The Dubai Electronic Security Center (DESC) is set to host the School of Cyber Defense competition for university students during the Gulf Information Security Exhibition and Conference (GISEC 2025). This event will take place from May 6 to 8 at the Dubai World Trade Centre. Registration for the tournament is open until April 16, with prizes amounting to over AED 50,000 for the winners.

This competition, organized by TechFirm with the support of DESC, is designed to enhance practical cybersecurity skills among students. It will focus on equipping participants with the necessary tools to counter cyber threats and deepen their understanding of network security, operating systems, and incident response. The qualifiers will occur online on May 6 and 7, followed by an in-person final on May 8 in Hall 8 at the Dubai World Trade Centre. The top 50 students from the initial rounds will face real-world cybersecurity challenges.

The DESC emphasizes its commitment to fostering cybersecurity expertise among youth, stating that empowering the next generation is crucial for protecting Dubai and the UAE’s digital infrastructure against evolving cyber threats. The competition is open to university students enrolled in IT and cybersecurity-related disciplines at various academic levels, including Bachelor’s, Master’s, and PhD students, all of whom must present a valid university ID.

An online training session is scheduled for April 21 to help prepare participants for the competition. From an initial pool of 200 registrants, the top 50 will advance to the final round, which follows the Blue Team model. In this setting, competitors will identify security vulnerabilities and mitigate cyberattacks in simulated scenarios.

The top three winners of the competition will receive financial prizes totaling over AED 50,000, presenting an opportunity for participants to gain recognition and advance their careers in the field of cybersecurity. DESC urges all interested university students in the UAE to register on their website before the April 16 deadline, as seating is limited. The final round will simulate real-world cyberattacks, with teams acting as defenders using the Cyberworld platform to analyze Indicators of Compromise (IoCs) and respond to threats.