Sharjah has launched its first emirate-wide cybersecurity strategy, aiming to protect critical infrastructure and secure government services as the emirate deepens its digital transformation.
The Sharjah Cybersecurity Centre unveiled the strategy with the stated objective of strengthening trust in the digital environment. It was launched in the presence of Sheikh Saud bin Sultan Al Qasimi, Director General of the Sharjah Digital Department.
Five pillars of the strategy
The strategy is built around five principal pillars: governance, cyber resilience, critical infrastructure protection, partnerships and cooperation, and capability development. Together, these pillars are meant to give Sharjah a structured approach to managing cyber risk across government entities rather than addressing threats on a case-by-case basis.
The Sharjah Executive Council formally approved the Sharjah Cybersecurity Strategy 2026-2031 in June, giving the plan a six-year horizon.
A newly established centre
The Sharjah Cybersecurity Centre itself is a recent addition to the emirate's institutional landscape, having been established in February 2025 under the Sharjah Digital Department. In the period leading up to the strategy's formal launch, the centre conducted more than 20 specialized technical workshops and trained more than 175 employees from different Sharjah government entities.
The centre also carried out vulnerability assessments and evaluations of government websites, work that appears to have informed the priorities now embedded in the strategy.
What officials are saying
Fadia Mohammed Al Maeeini, Head of Cyber Readiness and Preparedness at the Sharjah Cybersecurity Centre, said the strategy represents an important step in defining Sharjah's cybersecurity ambitions and strengthening confidence in its digital ecosystem.
She said the strategy establishes a unified framework designed to increase the readiness of Sharjah government entities and strengthen their ability to respond proactively to cyber threats.
Al Maeeini added that the framework will support the development of specialized cybersecurity capabilities and partnerships, contributing to a digital transformation model that is both trusted and sustainable.
Part of a wider digital push
The cybersecurity strategy follows a broader pattern of digital policymaking in Sharjah. In November 2025, the Executive Council approved the Sharjah Digital Transformation Strategy 2026-2028, suggesting that cybersecurity is being positioned as a foundation for the emirate's wider digital ambitions rather than a standalone initiative.
For residents and businesses that rely on Sharjah government services, the strategy signals an effort to formalize how the emirate identifies, prevents, and responds to cyber threats at a time when government functions are increasingly delivered online. The five-year run to 2031 gives the Sharjah Cybersecurity Centre a defined runway to build out governance structures, train personnel, and strengthen partnerships aimed at protecting critical infrastructure across the emirate.