CISO / Head of Cyber Security | Dubai, UAE | Sovereign Data, Sovereign Networks

A rapidly growing advanced aerospace and engineering organisation is establishing a major operational and manufacturing presence in Dubai. To support this expansion, we are seeking a highly experienced CISO / Head of Cyber Security to lead the protection of sensitive data, mission systems, and secure networks that underpin the organisation’s regional programme.

With major partnerships and an ambitious multi-year operational roadmap, this is a rare opportunity to join at “day zero” and own the cyber security strategy, ensuring compliance with UAE security frameworks, and establishing a robust defence posture suitable for high-assurance environments spanning aerospace, R&D, manufacturing, and operational systems.

CISO / Head of Cyber Security Responsibilities

Cyber Security Leadership & Strategy

• Define and execute the company’s cyber security strategy across corporate, operational, and mission-critical environments.
• Establish the governance, policies, and standards required to protect high-value and nationally sensitive assets.
• Build and develop a cyber security organisation covering governance, engineering, operations, and assurance.

Sovereign Data Protection

• Ensure sensitive engineering, operational, and mission data is stored, processed, and managed in line with UAE data sovereignty and national security expectations.
• Oversee data residency, classification, access protocols, and lifecycle controls across all systems.
• Validate cloud, infrastructure, and third-party platforms to ensure alignment with sovereign and controlled-data requirements.

Secure & Sovereign Network Oversight

• Lead the architecture and protection of secure networks supporting aerospace development, manufacturing operations, and mission systems.
• Implement secure network design principles, advanced segmentation, secure communication standards, and strong identity controls.
• Manage the assessment and approval of network technologies, ensuring no supply-chain compromise or foreign dependency risks.

Compliance, Assurance & Accreditation

• Ensure adherence to UAE cyber regulations, national security frameworks, and aerospace/defence compliance requirements.
• Oversee accreditation processes for secure systems and networks.
• Drive continuous testing, auditing, threat modelling, and maturity assessments across the organisation.

Security Operations & Incident Response

• Establish and lead security operations capabilities for monitoring, detection, response, and recovery.
• Direct cyber incident management and coordinate with government authorities and national security stakeholders when required.
• Build internal resilience against advanced threats, industrial espionage, and disruption risks.

Stakeholder Leadership

• Act as the primary adviser to the executive team on cyber and information security risks.
• Engage with UAE government agencies, regulators, and key partners to maintain alignment with national cyber and defence requirements.
• Provide regular reporting to senior leadership on security posture, risks, and vulnerabilities.

Personnel Security & Insider Threat Management

• Support the implementation of personnel security protocols aligned with UAE expectations for sensitive and secure environments.
• Establish insider threat monitoring frameworks across engineering, manufacturing, and corporate functions.

CISO / Head of Cyber Security Requirements

• Extensive experience leading cyber security in aerospace, defence, advanced engineering, critical infrastructure, or high-regulation environments.
• Strong expertise in sovereign data controls, secure network design, and high-assurance operational security.
• Deep understanding of incident response, secure communications, identity management, and modern security architectures.
• Proven success building and scaling cyber security teams in fast-growing or complex organisations.
• Experience working with government entities, national security frameworks, and regulated environments in the Middle East (preferred but not required).
• Ability to work/relocate to Dubai; security vetting may be required depending on programme involvement.

If interested, please apply with your most up-to-date resume & I’ll be in touch.