecurity system.
He noted that the agency is committed to fostering strong partnerships with sister Arab nations to elevate the level of Arab cyber integration and to build national and regional capabilities capable of countering any digital threats or attacks targeting critical infrastructure or information domains.
Engineer Al Malki explained that this exercise represents a pivotal step in enhancing joint Arab cybersecurity and contributes to solidifying Qatar’s position as a leading regional hub in supporting digital protection initiatives and promoting cyber stability in the region.
The exercise was held on the sidelines of the 12th edition of the National Cyber Drill, which began on November 16 under the theme “Cross-Border Attacks,” with the participation of numerous national entities and institutions in a simulation exercise reflecting real-world challenges facing critical digital infrastructure.
