Mastercard has entered into a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the UAE Cyber Security Council (CSC) to bolster the resilience of the country’s digital environment.

The agreement sets out plans for both sides to collaborate on strengthening cybersecurity resilience, including the sharing of international best practices and assistance with the development of forward-looking cybersecurity policies.

The partnership was announced on the sidelines of the World Governments Summit (WGS) 2026 in Dubai.

Alongside the MoU, the organisations released a joint publication assessing the state of cybersecurity in the UAE.

Titled the UAE Cyber Threat Insights Report, the document describes what it calls a growing and increasingly complex mix of threat actors targeting organisations.

It points to varied motivations among attackers, alongside more advanced techniques being used.

The report also notes that malicious actors are placing greater focus on critical sectors and high-value national assets, which it says reflects a wider rise in cyber risk. It further highlights the UAE Government’s work to bolster national cyber resilience, with an emphasis on stronger coordination between public and private stakeholders.

Mastercard said the collaboration would allow it to draw on its experience in tackling cybercrime and fraud in support of the UAE’s cybersecurity efforts.

The company said it has invested $10.7bn in cybersecurity-related acquisitions and longer-term solutions since 2018, and that over the past decade its AI tools stopped fraudulent transactions worth $70bn globally.

Separately, figures cited from Cybersecurity Ventures estimate that global cybercrime losses could reach $15.6 trillion by 2029, which the organisation compares to the size of the world’s third-largest economy.

The UAE Cyber Security Council has previously warned about the scale of threats facing the country, stating that the UAE experiences more than 200,000 cyberattacks each day, with over a third aimed at government bodies.

Mohamed Alkuwaiti, head of cyber security for the UAE Government, said: “We aim to use the company’s global know-how and advanced technology to bolster the UAE’s cybersecurity framework, enhance the country’s readiness to combat increasingly sophisticated cyber-attacks and consolidate its leadership in this space.”

Mastercard vice chairman and president of strategic growth Jon M. Huntsman, Jr. said: “Our collaboration will help CSC assess emerging cyber-risks and protect both people and organisations against them.”