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Hi Dubai
an hour ago
- Business
- Hi Dubai
The Importance of Cyber Insurance for Dubai Businesses
As Dubai continues its rapid digital expansion—embracing smart city infrastructure, AI-driven services, and cloud-based operations—the risk of cyberattacks is growing just as fast. But are businesses keeping pace with the threats? According to the UAE Cybersecurity Council, the country has seen a sharp increase in the frequency and complexity of cyber incidents targeting both public and private sectors. A 2023 Interpol report highlighted the Middle East as a rising hotspot for ransomware and phishing campaigns, with the UAE named among the most targeted GCC nations. Why is Dubai particularly vulnerable? As a regional headquarters for global corporations and a thriving hub for fintech, healthcare, and logistics, the city holds high-value data that attracts both organized cybercriminals and opportunistic threat actors. What would happen if a critical system went down? Or if sensitive customer data was exposed? For many businesses, the financial and reputational damage could be irreversible. In this article, we'll explore the role cyber insurance plays in protecting Dubai-based businesses from these rising digital threats. From what it covers to how much it costs, and which providers are leading the market, everything you read here is based on official sources and verified information. What Is Cyber Insurance? Cyber insurance is a specialized form of business coverage designed to protect companies from financial losses caused by cyber incidents, such as hacking, ransomware attacks, data breaches, or system failures. It helps organizations recover from disruptions, manage liabilities, and maintain operational continuity during and after a digital threat. Most policies are divided into two main types of protection: first-party and third-party coverage. First-Party Coverage: Protecting Your Own Business When your systems go down or sensitive data is compromised, first-party coverage helps cover the direct losses your business faces. This typically includes: Business interruption costs caused by system downtime. Data recovery and restoration, including forensic investigation to identify and resolve the breach. Legal and regulatory notification expenses, such as notifying affected customers and managing compliance requirements. First-party coverage may also include compensation for revenue losses and administrative fines if the breach occurred due to internal failures in data protection. Third-Party Coverage: Managing External Liabilities If a breach affects your clients, partners, or any third party, this coverage handles claims made against your business. It often includes: Liability for financial losses that others may suffer as a result of the incident. Legal defense costs in case of lawsuits or investigations. Regulatory fines or penalties related to data protection violations. What Does Cyber Insurance Cover? Cyber insurance typically includes the following key areas of coverage that help businesses respond to and recover from digital threats: 1. Incident Response and Forensics Cyber insurance usually provides access to a dedicated team of cybersecurity experts who respond immediately after a breach. This includes digital forensics to understand how the attack happened, containing the threat, and guiding your team through the first critical hours. 2. Legal Expenses and Regulatory Fines If a cyber incident triggers legal issues or regulatory investigations, the policy covers legal advice, defense costs, and penalties. This is particularly important for businesses in the UAE, where data protection regulations are increasingly strict and enforcement is becoming more proactive. 3. Customer Notification and Credit Monitoring If customer data is compromised, insurers will cover the cost of notifying affected individuals. Many policies also include credit monitoring or identity protection services to help rebuild customer trust and meet compliance requirements. 4. Public Relations and Reputation Management To help manage public perception after an attack, cyber insurance often includes access to PR consultants who handle media communication and reputation recovery. This support can be crucial when trying to reassure customers, partners, and investors. 5. Business Interruption and Extra Expenses If your operations are disrupted due to a cyber event, the policy can compensate for lost income and additional expenses incurred during recovery. This might include emergency IT support, renting temporary infrastructure, or even relocating operations briefly. 6. Cyber Extortion and Ransomware Coverage typically includes ransom payments, expert negotiation support, and the technical services needed to restore systems after an attack. With ransomware becoming more common in the region, this has become a key part of most cyber insurance policies. 