Overview
The UAE Information Assurance Standard V2 (UAE IA V2) represents a significant update to the country's cybersecurity standard, published by the UAE Cyber Security Council. It reduces previous control overlaps, reorganizes controls into 15 families and 134 controls with 449 sub-controls, and aligns with seven National Cybersecurity Policies. New areas, such as post-quantum cryptography, threat intelligence, secure software development, and AI/ML security, address emerging threats and technologies. Key enhancements include modular risk-driven control architecture, explicit accountability assignments, and a prioritization model of 'Always Applicable' and 'Based on Risk' controls. The guideline harmonizes national and international standards, fostering better governance, continuous improvement, and simplified compliance across both government and critical infrastructure entities.