Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah, has approved a new leave policy in the Sharjah government called “Care Leave.”

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This leave is granted to female employees who give birth to a sick child or a child with disabilities requiring constant care and companionship. The leave begins after the end of maternity leave and may be extended with the approval of the relevant authority, a WAM report said.

The announcement was made by Abdullah Ibrahim Al Zaabi, Chairman of the Sharjah Department of Human Resources, during a phone call on the “Direct Line” programme broadcast on Sharjah Radio and Television, hosted by Mohamed Hassan Khalaf, Director General of the Sharjah Broadcasting Authority.

Under the new policy, a female employee who gives birth to a child with a medical condition or disability requiring constant care will be eligible for fully paid care leave following maternity leave. The key provisions include:

1. A medical report must be submitted from an authorised medical body
2. The care leave will last one year with full pay after maternity leave ends
3. The leave may be extended annually for up to three years with the relevant authority’s approval and a supporting medical report
4. Should the child’s health improve, the authority may terminate the leave based on medical recommendations
5. Employee performance during care leave will be evaluated under the existing performance management framework
6. If the leave exceeds three years, the case will be referred to the Higher Committee for Human Resources
7. The care leave will be counted as part of the employee’s total service

With AI-driven cybercrime and ransomware attacks surging worldwide, GISEC Global 2025 returns to Dubai from May 6–8, transforming the Dubai World Trade Centre into the epicentre of cybersecurity.

Under the theme ‘Securing an AI-Powered Future’, the event will unite over 450 CISOs, 25,000 professionals from 160 countries, and more than 750 global brands — including AWS, Huawei, and Microsoft — for the Middle East and Africa’s most pivotal cyber event.

This year’s edition will spotlight innovations from global leaders. SANS Institute will debut its free GISEC Academy offering hands-on technical training; SentinelOne will unveil its Singularity Hyperautomation platform and Purple AI analyst; OPSWAT will feature live demos including a model nuclear reactor; and Tenable will showcase its AI-powered Exposure Management Platform. Meanwhile, Nozomi Networks, ManageEngine, and SolarWinds will present next-gen solutions addressing industrial cybersecurity, identity governance, and cloud network resilience.

Here’s what these key players are bringing to GISEC Global

Ned Baltagi, MD, Middle East, Africa, and Turkey at SANS Institute

At GISEC 2025, SANS has one clear focus: turning knowledge into action. As a Strategic Bronze Partner and long-time GISEC contributor, we’re deepening our commitment to regional cybersecurity by expanding access to world-class training.

This year marks the launch of the SANS GISEC Academy in Hall 4, our free three-day programme featuring technical sessions led by SANS Certified Instructors. Covering topics like offensive operations, ICS incident response, and cyber threat intelligence, the academy is open to attendees of all backgrounds and experience levels. It’s the first time we’re introducing this hands-on learning format at GISEC.
Come meet the team at Hall 7, Stand D75, where we’re showcasing how SANS is helping build long-term cyber resilience across the region.

Meriam ElOuazzani, senior regional director, META, SentinelOne

At GISEC 2025, SentinelOne is affirming our commitment to advancing autonomous cybersecurity solutions. Our focus is on demonstrating how organisations can leverage AI to enhance their security posture and operational efficiency.
A key highlight is the Singularity Hyperautomation platform, which enables security teams to connect, automate, and accelerate workflows without coding. This innovation addresses the challenges of alert fatigue and manual processes by streamlining operations and reducing response times.

We will also feature our AI SIEM for the Autonomous SOC, an AI-powered open platform designed to ingest, detect, and protect enterprise environments at scale. This solution offers real-time threat detection and response capabilities, providing organizations comprehensive visibility across their security landscape.

Purple AI, our advanced AI security analyst, will be on display, showcasing its ability to detect threats earlier and respond faster through AI-driven security intelligence.

Visitors can experience live demonstrations, including the interactive “Mortal vs. Machine” challenge, to see firsthand how our technologies outperform traditional security measures.

Sertan Selcuk, VP for METAP and CIS, OPSWAT

OPSWAT is participating in GISEC as a Diamond sponsor this year and we are proud to showcase our latest cybersecurity advancements in critical infrastructure protection (CIP). We shall have live demos and sessions, through OPX labs, offering practical insights on safeguarding vital systems and networks.

Alongside the Mobile Lab, will be OPSWAT’s Nuclear Plant Model Reactor, a display that underscores the company’s expertise in securing sensitive environments like nuclear power plants. Further we having speaking engagements throughout the event — on day two, the company Founder & CEO, Benny Czarny, will present “Breaking the Firewall: Revolutionising Cyber Defense for a Connected World”.

He will examine the limitations of conventional firewalls — from their historical origins to today’s organisational requirements — and illustrate how advanced threats routinely bypass legacy perimeter protections. Drawing on recent real-world incidents, he will reveal why firewalls alone can no longer secure the networks billions of people rely on daily.