7. Data Restoration In case of data loss, deletion, or corruption, cyber insurance helps cover the cost of restoring systems, software, and databases. This ensures that your business can get back to normal operations as quickly and smoothly as possible. Why It's Important for Dubai Businesses Cyber threats in the UAE have increased significantly in recent years. Businesses in Dubai are particularly exposed due to their reliance on digital platforms, cloud systems, and financial technologies. As phishing, ransomware, and malware attacks grow more sophisticated, having cyber insurance in place becomes a critical safety net. It ensures that a single breach does not disrupt business continuity or lead to long-term damage. One of the biggest reasons businesses invest in cyber insurance is for financial protection. A serious cyberattack can lead to major expenses, including legal fees, data recovery, operational downtime, and even ransom payments. Without insurance, these costs fall entirely on the business. With insurance, however, you gain a financial buffer that can help absorb the impact and prevent sudden financial loss or insolvency. Regulatory compliance is another growing priority. The UAE has been strengthening its data protection laws, requiring businesses to report breaches, notify affected customers, and demonstrate preparedness. A good cyber insurance policy helps businesses meet these obligations by covering legal advice, documentation support, and regulatory penalties, especially under the UAE's Personal Data Protection Law (PDPL). Perhaps one of the most valuable aspects of cyber insurance is access to expert support. Most policies include 24/7 emergency response teams that guide businesses through the chaos of a breach. These teams often include incident responders, digital forensic analysts, legal consultants, and public relations experts who can step in immediately, minimize damage, and help the business recover efficiently. In short, cyber insurance is not just about compensation. It is about being equipped to respond, comply, and recover with confidence. Leading Cyber Insurers in Dubai / UAE QBE QBE offers a comprehensive policy called QCyberProtect, which includes cyber liability, media liability, data breach legal costs, business interruption coverage, and data restoration. The policy is available globally and is widely used by businesses in the UAE. They provide 24/7 crisis support through an expert panel that includes specialists in forensics, legal affairs, and public relations. Additional tools like a secure 'saferoom' help businesses activate response plans quickly when incidents occur. QBE also offers ongoing risk management support through its Cyber Risk Management Portal and provides discounts on preventative services, showing a commitment to both proactive and reactive protection. Why QBE is a top choice: Globally consistent coverage with specialized tools, strong support systems, and round-the-clock incident response. AIG (CyberEdge) AIG's CyberEdge policy includes protection for data loss, regulatory fines, cyber extortion, third-party liabilities, and business interruption. The policy also grants access to a comprehensive cyber resiliency program that offers services such as risk assessments, vulnerability scans, phishing simulations, Darknet monitoring, and ransomware preparedness, customized based on the level of coverage. AIG operates on a 'Claims First' model, providing immediate IT forensics and legal support, along with continuous advisory throughout the policy duration. Why AIG stands out: Strong focus on prevention, deep technical resources, and global expertise from claim initiation to resolution. Howden Howden focuses heavily on incident response. Their policies include expert-led containment and system restoration services, making them particularly appealing for businesses looking for hands-on support during and after an attack. Why Howden excels: A practical, specialist-driven approach to cyber recovery—ideal for businesses in the UAE seeking reliable and fast incident resolution. Arthur J. Gallagher (AJG) AJG offers tailored cyber insurance solutions that include 24/7 access to breach response teams. These teams are equipped to handle digital forensics, legal guidance, and public relations support. Their policies are designed to be highly customizable, adapting to the specific needs and operational risks of each business while ensuring immediate access to expert help when needed. Why AJG matters: Flexible, client-focused coverage with around-the-clock support, ideal for businesses needing personalized protection and fast intervention. UAE Cyber Insurance Cost Breakdown Business Type Coverage Scope Estimated Annual Premium (AED) Small Business (SME) Basic coverage for data breach, basic liability 1,800 – 3,700 Mid-sized Business Broader coverage including extortion, PR, BI 7,400 – 18,500 Large Enterprise / High Risk Sector Full coverage including compliance, restoration, large liability 37,000+ BI = Business Interruption What Affects the Cost of Cyber Insurance in the UAE? Premiums vary significantly based on the following factors: Business Size & Revenue : Larger organizations face more complex risks and pay higher premiums. : Larger organizations face more complex risks and pay higher premiums. Industry Sector : Companies in finance, healthcare, and e-commerce typically pay more due to regulatory and data sensitivity. : Companies in finance, healthcare, and e-commerce typically pay more due to regulatory and data sensitivity. Cybersecurity Measures : Businesses with strong protections—like firewalls, encryption, MFA, and employee training—are considered lower risk and may receive discounted premiums. : Businesses with strong protections—like firewalls, encryption, MFA, and employee training—are considered lower risk and may receive discounted premiums. Claims History : A business with no history of incidents or breaches is likely to receive more favorable rates. : A