The University of Dubai (UoD) and Women in Cyber Security Middle East (WiCSME) have signed an MoU to officially launch CyberSHE, a regional initiative aimed at equipping aspiring women in cybersecurity with market-ready skills and career pathways.
The MoU was signed by Dr. Eesa Mohammed Bastaki, President of UoD, and Dr. Reem Faraj Al-Shammari, Chairperson of WiCSME, at a ceremony held at the University of Dubai campus. The event was attended by key stakeholders, including Irene Corpuz, Heide Young, and Shafeeqa Shakri from WiCSME UAE, and Dr. Hussam Al Hamdi, Assistant Professor and Director of UoD’s Cyber-Security and Applied Resilience (C-SAR) Centre.
CyberSHE, part of WiCSME’s “She Talks Security” programme, is a flagship enablement initiative designed to train 1,500 women professionals across the Middle East over the next three years. It focuses on supporting final-year students and recent graduates in cybersecurity, IT, computer engineering, and related fields.
The programme provides:
- Practical cybersecurity training tailored to market demand
- Professional readiness modules bridging academia and industry
- One-on-one mentorship from leading cybersecurity experts
Following its pilot launch in Kuwait in May 2025, CyberSHE now begins its UAE rollout, with future cohorts planned for Oman, Saudi Arabia, and additional Arab countries. Each programme intake will include a minimum of 25 participants, with an ambitious roadmap for regional expansion.
The partnership brings together WiCSME’s regional leadership and UoD’s academic strengths to deliver CyberSHE’s training using cutting-edge cyber labs, advanced faculty resources, and the C-SAR Centre’s infrastructure.
Aligned with the UAE Cybersecurity Strategy, the initiative supports the nation’s efforts to strengthen digital resilience, foster public-private collaboration, and develop highly skilled national talent to lead the digital future.
Dr. Reem Faraj Al-Shammari said:
“This partnership with the University of Dubai marks a defining moment for women in the cybersecurity space. Especially, when well-acknowledged inspiring and leading male allies who foster women growth like Dr. Eesa Bastaki is leading such partnership. This reinforces the facts that our societies enriched by our Arabic and Islamic values have been nurturing women empowerment for 1400 years.”
She continued:
“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. Eesa Mohammed Bastaki added:
“We are delighted to collaborate with WiCSME to launch CyberSHE in the UAE. 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. The UAE, as a digital transformation leader in the region, provides an ideal ecosystem to scale such an initiative.”
Dr. Hussam Al Hamdi highlighted:
“CyberSHE not only addresses the cybersecurity talent gap through focused and inclusive training, but also creates an environment where women entering the field feel genuinely welcomed, supported, and valued. By cultivating this sense of belonging, the program empowers female professionals to grow with confidence, thrive in their careers, and take on leadership roles—while remaining fully aligned with the mission and objectives of the Cyber-Security and Applied Resilience Centre.”
The ceremony also featured discussions on programme frameworks, student engagement strategies, and industry collaborations to strengthen CyberSHE’s impact.
Speaking remotely, Ms. Priyanka Chatterjee, Head of Operations at WiCSME, noted:
“True talent development can only happen when the different parts of the society, i.e., academia, industry, and government, come together to create practical pathways for young people, not just for filling roles, but also developing future leaders.”
WiCSME and UoD will now jointly lead the programme’s UAE implementation, working closely with public and private sector partners to deliver long-term impact.
