Abu dhabi: The UAE Cybersecurity Council (CSC), in collaboration with Amazon Web Services (AWS), CrowdStrike, and e and, celebrated the successful completion of the inaugural cohort of the AWS/CTIB Cybersecurity Startup Accelerator Programme at a closing ceremony held at Grand Hyatt Abu Dhabi.
According to Emirates News Agency, this event marked the first in-person gathering of the programme's commercial supporters since its launch at GITEX Global in October 2025. The multi-year initiative, a core component of the UAE Cybersecurity Technology Innovation Bureau (UAE CTIB) and the UAE National Cybersecurity Strategy, aims to accelerate over 500 cybersecurity startups. Selected founders gain equity-free access to global technology expertise, regional capital networks, and mentorship to develop 'Made in UAE' cybersecurity innovations addressing emerging global cyber concerns.
The six-week inaugural cohort, running from March 25 to May 4, 2026, attracted 157 applications from more than five countries, selecting 23 startups across various fields such as Cloud Security, Application Security, and Data Security. The programme offered 23 curated sessions, including business strategy and technical deep-dives, with contributions from distinguished speakers and mentors from the cybersecurity sector.
Participating startups benefited from access to e and for venture investment, AWS Marketplace listing support, and discounts on CrowdStrike Falcon® Pro, alongside investor pitch coaching. The initiative also supported CyberE71's mission to build the next generation of cybersecurity and AI ventures by connecting startups with potential partners and investors.
At the closing ceremony, the Top 5 startups were announced, selected by a senior CISO Evaluation Panel. The panel assessed the startups on customer value, innovation, and growth traction during a virtual pitch session. The winning startups will gain regional visibility with enterprise customers, investors, and government stakeholders.
Cohort 1 was delivered virtually and on schedule, highlighting the UAE's resilience and forward-looking innovation hub status. Dr. Mohamed Al Kuwaiti emphasized the UAE's vision of building a robust cybersecurity ecosystem, stating that these startups represent the next generation of 'Made in UAE' cybersecurity champions. Chris Erasmus from AWS and Daniel Bernard from CrowdStrike also praised the programme's success and the UAE's potential as a world-leading cybersecurity innovation hub. Abdulla Al Ahmed from e and highlighted the importance of cyber resilience as a growth enabler for digital economies.