Maher Jadallah, VP, Middle East and North Africa, Tenable

Over the past seven years, Tenable has undergone a significant strategic evolution, methodically expanding its capabilities across Identity Security, Cloud Security, Operational Technology (OT), Attack Path Analysis, and Exposure Analytics. Scattered products and siloed views have left organisations struggling to hold back threats across a fragmented attack surface. We know the war against cyber risk can be won with holistic security strategies and solutions. At GISEC we’ll be showing organisations how they can regain control of their environments to reduce their risk and end their exposures.

From booth C175 in Hall 5 Tenable will showcase its Tenable One Exposure Management Platform — the world’s only AI-powered exposure management platform. Effective exposure management requires a unified view of the entire attack surface, allowing security teams to detect toxic risk combinations, identify attack path choke points, and prioritise weaknesses based on their true impact on the organisation.

Tenable One radically unifies security visibility, insight and action across the attack surface, equipping modern organisations to isolate and eradicate priority cyber exposures from IT infrastructure to cloud environments to critical infrastructure and everywhere in between.

Rajesh Ganesan, president, ManageEngine

At this year’s GISEC, our focus is on delivering unified security solutions to address the evolving threat landscape. We’ll be showcasing our cybersecurity suite — including SIEM, IAM, and PAM solutions — alongside the latest advancements in AI technology that are shaping the future of cyber defense.

A major highlight is ManageEngine’s IAM platform, AD360, now equipped with over 100 new prebuilt integrations. This upgrade makes identity management smoother and more secure for large enterprises. It also helps organisations strengthen their identity governance, cut down operational costs, and stay compliant with global standards. Plus, it has seamless integrations with HRMS, ITSM, and SIEM platforms.

Abdul Rehman Tariq Butt, regional director – Middle East at SolarWinds

Our portfolio is constantly evolving, and GISEC provides a great platform to highlight the latest innovations. Since our last appearance, we’ve made significant strides. We’ve expanded support to include a wider range of devices — especially SD-WAN nodes — to help customers accelerate their network modernisation efforts.

We’ve also enhanced our multi-cloud capabilities with out-of-the-box support for Google Cloud Platform, alongside AWS and Azure.

Most recently, in March, we strengthened our offering further with the acquisition of a solution focused on incident response and business continuity.

Anton Shipulin, industrial cybersecurity evangelist, Nozomi Networks

This year, we’re demonstrating how organisations can achieve the full spectrum of protection for their OT, IoT, IT, and wireless assets through a unified platform purpose-built for industrial environments.

We’re also proud to showcase recent industry recognition, such as our position as a leader in the Forrester Wave and our placement in the 2024 Gartner Magic Quadrant for Cyber-Physical Systems Protection Platforms.

These acknowledgments reflect the trust and value our platform brings to organisations working to secure critical infrastructure in an increasingly complex threat landscape.

Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) has granted Life Pharmacy the naming rights to the UAE Exchange Metro Station.

The station will henceforth be known as Life Pharmacy Metro Station under a 10-year agreement. The deal was signed between Life Pharmacy Group and Hypermedia, with Mada Media attending as the authorized concessionaire appointed by RTA under a concession agreement between Mada Media and RTA, according to a Dubai Media Office report.

Abdul Mohsen Ibrahim Kalbat, CEO of RTA’s Rail Agency, expressed his enthusiasm for the agreement, calling it a valuable addition to the Dubai Metro Naming Rights initiative. He highlighted the initiative’s sustained success since its launch in 2009, when it became the first project of its kind globally.

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“RTA is committed to forging successful partnerships with the private sector, given its vital role in driving national economic growth and contributing to GDP. This successful public-private partnership model facilitates the transfer of knowledge and expertise, creates job opportunities across multiple sectors, and supports the government’s broader development agenda,” he said.

Mohamad Al Hammadi, CEO of Mada Media, also welcomed the strategic partnership with Life Pharmacy, stating: “This initiative reflects our goal of transforming advertising spaces into impactful platforms, enabling naming rights sponsors to enhance their visibility and commercial footprint.”

He added: “The agreement presents a unique investment opportunity for Life Pharmacy, capitalizing on the strategic location of Dubai Metro stations—particularly this one—to strengthen brand awareness and deepen engagement with commuters.”

Abdul Rahuman Abdul Nazzar, Chairman and Managing Director of Life Pharmacy Group, commented: “We are proud to partner with RTA through Mada Media to acquire the naming rights for a station that serves as a vital hub within Dubai’s seamless, multi-modal transport network. This station has served thousands of commuters for over a decade, delivering significant value and connectivity.”

He continued: “This partnership goes beyond naming rights—it reflects Life Pharmacy’s broader commitment to the city and its communities. Linking our name to a key metro station demonstrates how Life Pharmacy has become an integral part of Dubai’s daily rhythm and movement.”

From May through the end of August 2025, RTA will begin updating and renaming all relevant external and internal directional signage across Metro stations. The new name will also appear across RTA’s smart digital systems, public transport applications, and onboard audio announcements.

Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, UAE Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence, and Chairman of the Board of Trustees of Dubai Future Foundation (DFF), has announced the Hewi Dubai initiative.

The initiative aims to revive the “vibrant spirit” of the traditional Emirati fareej (neighbourhood) in a modern, human-centric way by creating new community spaces that strengthen social bonds and promote an active lifestyle.

“Community bonds are among the core values Emirati families are raised on. We must pass on these values to future generations and design public spaces that bring neighbours together, where families can gather, elders can meet, and children can create endearing memories in a safe and welcoming environment,” said Sheikh Hamdan.

“These new spaces will be anything but conventional. They are intended as vibrant extensions of our cultural identity and future aspirations, reflecting our values and redefining what public spaces mean to our city,” he added.

Hewi Nad Al Sheba 4: Highlights

As part of the initiative, Hewi Nad Al Sheba 4 will be developed by DFF in partnership with Dubai Municipality. The site, located between a mosque and a residential neighbourhood in Nad Al Sheba 4, was chosen for its pedestrian-friendly character and strong community feel.

The park reflects a shift from one-size-fits-all urban spaces to next-generation neighbourhood parks that prioritise comfort, belonging, and the rhythms of everyday life.

Each element of the park has been tailored to reflect local values and community needs.

A shaded gathering space near the mosque, Al Decha, offers a serene retreat where elders can share stories over Arabic coffee or tea.

Al Saaha, a flexible indoor-outdoor venue, is designed for community events, workshops, and celebrations, while Al Yalsa provides families with a comfortable space to relax while children play nearby.

Winding paths and nature-based play areas added will promote exploration and intergenerational bonding, transforming the park into an extension of the community.

Dubai’s Jebel Ali Free Zone (Jafza), DP World’s flagship free zone, generated Dhs713bn in non-oil trade in 2024, marking a 15 per cent year-on-year increase from 2023, according to figures released as the hub celebrates its 40th anniversary.

The milestone was marked by Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Defence, and Chairman of The Executive Council of Dubai, who called Jafza a “vital pillar in Dubai’s development journey” and praised its role in building a resilient economic system and fostering global supply chain growth.

“We take pride in what DP World has achieved through Jafza – not only in supporting economic diversification and expanding the investment base, but also in its active contribution to building a resilient economic system that keeps pace with global challenges,” Sheikh Hamdan said.

Jafza has seen companies rise to over 11,000 today from 19 in 1985

Launched with just 19 companies in 1985, Jafza now hosts more than 11,000 businesses from 157 countries and contributes, alongside Jebel Ali Port, 36 per cent of Dubai’s GDP. It has attracted over Dhs110bn in investment over the past two decades and accounted for 74 per cent of Dubai’s FDI in manufacturing, trade and transport sectors in 2023.

The free zone’s developed land bank spans over 539 million square feet, offering integrated sea, air and land connectivity. Jebel Ali Port, which forms part of the ecosystem, reported its second-best performance in a decade last year and ranks among the world’s top 10 ports.

In 2023 alone, Jafza and Jebel Ali Port generated over one million direct and indirect jobs, accounting for 27 per cent of Dubai’s total employment, including nearly 40,000 jobs for UAE nationals.

Within Jafza, over 160,000 people are employed across logistics, automotive, food, and advanced manufacturing sectors.

Sultan Ahmed bin Sulayem, group chairman and CEO of DP World, described the 40-year milestone as “a celebration of our customers and the visionary leadership which has made Dubai a beacon for international trade”.

“Jafza has become a crucial engine of growth that now sits at the heart of Dubai’s economy,” he said.

In 2024, Jafza was named the world’s top free zone by fDi Intelligence of the Financial Times, topping both industrial and sustainability categories.

DP World has since replicated Jafza’s model across 11 zones globally, including in the UK, India, Dominican Republic, and Somaliland, with over 8,900 hectares in operation and 670 hectares under development.

Jafza also plays a prominent role in national strategies including the Dubai Economic Agenda D33, Operation 300bn, and Make it in the Emirates.

A sustainable future

Looking ahead, the free zone aims to reach carbon neutrality by 2040 and net-zero emissions by 2050, in line with the UAE’s Net Zero 2050 strategy.

It is fully powered by renewable energy through International Renewable Energy Certificates (I-RECs) from the Dubai Electricity and Water Authority and hosts the Middle East’s largest distributed solar rooftop project, with 158,000 solar panels installed.

The free zone is also targeting an 80 per cent landfill waste diversion rate by 2026 to support the UAE’s circular economy ambitions and has received the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi) verification.

Abdulla Bin Damithan, CEO and MD, DP World GCC, added: “Our diversified industrial base, multimodal connectivity, and global expertise give businesses a competitive edge. As we mark this milestone, we thank our customers and growing community for choosing Jebel Ali.”

To commemorate its anniversary, Jafza unveiled a special 40-year logo and will host community activities, industry events, and engagement initiatives throughout the year.

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