Thirteen specialised courses, two NetWars tournaments and expert-led sessions aim to strengthen cybersecurity skills across the Middle East.
SANS Institute will bring its SANS Gulf Region 2026 programme to Dubai from October 31 to November 26, offering 13 specialised courses and two NetWars tournaments focused on emerging cybersecurity challenges, including artificial intelligence, threat detection and industrial control systems security.
The programme comes as organisations across the Middle East accelerate AI adoption while facing a growing need for specialist cybersecurity skills. According to the cited PwC 2026 Global Digital Trust Insights findings, 53% of regional respondents identified a lack of knowledge in applying AI to cyber defence as a major hurdle.
SANS is introducing SEC545: GenAI and LLM Application Security, addressing the protection of generative AI applications and large language models. Six courses will focus on AI-related topics, spanning security, governance and practical risk management. The curriculum also covers offensive operations, cloud security, industrial control systems, cybersecurity leadership and enterprise threat detection.
“The challenge is ensuring that businesses have the specialized skills and practical experience to manage the risks that come with AI.” — Ned Baltagi, Managing Director, Middle East, Turkey and Africa, SANS Institute
The institute has also developed its AI Security Maturity Model – Gulf Region to help organisations assess AI security readiness, identify gaps and prioritise improvements across protection, utilisation and governance.
“Digital transformation must be matched by an equally strong investment in cybersecurity capabilities,” said Ned Baltagi, Managing Director, Middle East, Turkey and Africa at SANS Institute. He emphasised the need for continuous training that anticipates evolving threats and technologies.
Alongside classroom and online live training, two NetWars Core tournaments will let participants practise responding to simulated attacks involving prompt injection, malware reverse engineering, multifactor authentication bypass, web application security and IoT vulnerabilities.
Evening community sessions featuring SANS experts Mark Williams and Jeff McJunkin will explore cybersecurity leadership, AI in learning and modern influence operations.
The programme aims to help regional organisations strengthen technical expertise and improve preparedness as AI reshapes cybersecurity risks.
