Bahrain’s National Cybersecurity Centre hosted the sixth Gulf cyber‑defence drill on Thursday, drawing participants from five other Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) members. The event aimed to simulate real‑world cyber attacks and foster shared expertise among the region’s security teams.
Sheikh Salman bin Mohammed Al Khalifa, president of the centre, stressed that continuous training and joint coordination are essential for building national cyber talent and ensuring swift responses to any breach. He praised the level of cooperation already achieved across the GCC states.
The exercise reflects Bahrain’s commitment to strengthening collective cyber resilience.
Organised under the framework of the GCC’s fifth ministerial cyber‑security meeting, the drill brought together a select group of specialists from the council’s member states. Participants engaged in realistic scenarios covering threat analysis, malware detection, network traffic monitoring, and incident response.
Sheikh Salman explained that the 2026 drill used a defensive, point‑based system rather than a competitive ranking, allowing each team to be assessed independently. This format encourages continuous professional development without pitting sister nations against one another.
Two parallel tracks shaped the programme: a technical track testing hands‑on skills in handling cyber threats, and an executive track designed to familiarize senior leaders with the technical challenges and decision‑making processes required during a cyber incident.
By simulating daily operational challenges, the exercise sought to improve the ability of national teams to protect government agencies and critical infrastructure throughout the Gulf.
The event also served to tighten communication channels, enabling faster information sharing and coordinated response across borders.
Sheikh Salman concluded that, as cyber threats become increasingly transnational, the GCC’s integrated approach remains the cornerstone of regional security and effective joint response.
Source: https://akhbar-alkhaleej.com/news/article/1457532
