Doha, November 03 (QNA) - The State of Qatar, represented by the National Cybersecurity Agency (NCSA), presided over the GCC Ministerial Committee for Cybersecurity meeting held at the Sheraton Doha Hotel on Sunday.
HE President of the National Cybersecurity Agency, Eng. Abdulrahman bin Ali Al Farahid Al Malki chaired the opening session, which was attended by HE GCC Secretary-General Jasem Mohamed Albudaiwi and representatives from participating Gulf delegations.
During the meeting, the Gulf Cybersecurity Strategy was officially launched, along with a dedicated platform to facilitate information sharing on cyber threats among GCC member states. Attendees also reviewed the progress of the committees operating under the Ministerial Committee for Cybersecurity, approving their reports and finalizing the schedule for upcoming joint Gulf cyber exercises, including the third Gulf Cyber Exercise, set to take place in November in Qatar.
In his opening remarks, HE Eng. Al Malki highlighted the Committee's significant accomplishments since its inception, which have contributed to the advancement of secure cyberspace across the region. He emphasized that the implementation of the newly launched Gulf Cybersecurity Strategy marks a pivotal step forward, positioning the GCC to reach new milestones in cybersecurity that will enhance the Council's standing both regionally and internationally.
Addressing the challenges posed by emerging technologies, particularly artificial intelligence (AI), HE Eng. Al Malki noted that while AI presents numerous opportunities for societal and institutional progress, it also introduces risks. These include threats posed by deepfake techniques and evolving hacking methods that could impact critical sectors. He stressed the need to strike a balance by directing AI towards beneficial outcomes, addressing risks, and fostering robust cooperation on both regional and international levels.
HE Eng. Al Malki underscored the importance of training programs, workshops, and joint exercises as the most effective ways to exchange expertise and knowledge, which will significantly contribute to developing national cybersecurity talent.
For his part, HE GCC Secretary-General Jasem Mohamed Albudaiwi praised the GCC's achievements in cybersecurity, noting the excellence that GCC countries have demonstrated on a global scale. He highlighted that five of the six GCC states have been recognized in the "First Category" as exemplary models in the International Telecommunication Union's Global Cybersecurity Index (GCI) 2024.
Albudaiwi further commended the GCC Ministerial Committee for Cybersecurity's outstanding contributions, reflecting the GCC's commitment and strategic focus on cybersecurity. (QNA)