The University of Dubai (UoD) and Women in Cyber Security Middle East (WiCSME) have signed a landmark Memorandum of Understanding to launch CyberSHE, a regional bootcamp program designed to empower and equip aspiring women in cybersecurity with market-ready skills in the United Arab Emirates. The initiative is aligned with the UAE’s national priorities under the UAE Cybersecurity Strategy.
By the Numbers
The CyberSHE program has an ambitious regional vision to build a strong pipeline of female cyber talent:
- 1,500 Women: The number of trained women cyber talents the program aims to create across the Middle East over the next three years.
- 25+ Students: The minimum number of students to be hosted in each country’s cohort.
A Flagship Initiative to Empower Women in Cybersecurity
CyberSHE is a flagship training and enablement initiative by WiCSME under the “She Talks Security” umbrella. The program focuses on empowering final-year students and recent graduates with degrees in cybersecurity, computer engineering, IT, or equivalent disciplines. It delivers hands-on training aligned with market needs, workplace readiness modules to bridge the academic-industry gap, and mentorship from cybersecurity industry leaders. This UAE launch follows a successful pilot cohort in Kuwait in May 2025, with future cohorts planned in Oman, Saudi Arabia, and other Arab countries.
A Strategic Academic Partnership
The MoU establishes a strategic academic partnership between WiCSME and the University of Dubai. UoD will play a central role in delivering CyberSHE by providing access to its Cyber-Security and Applied Resilience (C-SAR) Centre, cyber labs, faculty resources, and academic networks. The agreement was signed by Dr. Eesa Mohammed Bastaki, President of the University of Dubai, and Dr. Reem Faraj Al-Shammari, Chairperson of WiCSME.
Dr. Al-Shammari stated, “This partnership with the University of Dubai marks a defining moment for women in the cybersecurity space… CyberSHE is more than just a training program – it represents the power of collective efforts in action to open doors, build careers, and strengthen national cybersecurity through inclusion and innovation.”. Dr. Bastaki added, “WiCSME’s community-driven mission aligns perfectly with our vision to nurture the next generation of cybersecurity leaders and create a more inclusive, skilled, and resilient workforce in the UAE and the region.”.
Source: Zawya
