Huawei’s role as Lead Strategic Partner at GISEC Global 2025 underscores its commitment to securing the digital transformation sweeping across the Middle East and Africa. At this year’s event, Huawei is placing digital trust at the heart of its message—emphasizing that robust cybersecurity is not just a safeguard but a fundamental enabler of innovation. By bringing together governments, enterprises, and industry bodies, Huawei is forging partnerships that aim to establish unified standards and proactive defense frameworks, ensuring that every layer of the digital ecosystem is resilient against evolving threats.

We sat down with Abdulaziz Al Nuaimi, Chief Security Officer of Huawei UAE, to explore the company’s role as Lead Strategic Partner of the region’s premier cybersecurity summit. Over the course of our conversation, Al Nuaimi detailed Huawei’s bold vision for embedding AI-driven security across every layer of the digital ecosystem, its collaborative efforts with governments and enterprises to forge unified resilience frameworks, and the concrete steps it’s taking to build lasting digital trust throughout the Middle East and Africa.

Q&A with Abdulaziz Al Nuaimi – Chief Security Officer, Huawei UAE

1- What is Huawei’s role and participation at GISEC Global 2025, and what key messages or themes are you highlighting this year?
Huawei is the Lead Strategic Partner of GISEC Global 2025, the Middle East and Africa’s largest cybersecurity event. The company is showcasing its latest AI-powered cybersecurity solutions to address evolving threats in an increasingly digital and connected world. Huawei’s key message this year focuses on building digital trust and ensuring cybersecurity as cornerstones of digital transformation. Through partnerships with governments, industry organizations, and enterprises, Huawei aims to secure a shared digital future while providing competitive and secure product solutions.

2- How is Huawei contributing to strengthening cybersecurity in the UAE and the region?
Huawei is playing a pivotal role in strengthening cybersecurity in the UAE and the wider region embedding security into its products from the design stage and fostering trust through transparency and measurable practices. The company collaborates closely with governments, regulatory bodies, and enterprises to develop unified standards and frameworks that enhance cyber resilience. Additionally, Huawei’s focus on innovation, such as AI-driven threat detection and proactive ransomware defense, addresses critical challenges in securing the region’s digital infrastructure.

3- What are the main solutions and technologies Huawei is showcasing during the exhibition?
At GISEC Global 2025, Huawei is showcasing several cutting-edge cybersecurity solutions. These include its AI-native security solutions on Huawei Cloud, featuring the 1+7 Security Defense System and the SecMaster cybersecurity center for advanced threat detection and response. Other highlights include the Xinghe Intelligent Network Security solution, which integrates SASE and EDR architectures; a multilayer ransomware protection system for accurate detection and rapid recovery; and all-scenario data protection with industry-leading recovery performance. These solutions reflect Huawei’s commitment to addressing modern cybersecurity challenges.

4-What are Huawei’s views on market trends in cybersecurity across the region in 2025?
Huawei recognizes that the cybersecurity landscape in 2025 is shaped by the growing adoption of AI, cloud technologies, and IoT devices, which are expanding the scope of potential threats. The company sees a shift toward proactive, intelligence-driven security measures to counter these challenges. Trends such as AI-powered threat detection, ransomware defense, and secure access service edge (SASE) architectures are central to meeting the demands of an increasingly digital and connected world. Huawei’s solutions align with these trends, emphasizing innovation and resilience.

5- How is Huawei addressing the growing challenges of data protection and digital infrastructure security?
Huawei is addressing data protection and digital infrastructure security through comprehensive solutions designed to safeguard critical assets. Its all-scenario data protection system offers robust recovery performance with a 3-in-1 architecture, ensuring business continuity. Huawei also provides multilayer ransomware protection to detect threats, prevent lateral spread, and enable fast recovery. Additionally, its focus on lifecycle management, integrity protection, and vulnerability management helps organizations tackle the complexities of securing digital infrastructure in an AI-driven era.

6-What role does innovation and AI play in Huawei’s cybersecurity solutions?
Innovation and AI are at the core of Huawei’s cybersecurity strategy. In 2024, Huawei invested USD 24.6 billion back into R&D, which accounted for 20.8% of its annual revenue. The company’s total R&D investment over the past decade amounts to USD 171.1 billion, reflecting its dedication to continuous innovation in cybersecurity. Huawei currently has more than 3,000 cybersecurity R&D personnel, with 5% of its R&D spend focused exclusively on boosting the security of its products.