business with no history of incidents or breaches is likely to receive more favorable rates. Coverage Limits & Deductibles: Higher coverage amounts and lower deductibles increase premiums; balancing these appropriately helps control costs. Tips to Reduce Premiums Without Compromising Protection Invest in Cyber Hygiene : Implement basic controls like endpoint protection, backup systems, and staff awareness programs. Many insurers offer lower rates for businesses with strong internal protocols. : Implement basic controls like endpoint protection, backup systems, and staff awareness programs. Many insurers offer lower rates for businesses with strong internal protocols. Bundle with Other Insurance : Some UAE insurers allow cyber to be added to broader business insurance policies (e.g., SME packages), which can reduce costs. : Some UAE insurers allow cyber to be added to broader business insurance policies (e.g., SME packages), which can reduce costs. Choose the Right Deductible : Opting for a slightly higher deductible can reduce premium costs while still maintaining core protection. : Opting for a slightly higher deductible can reduce premium costs while still maintaining core protection. Work with Specialized Brokers: Brokers like PolicyBazaar UAE and can help assess your risk profile and connect you to insurers offering the best coverage-to-cost ratio. Emerging Risks and Policy Adaptation AI and Deepfake Risks AI-generated deepfakes—such as fabricated videos or voice recordings—are a growing threat, capable of tricking staff into approving fraudulent transactions or damaging reputations. Recent reports from Reuters highlight how insurers are introducing affirmative AI endorsements that specifically cover incidents involving deepfakes under cyber policies. These endorsements aim to clarify and extend coverage where traditional policies may fall short. War and State-Sponsored Attack Exclusions Many cyber insurance policies now include a 'war exclusion clause', which excludes coverage for "hostile or warlike actions" by state-backed actors. While these clauses have historically been narrow, insurers are extending them to include state-sponsored cyberattacks, even in peacetime. The evolving wording places extra emphasis on: Whether the attacker is a sovereign state Whether the attack qualifies as a warlike act Recent legal developments, such as the U.S. Merck case, have ruled that a war exclusion should not broadly apply to cyber incidents, especially if they lack direct military action. Nonetheless, it is now standard for policies to contain explicit exclusions related to state-sponsored cyber operations. Why This Matters for Dubai Businesses Deepfake protection : Without AI-specific endorsements, traditional cyber policies may not cover losses resulting from AI-based fraud, leaving organizations exposed to new forms of attack. : Without AI-specific endorsements, traditional cyber policies may not cover losses resulting from AI-based fraud, leaving organizations exposed to new forms of attack. State-supported cyber threats: As cyber warfare evolves, it's possible that major disruptions could result from nation-state actors. Businesses should scrutinize war exclusion language to ensure clarity about which attacks are covered. What UAE Companies Should Do Request AI endorsements in your policy to ensure incidents involving deepfakes or AI manipulation are explicitly covered. in your policy to ensure incidents involving deepfakes or AI manipulation are explicitly covered. Carefully review war exclusion clauses : Seek clear definitions regarding state-sponsored cyberattacks and explore add-ons or special endorsements that limit these exclusions. : Seek clear definitions regarding state-sponsored cyberattacks and explore add-ons or special endorsements that limit these exclusions. Consult with local brokers and insurers, as UAE policy language is adapting quickly to include or exclude these emerging risks. Ensuring alignment with your risk profile is now essential for complete protection. When choosing a cyber insurance policy in the UAE, it's critical to understand what is covered—and just as importantly, what isn't. Below are the essential elements that every Dubai-based business should evaluate before finalizing coverage: 1. First-party and Third-party Coverage A strong cyber insurance policy should protect both internal and external losses. First-party coverage addresses direct impacts on your business, such as data restoration, operational downtime, and recovery costs. Third-party coverage, on the other hand, protects you from liabilities related to customer claims, legal actions, and regulatory penalties. Both are essential to ensure your business is comprehensively protected from cyber risks. 2. Incident Response Services Time is critical during a cyber incident. Make sure your policy includes immediate access to expert-led response teams that handle forensic investigations, system containment, legal advice, and communication strategy. A fast and coordinated response can significantly reduce the impact of a breach. 3. Ransomware and Extortion Coverage With ransomware becoming one of the most common cyber threats, it's important that your policy explicitly covers ransom demands, negotiation support, and associated recovery costs. This is especially relevant given the rise in sophisticated double-extortion tactics where data is both encrypted and threatened with public release. 