Shory Appointed as Cybersecurity Provider to UAE Cyber Security Council in Major Resilience Deal

Shory, a UAE-based insurtech, has entered a formal partnership with the UAE Cyber Security Council to bolster national cyber resilience. For insurance professionals, this move signals a deepening integration between digital insurance platforms and national security frameworks, highlighting the critical role insurtechs play in managing systemic digital risks within the Middle East’s evolving financial ecosystem.

What was announced

The collaboration was formalized through a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between Shory and the UAE Cyber Security Council. Under this agreement, Shory is designated as a cybersecurity provider, integrating its technical expertise into a national framework designed to enhance cyber preparedness and response. The partnership focuses on the exchange of expertise and the sharing of threat intelligence to counter increasingly complex digital threats.

As an AI-driven business, Shory will contribute its capabilities to support the UAE’s broader digital transformation ambitions. The framework establishes a structured environment for both parties to strengthen responses to emerging cyber risks. This public-private collaboration is intended to build a more secure digital environment for the UAE economy, ensuring that the infrastructure supporting digital services remains robust against evolving vulnerabilities.

The agreement marks a significant expansion of Shory’s role beyond traditional insurance distribution, positioning the firm as a key contributor to the nation’s cybersecurity landscape. By participating in this national effort, Shory aims to foster a more trusted digital ecosystem, which is essential for the continued growth of online financial and insurance services in the region. The exchange of knowledge is expected to enable more effective responses as the nature and complexity of digital threats continue to evolve.

"Cybersecurity is inseparable from the trust our customers and partners place in digital services. As an AI-driven business operating in a highly connected ecosystem, we see first-hand how quickly the risk landscape is changing. This collaboration gives us the opportunity to contribute the expertise we have built within Shory to a wider national effort, while learning and sharing knowledge across the UAE’s cybersecurity ecosystem. Ultimately, stronger cyber resilience benefits every organisation and individual participating in the digital economy."

Aoun Al Smadi, CEO of Shory UAE.

The companies involved

Shory is a prominent insurtech operating in the United Arab Emirates, recognized for its focus on digital-first insurance solutions. The company is a First.tech entity and operates as part of Judan Financial Holding. Judan Financial Holding serves as the dedicated financial services platform for International Holding Company (IHC), one of the largest and most influential conglomerates in the region. This corporate parentage places Shory at the center of a significant financial and technological network within the UAE.

The UAE Cyber Security Council is a national body tasked with overseeing and strengthening the cybersecurity posture of the United Arab Emirates. It plays a pivotal role in developing the country’s cyber defense strategy and fostering collaborations between government entities and private sector innovators. By engaging with technology firms like Shory, the Council aims to leverage private sector agility and technical specialization to protect the nation's digital infrastructure. The Council has a history of forming strategic alliances with global financial leaders to advance national digital defense initiatives, reflecting its mandate to maintain a secure environment for the UAE's digital economy.

What FF News has reported before

FF News has closely followed Shory’s rapid expansion and technological milestones in the UAE market. In late 2026, the publication reported on the launch of Shory AI: UAE Insurtech Unveils Conversational Agent to Simplify Car Insurance Comparison, which introduced a first-of-its-kind intelligent agent for the region. Previously, Shory expanded its distribution reach by onboarding its digital vehicle insurance service on TAMM 4.0, the Abu Dhabi government's AI-powered platform. The company also secured a strategic partnership with Rafid Automotive Solutions to streamline automotive services. Additionally, FF News covered the UAE Cyber Security Council’s efforts to bolster national digital defense through a partnership with Visa, highlighting the Council's ongoing commitment to public-private data sharing.

What this means from an insurtech perspective

This partnership represents a shift in how insurtechs are perceived by regulators and national security bodies. For carriers and MGAs, Shory’s move from a distribution platform to a recognized cybersecurity provider suggests that the data and AI capabilities inherent in modern insurtech are becoming vital assets for national infrastructure. This places pressure on traditional insurers to upgrade their own cyber-resilience frameworks or risk being sidelined in national digital strategies. From an underwriting perspective, the intelligence sharing facilitated by this MoU could eventually lead to more sophisticated cyber-insurance pricing models, as the gap between private sector risk data and national threat intelligence narrows.