Author Archives: Carl Sykes
Carl spent 18 years in the British Royal Marines and Special Boat Service and saw active service in conflict zones such as Northern Ireland, Iraq, Sierra Leonne, Bosnia, Indonesia and Afghanistan. Since leaving the Armed Forces in 2004, he has worked in the private security industry in a variety of security management roles ranging from physical protection to managing complex operations in difficult and unstable environments.
In 2009 Carl established Neptune Security Group a Private Maritime Security Company (PMSC) specializing in protecting maritime assets operating in High Risk Areas such as the Gulf of Aden and Gulf of Guinea. In 2012 the company set up in the United Arab Emirates and expanded its Security Risk Management division providing consultancy and intelligence services to organizations working in the Africa, Middle East and Asia (AMEA) regions.
Carl oversaw the merger with Port2Port Maritime Security in 2016 to form the Neptune P2P Group. Carl works from the Group's Headquarters located in Dubai and liaises closely with his counterpart Managers in the Groups regional offices in the UK and France. Carl is responsible for the overall strategy of Neptune P2P Group and maintains effective formal and informal links with Private, Corporate and Government clients.
Why Gulf ports must rethink risk to maintain commercial advantage
by Carl Sykes
Smart ports are not just high-tech ports. They are intelligent systems built around rapid risk identification.
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The National
6 hours ago
- The National
Dubai outstrips San Francisco for AI adoption and usage, report finds
Dubai ranks in the top five world cities in a new report on the adoption of artificial intelligence, beating San Francisco, widely considered the birthplace of the modern tech industry. Singapore took the top spot, according to Counterpoint Research, which sought to examine the affinity and readiness for AI among 100 of the world's largest metropolitan areas. Seoul received the study's second highest AI score, followed by Beijing, Dubai, San Francisco, Hong Kong, Tokyo and Abu Dhabi. The UAE is the only country from the Middle East with cities in the top 10 of the 2025 Global AI Cities Index. "Counterpoint analysed over 5,000 initiatives in the private and public sectors, strength of communications infrastructure, data centre and supercomputing initiatives, university output and strength of the start-up ecosystem, among other factors," the report said. Marc Einstein, a research director for Counterpoint, said Dubai "has an AI strategist in every government department". "All teachers are now being given AI training and they have a programme to train one million AI engineer," with Abu Dhabi "not far behind", he said. Mr Einstein said as a whole the Middle East is a region to watch in terms of AI adoption. He said that while cities in North America remain in the lead in the global AI race, China was starting to close the gap. Regulatory hurdles were blunting AI development in Europe, he said. Counterpoint Research's analysis on the Middle East echoes a report by the international Monetary Fund that indicated AI could help to boost gross domestic product by as much as 35 per cent in the UAE by 2030, and that the fast-developing technology could make up at least 12 per cent of Saudi Arabia's GDP. The UAE − the Arab world's second-largest economy − has expressed the desire to be an AI front-runner as it diversifies its economy from oil. The country's push has resulted in the establishment of start-ups, partnerships and investments from industry leaders such as Microsoft, Nvidia and OpenAI. Those types of investments also played a large role in Counterpoint's rankings. "In the 2025 AI City Index report, Microsoft emerged as the most active vendor as the company expanded its AI data centre footprint significantly, engaged in several AI training initiatives, and set up new AI innovation hubs," read the report. Counterpoint also said US-based Nvidia's partnerships with Emirates Integrated Telecommunications Company, the Dubai operator known as du, helped propel the city's ranking in the recent study. The UAE's investments in AI have also led to the creation of language models such as Falcon Arabic, part of an effort to ensure aspects of Arabic culture are not left behind in the AI surge, as many large language models were initially based on English language data. In 2019, the UAE announced the establishment of a university dedicated to AI, Mohamed bin Zayed University of Artificial Intelligence. Two years earlier, the Emirates was among the first country in the world to appoint an AI Minister, Omar Al Olama. This month, Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed, Crown Prince of Dubai, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence, introduced a new classification system with "icons" to indicate when AI has been used in research and publications.
