Microsoft’s MDASH technology is moving into phased government adoption in the UAE, combining AI-powered software vulnerability detection with sovereign cloud infrastructure and a national testing programme designed to strengthen the security of critical public services.
Microsoft, the UAE Cyber Security Council (CSC), Core42 and Open Innovation AI are advancing the deployment of AI-powered software security technology across UAE government entities, moving into a new implementation phase targeting vulnerabilities that could expose critical public services to cyberattacks.
The initiative centres on Microsoft’s MDASH, an AI-driven code scanning system that uses more than 100 specialised AI agents to examine software, identify security weaknesses and assess whether vulnerabilities could be exploited by attackers.
Unlike conventional security scanners that primarily search for known patterns, MDASH uses multiple AI models to analyse complex code, validate potential threats and prioritise vulnerabilities requiring urgent attention. The technology is designed to help security teams identify exploitable weaknesses before attackers can take advantage of them.
The latest phase moves the programme from initial availability towards adoption across participating government entities through pilot deployments, technical workshops, onboarding and implementation support.
It also extends the UAE’s National AI Test and Validation Lab with MDASH-enabled code safety capabilities, allowing government organisations to assess software vulnerabilities and strengthen security before wider deployment.
The collaboration combines Microsoft’s AI security technology with Core42’s sovereign cloud infrastructure and Open Innovation AI’s expertise in AI testing and validation, supporting the UAE’s efforts to strengthen national cyber resilience and protect critical government systems.
The initiative also aims to accelerate secure Digital Transformation and help government security teams respond faster to evolving threats.
Expanding national AI security capabilities
The National AI Test and Validation Lab, established earlier in 2026 with the participation of CSC and Open Innovation AI, provides a controlled environment for testing the security, safety and trustworthiness of AI models, agents and applications.
Hosted in the UAE under CSC governance, the facility will now incorporate MDASH-enabled code security capabilities to help participating government entities identify software weaknesses, prioritise remediation and assess risks before deploying AI-powered systems.
Open Innovation AI will support the integration of MDASH into the Lab, where the technology will operate alongside Open Innovation AI Fabric and its AI Security capabilities.
The expanded testing environment is intended to give government organisations greater visibility into software vulnerabilities and potential security risks across AI systems.
Under the collaboration, CSC will guide government adoption in accordance with national cybersecurity priorities and support the responsible use of AI-powered security technologies.
Core42, a G42 company, will provide sovereign-enabled infrastructure, onboarding and implementation support through its Sovereign Enabled Public Cloud offering and Insight sovereign controls platform.
The arrangement is designed to give government entities access to advanced cybersecurity capabilities while maintaining security, privacy and operational control over sensitive digital infrastructure.
Microsoft will provide technical expertise, onboarding and implementation guidance for participating government entities.
Securing critical government services
H.E. Dr. Mohamed Al Kuwaiti, Head of Cyber Security for the UAE Government, said: “Securing the UAE’s digital future starts with securing the code behind our critical services. In line with the directives of our wise leadership, this next phase moves MDASH from availability to adoption across government entities, guided by national cybersecurity priorities. By combining sovereign infrastructure, advanced AI capabilities and the National AI Test and Validation Lab, we are helping entities find vulnerabilities earlier, fix them faster and build lasting trust in AI-powered public services.”
The latest announcement builds on the original collaboration between Microsoft, CSC and Core42 to make MDASH available to eligible government customers in the UAE.
The initiative was designed to strengthen national cyber resilience, accelerate secure Digital Transformation and help government security teams respond faster to evolving threats.
Hayete Gallot, Executive Vice President, Security and Emerging Technologies, Microsoft, said: “Governments around the world are increasingly looking to AI as a force multiplier to protect the nation, its critical assets, and people. AI can be a powerful tool for cybersecurity. Together with the UAE Cyber Security Council and Core42, we will help government organizations strengthen resilience, improve cyber readiness and build capacity for emerging threats.”
The expanded programme will bring AI-powered code security into government testing and deployment processes, creating a structured approach to identifying vulnerabilities and improving software assurance.
Sovereign infrastructure and operational control
Core42 will provide local expertise, integration with its sovereign controls platform and implementation services to support MDASH deployment across participating government organisations.
Talal M. Al Kaissi, Chief Executive Officer, Core42, said: “As AI adoption across the public sector and regulated industries accelerates, Core42 will provide the sovereign-enabled infrastructure, onboarding and operational support required to help government entities adopt these capabilities responsibly. Together with the broader expertise across G42, this will help organizations strengthen software assurance, improve visibility into risk and deploy AI-powered cybersecurity capabilities with confidence.”
The company’s role reflects the increasing importance of sovereign cloud infrastructure in government AI deployments, particularly where sensitive information, critical applications and operational control must remain subject to national requirements.
Amr Kamel, General Manager, Microsoft UAE, said: “As AI adoption accelerates, security must be at the centre of every digital transformation. This collaboration brings together advanced AI-powered protection, sovereign capability and national partnership to help UAE government entities identify vulnerabilities earlier, strengthen cyber resilience and protect the critical services people rely on.”
Open Innovation AI will provide the technical integration needed to incorporate MDASH into the National AI Test and Validation Lab and support the assessment of software risks across participating government systems.
Dr. Abed Benaichouche, Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer, Open Innovation AI, said: “Trustworthy AI depends on security at every layer, from the infrastructure it runs on to the way its agents behave. At the National AI Test and Validation Lab, Microsoft’s MDASH will work alongside Open Innovation AI Fabric and its AI Security capabilities to identify vulnerabilities and assess risk across AI systems. This gives government entities the insight to strengthen systems before deployment and make informed decisions about their use.”
Moving from availability to deployment
The next phase will focus on translating MDASH’s technical capabilities into practical cybersecurity improvements across participating government entities.
Pilot programmes, technical workshops and onboarding activities will allow government organisations to evaluate the technology, assess implementation requirements and establish processes for identifying and remediating software vulnerabilities.
The collaboration also provides a framework for integrating AI-powered code security into existing government cybersecurity operations while maintaining national oversight of sensitive systems and infrastructure.
The partners have not disclosed the number of government entities participating in the initial rollout or a timetable for completing wider deployment.
The initiative represents a further step in the UAE’s strategy to combine AI adoption with sovereign digital infrastructure and stronger cybersecurity controls.
By extending MDASH into the National AI Test and Validation Lab, the partners aim to help government organisations identify security weaknesses earlier, protect critical services and prepare for increasingly sophisticated cyber threats.