4. Regulatory Fine Coverage under UAE Data Laws UAE regulations, such as the Personal Data Protection Law (PDPL) impose strict obligations on breach reporting and consumer protection. Your insurance policy should include coverage for legal consultation, documentation support, and any regulatory fines that may be imposed in case of non-compliance. 5. Exclusions and War Clauses Some policies include clauses that exclude cyberattacks deemed to be state-sponsored or linked to geopolitical conflict. These "war exclusions" can limit your protection in cases of large-scale or coordinated cyber events. It is important to read these clauses carefully and explore endorsement options if your business is at risk of being targeted in such scenarios. Tip: Always review the fine print with your insurer or broker and tailor your policy to match the scale, structure, and exposure of your business. Gaps in coverage often come from unclear exclusions or assumptions about what's automatically included. In today's digital-first environment, cyber risks are no longer a distant threat. They are a daily reality for businesses in Dubai. Having the right cyber insurance policy in place helps protect against financial losses, supports regulatory compliance, and gives businesses access to expert guidance when it matters most. As threats evolve, so should your coverage. Reviewing your options carefully, understanding what's included, and choosing a provider with strong local support can make all the difference in managing risk and maintaining business continuity. Also read: Protect Your Ideas: Trademark Registration in Dubai Learn how to register a trademark in Dubai with this step-by-step 2025 guide. Understand eligibility, costs, legal benefits, and common mistakes to protect your brand effectively in the UAE. Copyright vs. Trademark vs. Patent: Breaking Down Intellectual Property Rights Let's break down the three big ones: copyright, trademark and patent, and figure out which one you need for what. Why Summer is the Best Time to Digitally Transform Your Business in Dubai Summer in Dubai offers the ideal time to upgrade systems, train teams, and prepare your business for a stronger, more efficient Q4.
Miami Herald
16 hours ago
- Science
- Miami Herald
World's first forensic jeweler IDs disaster zone victims through jewelry
By Elizabeth Hunter A former jewelry designer has become the world's first forensic jeweler, who IDs bodies in disaster zones through their rings, necklaces and earrings. Dr. Maria Maclennan, 36, analyzes victim's bracelets, gemstones, pendants and trinkets for clues to help emergency crews, investigators and families. She first studied jewelry design at the university, then realized she wanted to use her talents to help people instead. The Dundee-based forensic jeweler has since been drafted in to aid identification in disasters and mass fatalities around the world. She helped identify victims of the 2015 Tunisia terror attacks, worked on Grenfell, the Germanwings plane crash in France in 2015 and the Mozambican airliner disaster in Namibia in 2013. She's also helped ID the bodies of migrants lost in sea crossings. Maria says the "holy trinity of primary methods," teeth, fingerprint, DNA – are the still the foremost ways to establish who the bodies are. But she realized jewelry can hold vitals clues to discovering who a deceased person is - which can help remains be reunited with loved ones. Maria joined a project led by Interpol when she was a master's student at the University of Dundee. It was designed to improve practices around victim identification in disasters, which sparked her interest in the relationship between forensics and personal effects. She said: ''It was a project that was spearheaded by Interpol and a number of other international project partners, looking at how we could improve practices around disaster victim identification. "They were looking at the usual scientific method - DNA, fingerprinting, dental records - but they were also expanding into what we call secondary methods. "They were looking at clothing, personal effects, body modification, tattoos, and jewelry. "That was my background - I was a jewelry designer by trade. "A lot of pieces are very traceable. The might have some kind of mark, a serial number, a hallmark. "A lot are very personalized, they can connect to a manufacturer, a designer, a maker and we can trace something back to the place of purchase. "Distinctive pieces are recognized, they're memorable. Something that has been worn often or for a long time can be a physical repository for DNA. "They might have been gifted between family members - they might symbolize a very significant relationship, they may have been passed down through generations or they could be really important spiritual, religious or cultural items.'' She added: "I was never as interested in designing as a lot of my peers and colleagues. ''I didn't actually enjoy sitting down at the bench and designing and making quite as much as I did the research and studying. "It was all the stories, the histories, the meanings that I was interested in - why people wear jewelry, why they don't wear jewelry, when they decide to take it off or keep it with them, and what it symbolized. "I was living with a medical student, one of my friends, and there was probably a bit of me that saw her go off and thought 'she's really going to save lives and help people.' "As a jeweler, we design wedding and engagement or