Tahawul Tech
7 hours ago
- Tahawul Tech
Quantum-safe networks are cornerstone of tomorrow's digital infrastructure
In a world where nearly every aspect of our lives is connected, encryption is what keeps our digital systems trustworthy. It protects everything from financial transactions to national intelligence. But that protection won't hold forever. Quantum computing, once the stuff of science fiction, is edging closer to practical reality. With it comes a new set of challenges to how we keep information secure. Here in the Gulf, where digital transformation is accelerating at breakneck speeds, the stakes are rising. Initiatives like the UAE's Digital Government Strategy and Saudi Arabia's Vision 2030 have led to an explosion of digital services, cloud platforms, and cross-border data flows. But with this growth comes a stark reality: adversaries are already harvesting encrypted data today, waiting for quantum computers to break the cryptographic algorithms we rely on. Rethinking network security for the quantum age Quantum-safe networks (QSNs) are emerging as a vital part of the solution. These systems combine post-quantum cryptography (typically at application layer) with techniques like symmetric key infrastructure and / or quantum key distribution (at IP and Optical level) to build layered security frameworks across infrastructure. The goal isn't just to defend against future risks but to harden networks now, add risk mitigations measures with long term security, especially as cyberattack sophistication and frequency increase. This shift is already underway. In Europe, a live trial between Proximus and Nokia demonstrated how quantum encryption can be layered into live networks. In Asia, similar pilots with SK Broadband and Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power have proven scalability. And closer to home, operators in the GCC are laying the groundwork for similar capabilities, driven by the region's urgent push toward digital sovereignty. This is happening against the backdrop of a booming data center market. The GCC's data center sector is projected to more than double in size by 2030, growing from $3.48 billion in 2024 to over $9.4 billion. As demand for AI applications, cloud infrastructure, and sovereign hosting grows, securing these environments from emerging threats becomes mission critical. Making the shift: what it really takes Getting quantum-ready is not an overnight process. It begins with mapping what you already have. Surprisingly, a large share of organisations still lack complete visibility into their cryptographic assets, a gap that becomes riskier as quantum threats move from theoretical to practical. Alongside conducting audits, organizations can begin implementing Quantum-Safe Cryptography (QSC), particularly at the network layer—IP and optical—where deployment is significantly faster than at the application level. This approach enables immediate risk mitigation by securing critical infrastructure early, while teams are trained to adopt crypto-agile and resilient processes and prepare for broader integration.. This transition also needs to be seamless. With the help of zero-touch encryption, automated policy management, and advanced orchestration platforms, it is possible to strengthen security without compromising performance or uptime. These tools are especially valuable in the Gulf's smart infrastructure environments, where service continuity is non-negotiable. Scaling security for the region's digital ambitions Telecom operators, hyperscalers, and data centre providers across the Middle East are already feeling the pressure to enhance their security posture. The GCC cybersecurity market is projected to skyrocket, from $4.8 billion in 2024 to nearly $15 billion by 2031. That growth isn't just driven by threat vectors. It's a direct response to the expanding digital landscape and the geopolitical importance of regional infrastructure. Modern chipsets now support encryption at speeds of 800G and deliver up to 75% energy savings over previous generations. In the Gulf's hot and high-demand environments, that's a significant advantage. At the same time, architecture must accommodate encryption across long-haul optical networks and sovereign cloud environments without adding latency. These are the very requirements regional carriers are tackling now, often in collaboration with international partners and standards bodies. A strategic opportunity to lead This isn't just a defensive play. It is a chance to lead. The global market for quantum-safe technologies is expected to grow rapidly in the years ahead. And countries like the UAE, Saudi Arabia, and Qatar are already investing in quantum computing R&D and advanced AI ecosystems, signaling their intent to be at the forefront of this wave. The GCC's focus on cyber resilience is also accelerating. National cybersecurity agencies, such as the UAE Cyber Security Council, are actively collaborating with private and international entities to address vulnerabilities and raise the region's security posture. A 2025 report highlighted over 223,000 vulnerable assets in the UAE