Abu Dhabi Islamic Bank (ADIB) revealed the winners of its UAE Cybersecurity Innovation Challenge, an initiative designed to identify and accelerate cutting-edge startups capable of fortifying the nation’s digital financial ecosystem.
Organised in partnership with the UAE Cyber Security Council and the DIFC Innovation Hub, the challenge concluded with the selection of three global innovators: Corgea (US), Nothreat (UK), and DTEX Systems (US).
Global Innovation for Local Resilience
The initiative attracted over 50 global pitches, with 10 finalists selected to present to a judging panel featuring representatives from heavyweights including Microsoft, Visa, and Al Etihad Payments. The evaluation focused on innovation, deployment feasibility, and relevance to the UAE’s specific security needs.
The three winners offered distinct approaches to modern cyber threats:
- Corgea (San Francisco): An advanced platform designed to proactively address security vulnerabilities and provide visibility into compliance gaps.
- Nothreat (London): A solution utilizing behavioural intelligence and real-time monitoring to detect and mitigate both insider and external threats.
- DTEX Systems (California): A human-centric workforce cyber-intelligence platform that unifies data loss prevention and insider threat management into a single AI-driven solution.
The challenge aligns with ADIB’s 2035 Vision and the broader UAE National Cybersecurity Agenda. During his opening address, H.E. Dr. Mohamed Hamad Al Kuwaiti, chairman of the UAE Cyber Security Council, underscored the country’s determination to build “AI-driven, quantum-resilient cybersecurity infrastructure” to defend against the hundreds of thousands of cyber attacks targeting various sectors.
He also reaffirmed the importance of the “Society as the First Line of Defence” initiative, emphasizing collective responsibility in safeguarding digital sovereignty.
Fernando Plaza, chief digital officer at ADIB, commented on the bank’s forward-looking stance: “Cybersecurity is fundamental to trust in digital banking and financial services. Engaging with emerging technologies and innovative startups allows us to identify practical, scalable solutions that strengthen resilience, support secure digital transformation, and respond to the evolving threat landscape facing the industry”.
Through its corporate venture arm, ADIB Ventures, the bank aims to continue acting as a catalyst for transformative change, building ecosystems that support open innovation and national cyber resilience.