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Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates / Geneva, Switzerland — MBME Group, a UAE-based technology and digital services provider, and ZENDATA, an international cybersecurity specialist, have announced the formation of a joint venture, ZENDATA Cyber Defense, aimed at enhancing cybersecurity capabilities across the Middle East and key international markets.

Formalised through a joint venture agreement signed on December 11, 2025, the new entity will deliver advanced, end-to-end cyber defense solutions designed to protect governments, critical infrastructure operators, and enterprises from increasingly complex cyber threats. ZENDATA Cyber Defense will be headquartered in Abu Dhabi, with a mandate covering the GCC, the wider Middle East and select global markets.

The partnership brings together MBME Group’s large-scale fintech and digital services infrastructure with ZENDATA’s global cybersecurity expertise, including security operations, threat intelligence and incident response. MBME Group operates one of the UAE’s largest integrated digital services platforms, serving millions of users through thousands of smart touchpoints. ZENDATA is a DESC- and CREST-accredited cybersecurity firm with global Security Operations Centers (SOCs) and an established presence across Europe, Singapore and the Middle East.

A comprehensive cyber defense offering

ZENDATA Cyber Defense aims to set a new benchmark for cyber resilience in the region by offering a full spectrum of cybersecurity services, including 24/7 SOC operations through a SOC-as-a-Code model, global incident response and cyber crisis management, threat intelligence and dark web monitoring, risk audits and penetration testing across IT and OT environments, and advisory services covering security architecture, governance and regulatory compliance.

The joint venture will also focus on delivering sector-specific solutions for finance, energy, logistics, healthcare and smart cities, while supporting national digital transformation initiatives that prioritise data sovereignty and critical infrastructure protection.

Leadership perspectives

Abdelhadi Mohamed, Managing Director and Group CEO of MBME Group, said the partnership reflects the growing importance of cybersecurity as a core pillar of digital economies. He noted that integrating ZENDATA’s cyber defense capabilities into MBME’s expanding digital platforms will enable governments and enterprises to move from reactive security models to proactive, intelligence-led protection.

Isabelle Meyer, CEO and Co-Founder of ZENDATA, highlighted the rising scale and sophistication of cyberattacks across EMEA, particularly against financial services, public services and critical infrastructure. She said the joint venture creates a regionally rooted cyber defense leader backed by global expertise and capable of operating at the scale required by national digital transformation programmes.

Supporting secure digital transformation

Aligned with regional priorities for secure digitalisation, ZENDATA Cyber Defense plans to embed cybersecurity by design into digital platforms, including e-government services and large-scale financial ecosystems. Key initiatives include the development of an in-country, AI-powered SOC compliant with UAE legislation and Central Bank requirements, as well as collaboration with regulators, law enforcement agencies and industry bodies to strengthen overall cyber maturity across the region.

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