ENEC, the Emirates Nuclear Energy Corporation signs a Memorandum of Understanding with the UAE cyber security council to enhance the growth policies and review national-level strategies and standards for the cyber security of the UAE’s energy sector. Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of ENEC, His Excellency Mohamed Ibrahim Al Hammadi, and His Excellency Dr. Mohamed Hamad Al Kuwaiti, Head of Cybersecurity for the UAE Government signed the agreement at ENEC headquarters in Abu Dhabi.
ENEC in partnership with the UAE cyber security council, held in collaboration with the United States Department of Energy, the United States Department of States, and leading international experts organized the first CyberEnergy Leadership Forum in September. The MoU was built on the success of the forum which discussed the present cybersecurity features with more than 100 experts sharing the best ways to implement the clean energy transition.
The alliance is a part of ENEC’s pledge towards developing cyber security in the UAE’s clean energy sector, improving its resilience, and utilizing the best advancements in technology. The strategic partnership between the ENEC and UAE cyber security council will be raised with expertise, training support, and the exchange of information with ENEC providing experts for establishing a national-level Security Operations Center.
Emirates Nuclear Energy Corporation CEO, His Excellency Mohamed Ibrahim Al Hammadi states that the signing of the MoU is an important step in forming the cyber strategies of the nation and advancing its intellectual wealth. ENEC gives primary significance to cyber security to deal with any potential cyber-attacks and threats. He further added that working with UAE cyber security council, the organization ensures a strengthened position of UAE as a world leader in innovation with the help of a developed cyber system along with a commitment to share best practices.
ENEC and The Cyber Security Council are working together to host another Cyber Energy Leadership Forum in the year 2023, a national-level forum that will share and discuss prominent information on important issues regarding cybersecurity strategies and implementation. The Forum will focus on engaging with national and international stakeholders that will assist in improving the resistance and developing new standards of excellence.
Head of Cyber Security of the UAE Government, Dr. Mohammed Hamad Al Kuwaiti states that their goal is to reduce risk by strengthening the cyber sector, enabling growth for all sectors, bolstering confidence, and raising response readiness. The MoU will provide the development and implementation of modern technologies by uniting the efforts and abilities of both Emirates Nuclear Energy Corporation and the UAE cyber security council which will assist in the development and establishment of protected infrastructure.
The Head of Cyber Security of the UAE Government further added that the country’s future aim is to move forward into the digital world with a well-advanced and secured infrastructure, which will require continuous upgrading of the technical systems and ensuring that they are updated in compliance with the latest technological advancements. This will contribute to raising the expertise of UAE cyber security on the international platform, moving forward in exchange, and transferring knowledge and services globally.
ENEC and the Cyber Security Council will also collaborate to develop and conduct periodic exercises for the energy sector to respond to any cyber incidents, according to the terms of the Memorandum of Understanding. The first fully digitalized nuclear energy plant in the world, The Barakah Nuclear Energy Plant which is owned and developed by ENEC, uses the most modern and advanced nuclear technologies where systems are affiliated to the approved cyber standards in cooperation with the Cyber Security Council to ensure compliance. The Cyber Security Council will also collaborate with ENEC in developing and conducting periodic exercises to respond to any cyber challenges in the energy sector.
According to the report of the Global Cyber Security Index, 2020 issued by the International Telecommunications Union ranked UAE fifth globally, in terms of its strong cyber infrastructure, and due to the qualitative transfer of the world in the field of cyber security thus strengthening the country’s leading position globally.
About ENEC
Emirates Nuclear Energy Corporation was established in the year 2009 under the decrees of His Highness Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the United Arab Emirates, represents the aspects of UAE’s peaceful energy program. ENEC focuses on delivering clean energy and drives the UAE’s nuclear sector. Through its first fully digitalized nuclear energy plant in the world, Barakah Nuclear Energy Plant, safe, clean, and reliable energy is being supplied to the UAE grid, thus supporting the Nation’s social and economic growth leading decarbonization to control climate change issues.
