Circularo returns as Gold Sponsor for UAE cyber defense contest

Circularo is back as a Gold Sponsor of the School of Cyber Defence 2026, a UAE competition for university students that ends with a live final at GISEC Global on 18 September. The sponsorship underscores growing industry focus on hands-on cybersecurity training and talent development ahead of the region’s marquee security event.

Why it matters: - Circularo’s sponsorship puts a private-sector name behind a pipeline for future cybersecurity workers in the UAE. - The competition is built around practical defense skills, not theory alone, which can help students move closer to real security roles. - The program also links student talent development to GISEC Global, one of the region’s leading cybersecurity events.

What happened: - Circularo is returning as Gold Sponsor of the School of Cyber Defence Competition 2026. - The competition is held under the patronage of the Dubai Electronic Security Center and organized by TechFirm Technology LLC. - The national contest brings together university students from across the UAE. - The live final is set for 18 September 2026 at GISEC Global. - The five strongest finalist teams will present and defend their solutions before an expert jury.

The details: - The 2026 format includes teams of up to five university students. - Challenges cover network defence, threat management, system security and incident response. - The competition starts with an online qualification stage. - Teams then move to a case-study phase where they analyze a scenario, build a solution and submit it for independent expert evaluation. - The five strongest teams receive dedicated mentorship before the final. - The competition is open to university students aged 17 and above. - No previous competition experience is required. - Registration deadline is 3 September 2026. - Online qualification runs by 6 September 2026. - Case and jury review takes place 7–11 September 2026. - Finalists are announced and mentored on 14 September 2026. - The live final takes place on 18 September 2026 at Dubai Exhibition Centre, Expo City Dubai. - The prize pool is more than AED 20,000. - University students can register their teams through the official School of Cyber Defence website. - The inaugural edition at GISEC Global 2025 drew more than 300 applications from universities across the UAE. - That first competition included 130 students in three days of qualification rounds. - The 2026 edition adds a team-based format and a stronger focus on practical cybersecurity, artificial intelligence and emerging technologies.

Between the lines: - Circularo is framing the sponsorship as part of a broader social responsibility push tied to education, innovation and community-building. - Pavel Cernoch, Circularo’s co-founder and chief sales officer, said cybersecurity depends on skilled people who can respond when something goes wrong. - Cernoch also said the competition helps students learn from practitioners, work under pressure and explain their decisions in front of experts. - The emphasis on mentorship and live defense suggests the competition is designed to mirror real-world security work more closely than a standard student contest. - Circularo’s message also ties digital trust to human capability, not just software and controls.

What's next: - Students will go through registration, online qualification and case-review stages ahead of the September final. - The top teams will receive mentoring before presenting at GISEC Global. - The competition is likely to serve as a showcase for emerging UAE cybersecurity talent in front of industry leaders. - Circularo’s second straight year of sponsorship signals continued support for the program if the partnership remains successful.

The bottom line: - Circularo is using the School of Cyber Defence to back cybersecurity education where it matters most: hands-on training, mentorship and exposure to the region’s top security stage.