MBRF and UNDP to organise 10th edition of Knowledge Summit
The summit's upcoming edition, coinciding with its tenth anniversary, commemorates a long journey of exemplary achievements, presenting a pioneering model of innovation and setting new standards for knowledge production and dissemination. Over the past 10 years, the summit has established itself as the most prominent knowledge event in the region. It is also regarded as a distinguished international platform convening the most prominent policymakers, thought leaders, and experts in various fields from all over the world to enhance cross-sector collaboration and create effective frameworks and policies aimed at leveraging knowledge to drive comprehensive and sustainable community development.
The summit coincides with the UAE's 'Year of Community' initiative, underscoring its humanitarian and scientific mission of promoting the values of ambition and giving, developing both regional and international human capital, as well as empowering communities. The summit's vision also aligns with national objectives aimed at consolidating the country's leadership, advancing knowledge and progressing towards a brighter and more prosperous future.
His Excellency Jamal bin Huwaireb, CEO of MBRF, noted that the Knowledge Summit 2025 is a landmark milestone in its decade-long history, as it celebrates the achievements made so far while moving towards new horizons of global impact.
His Excellency remarked: 'Over the years, the Knowledge Summit has successfully highlighted the importance of building a strong knowledge economy, keeping pace with ongoing global digital transformation trends. This year's edition, in particular, will reiterate the need to position equitable access to knowledge as a basic right and a catalyst for empowerment, while exploring the evolving role of knowledge in shaping various sustainable development models. Moreover, aligning with the goals of the 'Year of Community', we aim to go beyond just knowledge dissemination and strive towards the advancement of both individuals and societies, paving the way for a prosperous tomorrow.'
The summit will explore knowledge markets and their role in developing sustainable societies, highlighting the critical role of knowledge as a tool for empowerment and a dynamic economic and social asset. It will also focus on finding new methods to exchange knowledge, benefit from it, and expand its scope, thereby promoting sustainable growth, bridging gaps, and enhancing the resilience of communities.
The Knowledge Summit plays an important role in building global knowledge partnerships, which promote cooperation between countries and institutions in various sectors. Furthermore, the summit continues to consolidate its pioneering global position through key events, such as the announcement of the results of the annual Global Knowledge Index, which guides important policies, shaping the future vision of countries.
The summit's agenda will be shortly announced, including the details of speakers and topics of discussion, aligning with its commitment to strengthening cross-border cooperation to build cohesive and sustainable knowledge societies.
For further information, please contact:
Orient Planet Group (OPG)
Email: media@orientplanet.com
Website: www.orientplanet.com
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The National
an hour ago
- The National
Damascus presses Beirut to release Syrian prisoners amid warnings of border escalation
Tensions are rising between Syria and Lebanon after Damascus informally demanded the handover of thousands of Syrian prisoners, some of whom were convicted on terrorism charges. Security sources in Beirut said Lebanese officials had received messages via several diplomatic channels from Syrian authorities that pressed for the imminent release of the detainees. Hundreds of the prisoners are Islamists. According to the sources, Lebanese officials were indirectly warned of possible consequences if the matter is not resolved, including the closure of the border and the suspension of work by their joint security committee. 'Syria is now seeking the return of an estimated 2,000 to 3,000 nationals in Lebanese prisons,' said one of the sources. 'While some of the prisoners have not yet been sentenced, others have been convicted of serious charges, including involvement in terror-related activities. 'Beirut is not opposed to releasing the detainees, including the Islamists, but insists the process will take time due to legal and logistical constraints,' the source added. In recent days, groups have gathered along the Syria-Lebanon border to protest over what they called Lebanon's 'unjust detention' of Syrians. Any move to close the border would strain Lebanon's already fragile economy and disrupt trade and movement. Adding to Beirut's concerns is the fear that Syria's demands may not stop with its own citizens. Lebanese security sources say there is growing concern that Damascus, under the rule of Hayat Tahrir Al Sham, a group formerly affiliated with Al Qaeda, may eventually demand the release of Lebanese Islamist detainees. Many of these individuals were arrested for cross-border operations during the Syrian conflict, attacks on the Lebanese army and ties to ISIS. That possibility, officials warn, would pose a significant internal security challenge for Lebanon, already under pressure to quickly disarm Hezbollah, its most heavily armed military group. Lebanon also fears attacks by extremist groups following a deadly church bombing in Syria in June. Lebanon's General Security Directorate said in recent weeks it had arrested a 'terrorist' cell of mostly Syrians in Beirut that sought to carry out attacks in the Lebanese capital. Lebanon and Syria have many issues, including the roughly 1.5 million Syrian refugees in Lebanon. The country, home to one of the world's biggest refugee populations, has sought a comprehensive resolution on refugee returns. There is also the issue of border security and the smuggling of drugs, goods and arms.
