A New AI-Driven Cybersecurity Player Emerges in the UAE
Dubai-based cybersecurity startup Secure.com has raised $4.5 million in funding to launch its flagship AI-powered solution: Digital Security Teammates (DSTs)—autonomous agents designed to support and scale security operations teams overwhelmed by alerts, threats, and workload.
The investment round was led by regional venture builder Disrupt.com, known for backing high-growth global software ventures. For Secure.com, this injection of capital marks a pivotal moment as it positions itself as one of the region’s most ambitious AI-native cybersecurity platforms.
Solving a Global Cyber Crisis from the Heart of the UAE
Cybersecurity teams worldwide face unprecedented pressure. Global cybercrime damages are projected to reach $10.5 trillion, while talent shortages have left an estimated 4.8 million security roles unfilled. For companies in the Middle East, where the average cost of a data breach exceeds $7 million, the stakes are even higher.
Secure.com believes the traditional, human-only Security Operations Center (SOC) can no longer handle today’s volume and sophistication of attacks. Its solution: shift from “more tools” to intelligent AI teammates that directly reduce workload and extend the capabilities of lean security teams.
What Digital Security Teammates Actually Do
Instead of introducing another security dashboard, Secure.com’s DSTs plug directly into a company’s existing security ecosystem. These AI teammates autonomously:
- Investigate incoming alerts
- Triage and prioritise incidents
- Automate compliance and workflow tasks
- Escalate issues only when human oversight is required
Early performance indicators show significant improvements in efficiency, including up to 70% faster threat detectionand 75% faster triage workflows. DSTs also integrate with more than 200 existing tools, from SIEM platforms to endpoint protection systems.
CEO Uzair Gadit describes the product as “equivalent to an L1 analyst and security engineer combined—but at a fraction of the cost.” His vision is not to replace analysts, but to allow them to operate with far greater leverage and focus.
Dubai as the Strategic Launchpad
Launching out of Dubai gives Secure.com access to one of the world’s fastest-growing hubs for AI adoption, cloud infrastructure, and cybersecurity regulation. Government initiatives around digital transformation and AI leadership are accelerating demand for automated, cost-efficient security solutions.
Backed by regional investors and a rapidly maturing tech ecosystem, Secure.com is well positioned to scale across the Gulf and into global markets.
Who Secure.com Is Targeting
The company is initially focused on cloud-first, mid-sized organisations—businesses that face the same security threats as large enterprises but lack deep in-house security teams.
Early deployments are underway in sectors including:
- Finance
- Healthcare
- Technology
By framing DSTs as “teammates” rather than “tools,” Secure.com aims to deliver enterprise-grade protection without enterprise-level headcount.
What Comes Next: Signals to Watch
As Secure.com moves into commercial expansion, several questions will shape its trajectory:
- Proof of performance: Will long-term case studies demonstrate real reductions in breaches and operational costs?
- Scalability: Can DSTs maintain reliability in complex enterprise and regulated environments?
- Regulation & governance: How will the company navigate global compliance, explainability, and AI governance standards?
- Market response: Will competitors adopt the “AI teammate” model—and can Secure.com stay ahead?
The answers will determine whether the DST model becomes an industry standard or a niche innovation.
A Redefining Moment for AI-Enabled Cybersecurity
Secure.com’s arrival signals a broader shift in cybersecurity: from fragmented tools to integrated, AI-driven workforce augmentation. For companies drowning in alerts and suffering from chronic staffing shortages, AI teammates may become the next normal.
If the technology proves itself under real-world pressure, SOCs of the future may rely as much on digital teammates as on human analysts—and Dubai may well become a global proving ground for that transition.
Editor’s Note — The Startups MENA Team
At Startups MENA, we focus on the narratives that define how the Middle East builds its next-generation workforce and innovation economy. Secure.com’s launch is more than just a funding announcement—it reflects a region increasingly capable of producing globally competitive, AI-native deep tech companies.
By building cybersecurity innovation from the UAE and aiming outward toward global markets, Secure.com represents a shift in the region’s role: from technology adopter to technology creator.
As the UAE advances toward Vision 2030 and Centennial 2071, its focus extends beyond implementing digital tools. It is building the infrastructure, talent, and entrepreneurial foundation needed for a resilient, AI-powered economic future.
— The Startups MENA Editorial Team
