ADIB and UAE Cyber Security Council announce winners of cybersecurity innovation challenge
Abu Dhabi, UAE – January 25, 2026 – Abu Dhabi Islamic Bank (ADIB) announced Corgea, Nothreat, and DTEX Systems as winners of the UAE Cybersecurity Innovation Challenge to fortify the nation’s digital financial ecosystem. The challenge, partnered with the UAE Cyber Security Council and DIFC Innovation Hub, reviewed over 50 global pitches and selected 10 finalists, aligning with the UAE National Cybersecurity Agenda.
Announcement Specifics
The challenge focused on innovation, deployment feasibility, and UAE-specific security needs. Corgea, based in San Francisco, offers a platform addressing vulnerabilities and compliance gaps. Nothreat from London uses behavioral intelligence for threat detection. DTEX Systems, headquartered in California, provides AI-driven workforce cyber-intelligence. ADIB Ventures will advance these solutions, catalyzing open innovation for national cyber resilience.
Stakeholder Perspective A
“Cybersecurity is fundamental to trust in digital banking and financial services. Engaging with emerging technologies and innovative startups allows us to identify practical, scalable solutions that strengthen resilience, support secure digital transformation, and respond to the evolving threat landscape facing the industry.”
— Fernando Plaza, Chief Digital Officer at ADIB
Why it matters: This underscores ADIB’s strategic commitment to deploying scalable cybersecurity technologies amid rising digital threats to the banking sector.
Stakeholder Perspective B
“AI-driven, quantum-resilient cybersecurity infrastructure” and “Society as the First Line of Defence.”
— H.E. Dr. Mohamed Hamad Al Kuwaiti, Chairman at UAE Cyber Security Council
Why it matters: These priorities highlight the UAE’s national focus on advanced defensive capabilities against emerging quantum and AI-powered cyber threats.
Industry Context
Cyber threats continue to evolve with artificial intelligence and quantum computing advancements, demanding proactive, innovative solutions from financial institutions. UAE banks face escalating insider and external risks as digital transformation accelerates across the sector. ADIB’s 2035 Vision integrates cybersecurity innovations as a core pillar of its strategic roadmap.
Centered in Abu Dhabi with partnership from Dubai’s DIFC, the initiative bolsters UAE financial hubs’ cyber resilience and supports broader MENA fintech ecosystem growth through collaborative innovation frameworks.
Conclusion
ADIB Ventures will work with the three winning startups to implement their cybersecurity solutions, advancing the UAE’s strategic objective of building quantum-resilient digital infrastructure and establishing society-wide cyber defense capabilities.
Sources: The Fintech Times, MEA Finance
