Fady Younes, Managing Director for Cybersecurity at Cisco Middle East, Africa, Türkiye, Romania and CIS, emphasised Cisco’s commitment to making AI secure, scalable, and practical, highlighting how the company empowers organisations to adopt AI responsibly while safeguarding data, infrastructure, and digital innovation across the region.
How long have you been associated with GITEX, and how do you see the event’s journey over the years?
I’ve been attending GITEX for around 24 years with Cisco, and close to 30 overall. It’s been fascinating to watch how much the event has evolved. GITEX has grown from a regional exhibition into one of the most influential global technology platforms. It’s no longer limited to Dubai or the UAE; it now extends internationally. Cisco has been part of GITEX Africa in Morocco and, most recently, in Nigeria.
Here in the UAE, we’ve been participating for more than two decades. GITEX has always been instrumental in helping us showcase our latest innovations, strengthen our partnerships, and engage closely with our customers. For Cisco, the event represents more than a technology showcase — it’s a reflection of how the region continues to lead in innovation, collaboration, and digital transformation.
At GITEX 2025, our theme is “Make AI Work for You.” It’s not just about showcasing new technology but about helping organisations embark on an AI journey that is practical, safe, and scalable. We want to ensure that AI is not just a buzzword, but something real, secure, and impactful for every business.
The Middle East seems to be advancing rapidly in AI. How ready are organisations in the region for this transformation?
The Middle East is one of the fastest adopters of AI globally. When I speak to my counterparts in Europe, they’re often surprised at how far ahead the region is in implementing AI-driven projects. Governments across the Gulf have been instrumental in this progress, driving policies that promote innovation, digital economies, and technology-led growth.
It’s a region that moves quickly, collaborates intelligently, and develops at scale. Cisco is proud to be supporting this transformation. Through partnerships with public and private sector organisations, we’re helping governments and enterprises translate their AI ambitions into tangible results that benefit their citizens and economies.
With AI adoption growing so fast, cybersecurity concerns must be rising too. How is Cisco addressing this challenge?
Absolutely. AI brings enormous benefits — from better customer experiences to improved productivity and competitiveness — but it also introduces new risks. Cyber attackers are now using AI to move faster and develop more sophisticated attacks. What once took months to execute can now be done in minutes.
That’s why Cisco is embedding AI directly into its cybersecurity architecture. We’re enabling what we call machine-scale defence, security systems that can predict, detect, and respond at the same speed as AI-driven attacks. At GITEX, we’re showcasing some of these solutions, including our Hybrid Mesh Firewall, Universal ZTNA, and AI Defence capabilities.
AI Defence is particularly critical because it focuses on protecting the AI models themselves. We help organisations secure their AI assets during both development and production, ensuring that they remain safe, trustworthy, and compliant. We’re not only leveraging AI for stronger cybersecurity — we’re also securing AI so that innovation can happen without fear.
Many organisations are eager to adopt AI but may not know where to start. What advice would you give them from a cybersecurity perspective?
My message is clear: don’t block AI — protect it. Some organisations, especially in sensitive sectors like finance and government, are hesitant to allow employees to use public large language models such as ChatGPT or Claude. Others are adopting them at full speed. Cisco’s role is to help them find the right balance.
We work with companies to monitor AI usage within their networks, ensuring there’s no data leakage or intellectual property exposure. At the same time, we protect the AI models that organisations are developing internally — making sure they’re secure before deployment. It’s about enabling innovation responsibly.
AI is like a high-performance car: powerful, but it needs strong brakes and a good navigation system. We don’t want to slow innovation down, but we do want to make sure it’s safe and controlled.
With so many AI solutions in the market, how can CIOs and CISOs identify what’s truly valuable?
The AI landscape is noisy, and every vendor claims their solution is the best. The reality is that AI must be tied to real, measurable outcomes. It’s not about following the latest trend but about solving genuine business challenges.
Across industries, we’re seeing impressive results. In manufacturing, AI is enabling predictive maintenance, reducing downtime and costs. In healthcare, AI helps doctors predict and diagnose conditions earlier, improving patient outcomes. In banking, it detects fraud in real time, safeguarding both institutions and customers. These are the kinds of outcomes that matter.
Our recommendation to CIOs and CISOs is to start with a clear AI strategy that defines business objectives and aligns with organisational needs. Successful adoption also requires investing in people — training teams to understand and manage AI responsibly. And, of course, a secure, scalable infrastructure is essential. That’s where Cisco comes in.
We’re not just providing technology; we’re guiding organisations through their AI journey. Through initiatives like the Cisco Networking Academy, which now includes AI and cybersecurity training, we’re building a digitally resilient workforce ready for the future.
Cisco’s success has always been closely tied to its channel ecosystem. How are you enabling your partners in this AI-driven world?
Our partners are at the heart of everything we do. Over 90 percent of Cisco’s business is transacted through partners, which shows how critical they are to our ecosystem. They’re our extension in the market, helping deliver value and innovation to customers across industries.
We continuously enable and train our partners to stay ahead of emerging technologies. The pace of innovation, especially in AI and cybersecurity, is incredibly fast — even we, within Cisco, must constantly adapt. Over the past few years, we’ve acquired more than ten companies to strengthen our portfolio, and we ensure our partners are always updated and ready to take these innovations to market.
On the services side, we follow a flexible model. Some customers prefer Cisco-led professional services, while others prefer to work through our partners. Depending on the engagement, services can be white-labeled or co-delivered. It’s a complementary relationship where we empower partners to scale, and they, in turn, empower our customers.
What message would you like to share about AI and its role in today’s digital landscape?
Our message is simple: AI is real, it’s transformative, and it’s here to stay — but it must be secure, responsible, and outcome-driven. At Cisco, we’re committed to helping organizations make AI work for them. We’re not just talking about AI; we’re making it practical, trustworthy, and ready for business.
We want to help customers build AI ecosystems that are innovative yet secure, scalable yet responsible. Whether it’s through our technology, our services, or our partnerships, Cisco’s mission remains the same — to make AI work securely for everyone.