Bahrain Hosts Sixth GCC Cybersecurity Exercise
Bahrain has hosted the sixth GCC Cybersecurity Exercise, bringing together cybersecurity specialists from Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) member states. Organised by the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC), the exercise took place on November 12, 2026.
The initiative aims to strengthen regional cyber readiness and improve cooperation against increasingly complex digital threats. Furthermore, it supports decisions made during the fifth meeting of the GCC Ministerial Committee for Cybersecurity.
Through practical simulations, participating specialists tested their ability to detect, investigate and respond to cyber incidents. The exercise also focused on improving communication between national teams and protecting government institutions and critical infrastructure across the Gulf.
Shaikh Salman bin Mohammed Al Khalifa, CEO of Bahrain’s NCSC, said the initiative reflects the Kingdom’s commitment to regional cybersecurity cooperation. He also highlighted the importance of exchanging expertise and strengthening coordination between technical specialists and government officials.
Cybersecurity Exercise Tests Technical Capabilities
The sixth GCC Cybersecurity Exercise adopted a practical, defensive approach through the Capture the Flag (CTF) format. Participants worked through simulated cyber challenges based on situations that specialists encounter in their daily operations.
The scenarios covered several technical disciplines, including:
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Cybersecurity analysis and digital investigation
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Malware detection and analysis
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System logs examination
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Network traffic analysis
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Threat hunting and identification
These exercises allowed participants to assess their technical capabilities under simulated conditions. Moreover, they helped identify strengths and areas requiring further development.
The programme included two complementary tracks. The technical track assessed specialists’ practical incident response skills. Meanwhile, the executive track introduced senior officials to cybersecurity operations and the decisions required during cyber incidents.
This structure connected technical expertise with executive decision-making. Consequently, it helped participants understand the operational requirements of managing cybersecurity threats across organisations.
Regional Cooperation Takes Priority
The exercise placed particular emphasis on collaboration rather than competition between participating countries. Instead, it encouraged knowledge-sharing, trust-building and stronger coordination among national cybersecurity teams.
Each participating team reviewed its performance independently. Furthermore, teams will receive individual assessment reports outlining their results and opportunities for improvement.
These findings will help guide future training programmes and strengthen national cybersecurity capabilities. They will also support better coordination between specialists and government officials during actual incidents.
The exercise concluded with a joint review session. Participants presented their solutions, discussed lessons learned and examined the outcomes of the simulated challenges. Shaikh Salman bin Mohammed Al Khalifa also recognised participants for their contributions.
Bahrain’s latest initiative reflects the GCC’s continued focus on collective cyber resilience. As government services and critical infrastructure become increasingly dependent on digital systems, regional cooperation remains important. Ultimately, shared training and practical exercises can help Gulf countries strengthen their ability to manage emerging cyber threats.
