The UAE wants local control over the tools defending its digital systems

Rest of World describes the UAE’s Cyber Factory initiative as both a response to faster attacks and an effort to own more of its defense technology. The program brings the national cyber council together with CPX to develop AI-assisted security systems locally.

Government officials reported a substantial rise in attempted intrusions during the regional war. Security companies interviewed for the story described AI accelerating familiar activities such as phishing and vulnerability exploitation while people still chose targets and timing.

Those distinctions matter. An attempt is not a successful breach, and an official claim that AI assisted an attack does not show that the entire operation was autonomous. The reported counts and containment claims belong to the agencies making them.

The broader question is operational dependence. Building domestic capability may give a government more control over priorities, procurement, and response. Whether that control produces better protection still depends on performance in real incidents and the people operating the systems.