text: When the world’s finest cyber security specialists gather in Abu Dhabi this week for HITB+CyberWeek 2021, the next generation of UAE cyber talent will be strengthened once more. The event, inspired by the story of Youssef Awad and brought to you by DisruptAD, ADQ’s ventures platform, is a unique platform for future cyber warriors to demonstrate their capabilities and accelerate their travels into the cyber security field.
  “We won CBOE and couldn’t believe it was happening,” revealed Awad while discussing the inspiration behind CTF.ae.
  He added, “We were on a high and the next day, we competed at HITB PRO CTF – against the best cyber professionals in the world. We had gotten used to winning and believed it would be a walk in the park, but the next day the world’s best wiped us out. That’s when the reality set in – we still have a long way to go in the UAE.”
  Awad was a key member of the ‘ENIGMA’ team that won the epic Cyber Battle of the Emirates during HITB+CyberWeek 2019. (CBOE). CBOE 2019 was a training program and hacking competition for UAE high school and university students, with 50 of the UAE’s greatest future cyber talent competing in a ‘Capture the Flag’ (CTF) competition. After winning the UAE CBOE, the Enigma team moved on to play in the Pro Capture the Flag (PRO CTF) competition against the finest CTF teams in the world. It was a watershed moment for Awad, who saw how far UAE cyber talent had to go to compete with the best in the world.
  Fast forward two years, and Youssef is back at the tournament as the CTF master. ae – the platform he built to help newcomers kick-start their careers as cyber experts while also supporting the nation’s goal of creating a cyber-safe environment.
  “We turned a setback into a priceless opportunity, using the 2019 experience as motivation to create our own competitions, inspire others to become interested in cyber security, and help onboard future talent that our country needs,” he continued. “That’s when CTF.ae was born – because of that push to always be the best.”
  With HITB+CyberWeek 2021 taking place this week, the UAE’s current generation of ambitious talent now has the chance to replicate and re-create Awad and his teammates’ success in 2019. CTF.ae, Awad’s innovative platform, is organising a two-day educational CTF (November 24 and 25) for attendees to solve beginner-friendly tasks.
  “A ‘no limits’ mindset is part of the winning ability when it comes to cyber security. Itmeans being optimistic, embracing the challenge, and being agile enough to implement change and step up even in daunting situations,” said Awad. “What drives all of us is really wanting to learn how to solve challenges – and we will provide this knowledge. Whether it’s solving just one challenge, participants will gain as much as the person who solved all the challenges.”
  Awad, who will graduate from the University of Sharjah with a degree in Computer Engineering on the first day of the CTF.ae, is encouraging future cyber warriors to attend HITB+CyberWeek 2021.
  “Looking back, I can already see that the beginners we will teach at this year’s HITB+CyberWeek are not that far from us when we were in that same position only a couple of years ago,” he added. “We had the same reticence to take that important first step, but when we did, we loved it.”
  Dhillon Kannabhiran, Founder and Chief Executive Officer, HITB, added: “What makes this event so unique is that up-and-coming talent is always inspired to visit and learn before beginning to fulfill their potential as the cyber stars of tomorrow. Youssef’s story is one that already resonates with countless young people across the UAE, and his involvement with us will be invaluable for the talent we welcome this time around.”
  The Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre will host HITB+CyberWeek 2021 from November 21 to November 25. (ADNEC). DisruptAD, the ventures platform that strives to unite pioneering, creative, and entrepreneurial minds to displace the standard and expand internationally from Abu Dhabi, is bringing HITB+CyberWeek 2021. Visit https://cyberweek.ae/2021/ for more information and to register for HITB+Cyberweek.