TECHx
an hour ago
- TECHx
Ransomware on the Rise
Home » Emerging technologies » Cyber Security » Ransomware on the Rise Ransomware attacks in the Emirates are escalating, and while the region has cutting-edge digital infrastructure, it is now being tested by a wave of increasingly sophisticated cybercrime. According to the UAE Cybersecurity Council, ransomware incidents surged by 32% in 2024 compared to the previous year. Financial institutions, energy companies, and healthcare providers were among the most frequently targeted, as threat actors capitalized on the region's digital transformation. This isn't just a local concern. Globally, ransomware is evolving from blunt-force encryption to more insidious, double-extortion models, stealing sensitive data before locking systems, and threatening to release it publicly unless ransoms are paid. In the UAE, where government trust and corporate reputation are paramount, the stakes are exponentially higher. The Anatomy of a Threat The UAE's ransomware landscape is shaped by global crime syndicates that now operate like tech startups, professional, agile, and productized. Groups such as LockBit, Qilin, Flocker, and DarkVault are some of the main perpetrators operating in the region, according to These groups often use ransomware-as-a-service (RaaS) models to scale operations without getting their digital hands dirty. In 2024 alone, 34 ransomware incidents were recorded in UAE financial institutions, up from 27 in 2023, as highlighted by ZCyberSecurity's UAE Threat Report. The attackers used phishing emails, unpatched software, and increasingly social engineering tactics powered by AI. Notably, a ransomware attack on Moorfields Eye Hospital Dubai encrypted over 60 GB of sensitive patient data, placing immense pressure on healthcare regulators to reinforce digital defenses, as reported in CentralEyes' breach analysis. Why the UAE Is a Prime Target The UAE's hyper-digital economy is both a strength and a soft spot. With aggressive investment in smart cities, fintech, and AI-driven public services, the attack surface has expanded dramatically. The country's economic diversity and digital-first culture present a high-reward scenario for threat actors. Additionally, the UAE's reputation on the global innovation stage makes its digital vulnerabilities headline-worthy. Cybercriminals are keenly aware that breaches here have the potential to make international news, raising pressure on victims to pay ransoms quickly and quietly. To Pay or Not to Pay? A particularly troubling statistic comes from Nearly 50% of UAE-based organizations impacted by ransomware chose to pay the ransom in 2024. This is significantly higher than the global average and signals a dangerous precedent. Paying ransoms might offer a short-term solution, but experts warn that it invites repeat attacks and funds future criminal operations. Worse yet, ransom payments don't guarantee full data recovery, a reality many UAE businesses have painfully learned. Shifting from Reaction to Prevention Despite the spike in attacks, the UAE is not standing still. The government has deployed AI-powered defense systems capable of detecting and neutralizing up to 200,000 attacks per day on critical infrastructure. The UAE Cybersecurity Council has also intensified its public-private sector collaboration, including partnerships with GISEC, Dubai Police, and major cloud providers. Cybersecurity regulations have evolved as well, requiring mandatory breach reporting and encouraging the use of 'zero trust'. While large enterprises and government entities have fortified their defenses, SMEs remain vulnerable. Many lack dedicated cybersecurity teams or even basic security hygiene. This makes them low-hanging fruit for attackers using automated tools to scan for weaknesses. Moreover, despite rising awareness, cyber insurance uptake remains low, and many organizations are unclear on whether they're even covered in the event of a ransomware attack. With threat actors evolving faster than policies, regulatory bodies are now pushing for more transparency and minimum security standards across sectors.
Al Etihad
2 hours ago
- Al Etihad
Kazakhstan unveils first national supercomputer in strategic partnership with Presight
11 July 2025 22:00 ABU DHABI (ALETIHAD)In a landmark step toward digital transformation and technological sovereignty, the Republic of Kazakhstan has officially launched its first national supercomputer in collaboration with in Astana on Friday, in the presence of President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, senior government officials, and global technology leaders, the supercomputer marks a major milestone in the country's innovation journey. It was developed by the Ministry of Digital Development, Innovation and Aerospace Industry in strategic partnership with Presight, a UAE-based G42 supercomputer will form the backbone of Kazakhstan's AI ecosystem, enabling advanced research, large-scale model training, and secure data infrastructure. It also reinforces the country's commitment to data sovereignty, digital transformation, and scientific excellence, while positioning Kazakhstan as a regional hub for AI and cloud Kenesbai, Chief Growth Officer, and Maxat Koshumbayev, Country Manager for Kazakhstan, represented Presight at the launch. Addressing President Tokayev, Kenesbai said, 'Kazakhstan has all the foundational elements to emerge as a global leader in artificial intelligence, and Presight fully supports President Tokayev's bold vision for digital transformation. This journey is being shaped through close collaboration between the government, local stakeholders, and international partners—advancing critical areas such as energy infrastructure, data centres and compute capacity, chip imports, talent development, and frontier AI models."The launch of the national supercomputer is a key milestone in a broader, strategic agenda to build a digitally empowered nation. Presight is proud to stand alongside Kazakhstan as a trusted partner in this nation-building effort.'During the event, Kenesbai also briefed the President on Presight's global initiatives, including the Stargate UAE project and UAE-US AI Campus, as well as the status of the Astana Smart City project. The Astana project, developed in partnership with the Akimat, includes construction of a local data centre, a command centre at and deployment of a comprehensive AI analytics system. Notably, over 60% of the project relies on local suppliers, with Presight Kazakhstan now employing more than 50 specialists to support technology transfer and in-country value creation. Source: Aletihad - Abu Dhabi
