Singapore-based Group-IB aims to produce in-house cyber security solutions from its Dubai research centre by 2023 with the help of local talent, according to the company's founder.
The facility, known as Threat Intelligence and Research Centre, will help the cyber security company counter local threats effectively and export the technologies developed in the UAE to the other parts of the world, Dmitry Volkov, chief technology officer and co-founder of Group-IB, said.
Best prototypes will be exported to other countries and marketed as 'made in Dubai' solutions
It was inaugurated on Sunday, a day before the start of the three-day Gulf Information Security Expo and Conference, and is based in Dubai Internet City.
"The Middle East, especially the UAE, is one of the hot markets and bad actors are always trying to breach into its secure networks. The presence of big corporates and wealthy economies makes this region an attractive target," Mr Volkov told The National.
“We chose Dubai to stay closer to this region … to work from ground zero in association with local talent, partners and law enforcement agencies. The centre will produce technologies and solutions specific [to] regional problems,” he said.
Group-IB did not disclose the amount it invested in setting up the centre.
Rapid digitalisation and the growing number of connected devices have increased the risk of cyber threats to companies and individuals, particularly in the Middle East.
The cost of a data breach in the UAE and Saudi Arabia – the Arab world’s two largest economies – increased 9.4 per cent last year, costing companies $6.53 million per breach on average, according to a report from IBM Security.
The figure is higher than the global average of $3.86m per breach and is the second-highest average among the 17 regions surveyed.
The shift to remote working or a hybrid work model has also increased cyber security risks, according to Mr Volkov.
“Employees are working from homes, using unprotected devices and internet connections as compared with a corporate set-up. So now, [a] network is quite fallible with less controls but offering the same kind of accessibility to bad actors.”
Group-IB, which currently caters to more than 30 clients in the Middle East and Africa region within the banking, government, insurance and energy sectors, aims to treble its regional business with the opening of the centre that will also serve as its regional headquarters.
The centre has 18 employees from key Group-IB units, including threat intelligence, security assessment, fraud hunting and digital risk protection. It intends to increase its workforce in the country to 50 by next year.
The company will initially be hiring digital forensics experts, investigators and cyber threat intelligence and attribution specialists.
“We will spend 2021 and early next year in hiring and training local talent. We will offer them cutting-edge infrastructure, tools and mentorship to develop solutions that can be used across the Mena region,” Mr Volkov said.
“Best prototypes will be exported to other countries and marketed as ‘made in Dubai’ solutions.”
Founded in 2003, Group-IB has conducted more than 1,200 successful investigations globally. It works with global law enforcement agencies such as Interpol and Europol to contain cyber threats and it intends to adopt the same strategy in the Middle East.
“We have seen that local authorities are very supportive in such type of initiatives. It will take some time to demonstrate how we can help them and eventually how they can help businesses through our support but I am sure we will be successful soon,” Mr Volkov said.
Group-IB, which will open its second regional office in Saudi Arabia this year, plans a gradual expansion across the region.
“We will open an office in Saudi and then we will see how our business will evolve further. Accordingly, we will decide about increasing our physical presence,” Mr Volkov said, without disclosing the timeline.
Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
What is the definition of an SME?
SMEs in the UAE are defined by the number of employees, annual turnover and sector. For example, a “small company” in the services industry has six to 50 employees with a turnover of more than Dh2 million up to Dh20m, while in the manufacturing industry the requirements are 10 to 100 employees with a turnover of more than Dh3m up to Dh50m, according to Dubai SME, an agency of the Department of Economic Development.
A “medium-sized company” can either have staff of 51 to 200 employees or 101 to 250 employees, and a turnover less than or equal to Dh200m or Dh250m, again depending on whether the business is in the trading, manufacturing or services sectors.
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Rating: 1.5/5
Evacuations to France hit by controversy
- Over 500 Gazans have been evacuated to France since November 2023
- Evacuations were paused after a student already in France posted anti-Semitic content and was subsequently expelled to Qatar
- The Foreign Ministry launched a review to determine how authorities failed to detect the posts before her entry
- Artists and researchers fall under a programme called Pause that began in 2017
- It has benefited more than 700 people from 44 countries, including Syria, Turkey, Iran, and Sudan
- Since the start of the Gaza war, it has also included 45 Gazan beneficiaries
- Unlike students, they are allowed to bring their families to France
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Ten tax points to be aware of in 2026
1. Domestic VAT refund amendments: request your refund within five years
If a business does not apply for the refund on time, they lose their credit.
2. E-invoicing in the UAE
Businesses should continue preparing for the implementation of e-invoicing in the UAE, with 2026 a preparation and transition period ahead of phased mandatory adoption.
3. More tax audits
Tax authorities are increasingly using data already available across multiple filings to identify audit risks.
4. More beneficial VAT and excise tax penalty regime
Tax disputes are expected to become more frequent and more structured, with clearer administrative objection and appeal processes. The UAE has adopted a new penalty regime for VAT and excise disputes, which now mirrors the penalty regime for corporate tax.
5. Greater emphasis on statutory audit
There is a greater need for the accuracy of financial statements. The International Financial Reporting Standards standards need to be strictly adhered to and, as a result, the quality of the audits will need to increase.
6. Further transfer pricing enforcement
Transfer pricing enforcement, which refers to the practice of establishing prices for internal transactions between related entities, is expected to broaden in scope. The UAE will shortly open the possibility to negotiate advance pricing agreements, or essentially rulings for transfer pricing purposes.
7. Limited time periods for audits
Recent amendments also introduce a default five-year limitation period for tax audits and assessments, subject to specific statutory exceptions. While the standard audit and assessment period is five years, this may be extended to up to 15 years in cases involving fraud or tax evasion.
8. Pillar 2 implementation
Many multinational groups will begin to feel the practical effect of the Domestic Minimum Top-Up Tax (DMTT), the UAE's implementation of the OECD’s global minimum tax under Pillar 2. While the rules apply for financial years starting on or after January 1, 2025, it is 2026 that marks the transition to an operational phase.
9. Reduced compliance obligations for imported goods and services
Businesses that apply the reverse-charge mechanism for VAT purposes in the UAE may benefit from reduced compliance obligations.
10. Substance and CbC reporting focus
Tax authorities are expected to continue strengthening the enforcement of economic substance and Country-by-Country (CbC) reporting frameworks. In the UAE, these regimes are increasingly being used as risk-assessment tools, providing tax authorities with a comprehensive view of multinational groups’ global footprints and enabling them to assess whether profits are aligned with real economic activity.
Contributed by Thomas Vanhee and Hend Rashwan, Aurifer
Dr Afridi's warning signs of digital addiction
Spending an excessive amount of time on the phone.
Neglecting personal, social, or academic responsibilities.
Losing interest in other activities or hobbies that were once enjoyed.
Having withdrawal symptoms like feeling anxious, restless, or upset when the technology is not available.
Experiencing sleep disturbances or changes in sleep patterns.
What are the guidelines?
Under 18 months: Avoid screen time altogether, except for video chatting with family.
Aged 18-24 months: If screens are introduced, it should be high-quality content watched with a caregiver to help the child understand what they are seeing.
Aged 2-5 years: Limit to one-hour per day of high-quality programming, with co-viewing whenever possible.
Aged 6-12 years: Set consistent limits on screen time to ensure it does not interfere with sleep, physical activity, or social interactions.
Teenagers: Encourage a balanced approach – screens should not replace sleep, exercise, or face-to-face socialisation.
Source: American Paediatric Association
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