UAE launches Urgent Quantum Cybersecurity Guidelines for Organisations
On May 7, 2025, the Dubai Electronic Security Center (DESC) introduced a comprehensive cybersecurity guideline designed to help organisations prepare for quantum computing threats. The guideline, revealed during GISEC Global 2025, reflects the nation’s urgency in staying ahead of emerging technology risks. Afra Ibrahim Bin Fares, a senior executive at DESC, emphasized that “the time to act is now,” urging both public and private entities to initiate their preparedness journey immediately.
This initiative is structured into three key phases. First, organisations must enter a planning stage, where they evaluate quantum-related risks, assess data lifespan, and log all cryptographic dependencies. This step ensures a foundational understanding of vulnerabilities before taking further action. Next, the roadmap phase demands that businesses lay out short-term and long-term transition strategies, prioritizing actions that cannot be delayed. These stages are crucial as they allow institutions to anticipate challenges and adapt early.
Finally, the implementation phase focuses on putting all plans into motion. It also requires organisations to establish governance systems that continuously monitor and adjust their cybersecurity frameworks. These combined steps aim to support a smooth and secure transition to quantum-ready systems.
Understanding Quantum Potential
Quantum computing fundamentally differs from classical systems. While traditional computers use binary bits, quantum systems leverage quantum bits, or qubits. According to IBM, qubits are capable of encoding significantly more data by utilizing particles like photons, electrons, and atoms. These particles are manipulated to carry complex data states, enabling exponential improvements in processing power.
As a result, tasks that currently take thousands of years on classical machines could potentially be completed in mere minutes using quantum technology. The implications are profound. This computing revolution could help in fields such as artificial intelligence, medical research, and environmental science.
Ensuring a Secure Digital Future
Given these possibilities, the urgency outlined by DESC is understandable. Transitioning to quantum-secure infrastructure is not only strategic, it’s essential. The UAE’s guidelines demonstrate leadership in global cybersecurity preparedness, setting an example for other nations to follow. Organisations that act now will not only protect sensitive information but also position themselves for long-term resilience in a quantum-enabled future.