alone, with many remaining exposed for years, making quantum resilience a non-negotiable pillar of future planning. Operators in the region have a unique chance to go a step further by offering quantum-safe infrastructure as a service. In doing so, they won't just be securing their own networks, they will be enabling banks, hospitals, utility providers, and governments to do the same. Resilience isn't optional, its foundational Quantum computing is no longer an abstract concept. While it promises breakthroughs in everything from medicine to logistics, it also threatens the cryptographic systems our societies rely on. In regions like the GCC, where digital growth is central to economic strategy, the consequences of inaction could be severe. By embedding quantum-safe technologies into the core of their networks, Gulf organizations can secure their most valuable data, protect their national priorities, and lay the foundation for trusted digital ecosystems. In the quantum age, it's not just about reacting to what's coming. It's about shaping it. Because when trust, privacy, and security are on the line, resilience isn't a luxury. It's the cornerstone of progress. This Op-ed is authored by Carlo Corti, Head of Optical Networks, Nokia Middle East and Africa
Khaleej Times
8 hours ago
- Khaleej Times
UAE: Soon, pay digitally in stores, give pocket money online with Digital Dirham
UAE residents and visitors will soon be able to pay friends, give pocket money to children and shop at commercial outlets completely digitally. The Digital Dirham project, which will be a digital alternative to physical money, will make financial dealings easy and seamless. This is according to a report published by the Central Bank of UAE (CBUAE) on the project. Although a date has not been specified as to when the project will be rolled out, the issuance of the Digital Dirham is expected to take place in the last quarter of the year 2025 for the retail sector. Once launched, the Digital Dirham will be an alternative to physical money and can be used for a wide range of payments, including online, in-store, commercial payments and transactions between people. Stay up to date with the latest news. Follow KT on WhatsApp Channels. The CBUAE has also developed a comprehensive platform for issuing, trading, and using the digital dirham, including the digital wallet, which enables individuals and businesses to conduct financial transactions. Use cases The report highlights that as part of the retail project, the CBUAE tested four digital economy use cases to assess the feasibility and effectiveness of the Digital Dirham. These use cases included fractional ownership of tokenised assets, a smart tourist wallet, smart social benefit payments, and a parent-child sub-wallet. In the social benefits use case, the Ministry of Community Development (MOCD) distributed food subsidies via programmable Digital Dirham. The MOCD could programme where the amount could be spent and monitor the distribution and usage of government benefits in real time. The CBUAE created a prototype Digital Dirham App, which allowed users to select their wallet provider, conduct payments, top up their accounts, acquire the currency, redeem it, and carry out specified use cases. Gradual introduction The Digital Dirham will be gradually introduced with a detailed implementation plan and policy guidance. This phased rollout will ensure secure adoption and building trust. Within the UAE, it will be a non-interest-bearing central bank digital currency (CBDC) and people will be encouraged to use it primarily as a means of payment rather than a substitute for savings. It will be fully fungible with other forms of the dirham like cash and deposits. The retail Digital Dirham will also support peer-to-peer (P2P), online and in-store payments, business-to-consumer (B2C), business-to-business (B2B), and government-to-consumer (G2C) transactions. As part of the second phase, the CBUAE is exploring developing other cross-border CBDC arrangements. The CBUAE will collaborate with other central banks, foreign and domestic commercial banks, industry partners like exchange houses and international bodies to ensure interoperability and connectivity. Report The report further reviews the key achievements of the project to date and gives an analysis of the ongoing research and development, as the CBUAE moves towards officially launching the national CBDC. It highlights the design principles and policy frameworks that have shaped the development of the Digital Dirham. These steps ensure that the currency remains secure, reliable and easy to use, in line with best practices and standards issued by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the Bank for International Settlements (BIS). The report outlines the capabilities of Digital Dirham and its role in driving innovation and financial inclusion. It will give access to those who are unbanked and non-residents in the UAE, improving speed of transactions and increasing the efficiency of payment systems through features such as offline usability, smart contracts and cross-border transactions.