memorial pieces, and we really have to understand their personality, their identity and relationships. ''It's very much an important job - but the opportunity to get involved in that project made me think there could be some way to really improve or contribute to people's lives. "It really opened up my thinking to this whole new world that I hadn't really been exposed to before. "I loved the idea that I could use my skills and knowledge as a jewelry designer in this completely new way to really help people." Maria and her team worked on a jewelry classification system, which has since been incorporated into Interpol's current disaster victim identification practices. Maria, who has a PhD in Forensic Jewelry, said: "I was working mostly in forensic imaging, so any kind of visual evidence, whether that was photography, fingerprints, footwear, patterns, 360 panoramic views of scenes, and I was carrying on my own research alongside that. "I was starting to deploy to international incidents - aviation crashes mainly, but also natural disasters and terror incidents too. There was a lot of international mass fatality work. "Once I started doing the work, I realized that it wasn't just about studying these objects, analyzing them, trying to trace them, trying to identify people. "I think especially in the mass fatality context, where very sadly, many families and next of kin don't have a dedicated place to go to say goodbye, to visit. "They maybe don't always even receive the remains of their loved ones, they depending on the condition. Very sadly, it might not be possible to repatriate an entire body. "I think this is where it goes back to my initial training and love of jewelry, and all the personal stories and the sentimental value. "I actually drew quite a few parallels with the designing and making that we do in the jewelry world and the return and the repatriation of objects to next of kin, because these little objects, they're very often seen as an extension of us and of our identities, especially if they've got that really personal element. "To receive those back after often quite traumatic incidents and events really means a lot to the families, and that part of the process is not to be underestimated. "We try and treat the objects with the same amount of dignity and respect as we would the person themselves. "That includes everything - ensuring that the families have an opportunity to view the object. "They can choose whether they would like the items returned in their current state, even if they've been damaged or melted or burned, or whether they would like them to be repaired or fully reconstructed. "We give families that option, and we also try to put just as much care into how we package and gift those items. "The care that needs to go into that is just as much an important factor, because that's the first impression that families will often get - it's the first thing they'll see. "Also, many of them may not be quite ready to open that package and confront these items. "For many of them, they may choose to keep them in storage or only revisit them a number of months or years later, so we have to really think about that whole process." Maria has begun teaching - lecturing at Edinburgh College of Art, and traveling the world to train law enforcement and investigators based on her research. "Over the last few years, I've become more involved in training and upskilling law enforcement and investigative agencies on the value of jewelry and personal effects and trying to create practical, hands on training programs, things that will be useful for them in their day to day life," she said. "Most recently, I was over in Brazil, working with the Brazilian Federal Police and running a training program for them - they're kind of forensic gemologists. "They have quite a large criminal investigative department over in Brazil, because they deal a lot with gem crime and trafficking and smuggling of gemstones and other artifacts across borders. "I've developed a lot of training, and now being an educator myself, that's something I'm very passionate about, is trying to share the knowledge I've learned. "I still work on some live cases, but these days, it's more about kind of helping others to help themselves, rather than me doing the work personally." The project closest to her heart today is a humanitarian project called Identifying the Displaced, which seeks to use personal effects to identify people lost while migrating across the Aegean Sea. Maria and her team have recovered over 500 personal objects, belonging to migrants who lost their lives while attempting to cross the "River of Death," which has claimed the life of over 2,500 people between 2014 and 2024. "We're looking to try and study and analyze the objects, the jewelry, the personal effects that were carried with people on the move," she said. "Migrants, refugees and asylum seekers, as they make these journeys to try and gain entry into Europe, a lot of them, very sadly, lose their lives. "By collaborating with the local pathologists and people who work in that industry over in Greece, we've designed a database that we're trying to use to collaborate with different communities to raise more awareness of the migrant crisis, to hopefully generate new investigative insight around the objects.'' The post World's first forensic jeweler IDs disaster zone victims through jewelry appeared first on Talker. Copyright Talker News. All Rights Reserved.
Russia Today
19 hours ago
- Russia Today
EU state returns 2,000-year-old sarcophagus to Egypt
Belgium has formally returned a roughly 2,000-year-old wooden sarcophagus to Egypt after a decade-long investigation and legal proceedings, authorities in Brussels announced on Friday. The move marked the latest in a series of repatriations of stolen cultural relics to the North African country in recent years. The artifact – dating back to Egypt's Ptolemaic era, when the country was ruled by a Greek dynasty – was recovered after authorities found it had been smuggled into Belgium via illegal art networks. It was seized in 2015 by customs after an Interpol alert from Cairo. The coffin had since been held at Brussels' Royal Museum of Art and History, pending legal verification. A statement from the Brussels Public Prosecutor's Office said the wooden sarcophagus, shaped in the image of a mummified male, 'undoubtedly belonged to a member of Egyptian high society.' It said the artifact's 'golden face and bluish hair are divine attributes, indicating that the deceased transformed into the form of the god Osiris, ruler of the underworld.' The hieroglyphs – ancient Egyptian pictorial script – carved on the sarcophagus helped identify the man once buried inside as Pa-di-Hor-pa-khered, it added. It was handed over to Egypt's ambassador to Belgium, Ahmed Abu Zeid, during a formal ceremony in the nation's capital on Friday. A ceremonial wooden beard was also returned. Belgian public prosecutor Julien Moinil hailed the restitution as 'truly an act of justice' coming 'after 10 years of investigation and proceedings.' The return comes as part of a broader campaign by Egyptian authorities to recover looted cultural property from European museums and academic collections. In May, France handed over seven rare artifacts —including a wooden statue of Anubis and ancient papyrus scrolls — following a Paris court ruling. Earlier, Germany returned 67 objects, among them a mummified foot, and funerary masks to Cairo. Ireland's University College Cork repatriated a painted wooden coffin, along with ritual jars and cartonnage fragments, after an agreement reached during Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi's state visit to Dublin last December.
Observer
a day ago
- Observer
ROP aids extradition of British national with drug charges
Muscat: As part of its continuing cooperation with the International Criminal Police Organization (Interpol), the Royal Oman Police (ROP) extradited a British national to the United Kingdom, where he is wanted on drug-related charges. This operation is part of the ROP's ongoing efforts to support international cooperation in combating organized crime and to enhance mechanisms for apprehending internationally wanted individuals.
Bangkok Post
a day ago
- Bangkok Post
Police identify more suspects in Cambodian property owner's scam case
Police have identified more suspects in the scam centre case concerning Cambodian casino owner Kok An. Pol Maj Gen Siriwat Deepor, commander of the Cyber Crime Investigation Division 1, said on Monday that the evidence that police were collecting had identified additional suspects, including people who arranged for mule accounts and laundered money in Thailand for transnational call scam gangs. Several suspects were already facing arrest warrants. The commander was referring to legal action in the case in which Cambodian property owner Kok An, 71, was accused of backing scam centres in Poipet. There were both Thai and Cambodian suspects, and police would seek arrest warrants with Interpol, Pol Maj Gen Siriwat said. He also said that police had information on the whereabouts of Kok An. He declined to elaborate. On July 7, the Criminal Court issued a warrant for the arrest of Kok An for supporting scam centres in Poipet. On the following day, police searched 19 houses in Bangkok, Samut Prakan and Chon Buri to collect evidence and impound assets believed to be involved in scam operations. Thai police suspected Kok An of supporting scam centres operating in four buildings he owned in Poipet.
