Abu Dhabi: Participants in the main session titled "Data and Drones: The Battle for Influence in the New Geotechnological Order", held on the second day of the third edition of Hili Forum, said artificial intelligence and digital technologies have become essential tools in strengthening national preparedness and enhancing countries' ability to address future challenges.

The participants stressed the importance of building integrated systems based on assessment, cooperation, information-sharing and interoperability, noting that the rapid advancement of technologies, particularly autonomous systems and artificial intelligence, requires stronger partnerships rather than reliance on individual national capabilities.

They also emphasised that the human element will remain central despite rapid technological development and highlighted the importance of empowering young people and preparing future generations to make effective and responsible use of emerging technologies.

National readiness

Participants praised the UAE's experience in building national readiness, noting that the country's achievements are the result of long-term planning and strategic decisions rather than short-term initiatives.

They said investments in sectors such as nuclear energy, ports and digital infrastructure have played a significant role in strengthening the UAE's resilience and ability to adapt to changing circumstances.

The speakers described the UAE's experience as a model of how countries can build national capabilities through sustained investment in infrastructure, technology and human capital.

Cyber security and innovation

Dr Mohamed Al Kuwaiti, Head of the UAE Cyber Security Council, said the discussions highlighted the importance of an integrated approach to cyber security and artificial intelligence, combined with the ability to adapt to rapidly evolving technologies.

He said the UAE has become a leading country in advanced technologies while maintaining a strong focus on the safe use of technology and the development of cyber security capabilities.

Al Kuwaiti also stressed the importance of cooperation between governments and the private sector in addressing misinformation and the misuse of social media platforms.

He said the UAE's cyber security strategy is built on governance, partnerships, innovation and sovereignty, adding that the protection of digital assets, the development of national capabilities and international cooperation remain key priorities.

He emphasised the importance of empowering young people and future generations to ensure the responsible use of technology and support the country's leadership in advanced technological fields.

Data and digital sovereignty

Al Kuwaiti said data has become one of the most important sources of power in the digital age and stressed that proper classification and management of data are essential for building effective national strategies.

He also highlighted the importance of the UAE's legal and regulatory frameworks governing data and encryption, saying they have helped support companies operating in the sector and enabled the development of secure and effective solutions.

He called for the adoption of cyber deterrence strategies alongside greater flexibility in responding to technological change, stressing that deeper investment in technology must be linked to clear objectives and adaptability.

AI and defence systems

Daniel Mouton, Vice President and Chief Executive Officer of Lockheed Martin Middle East, said artificial intelligence will play an increasingly important role in the development of defence systems as the boundaries between cyber, industrial and military domains become increasingly interconnected.

He noted that protecting critical infrastructure and defence capabilities from cyberattacks remains one of the key challenges facing countries today.

Mouton praised the UAE's experience, saying its advanced infrastructure had helped it withstand thousands of cyberattacks and highlighting the importance of strategic planning and preparedness.

He added that artificial intelligence can help transform large volumes of data into actionable information, supporting faster and more efficient decision-making.

Mouton stressed that dealing with security and technological challenges requires a collaborative approach and said diplomacy remains essential in determining the exchange and protection of information between countries.

He also emphasised that humans must remain central to military systems, noting that the purpose of artificial intelligence is to help people identify critical information and make more informed decisions.

Strategic independence

Talal Al Kaissi, Chief Executive Officer of Core42 and Acting Group Chief Global Affairs Officer at G42, said strategic independence remains a key priority for the UAE.

He noted that recent global challenges have demonstrated the close connection between national resilience and the strength of digital infrastructure.

Al Kaissi said submarine cables, data centres and artificial intelligence systems have become essential components of national security because of their role in supporting decision-making and ensuring continuity of operations.

He stressed that sovereignty in artificial intelligence cannot be separated from data and digital infrastructure and said countries must continue building capabilities that support their national interests.

At the same time, he noted that strategic independence does not mean self-isolation and emphasised the importance of technology partnerships and international collaboration.

Diplomacy and cooperation

Ambassador Yoo Jeh Seung, former Ambassador of the Republic of Korea to the UAE, said diplomacy can help create shared goals and common understanding between countries when there is a genuine commitment to cooperation.

He stressed the importance of establishing common standards and clear definitions when dealing with data and cyber security issues and said effective cooperation depends on trust and well-defined mechanisms for information exchange.

He added that diplomacy serves as an important safeguard in a world where artificial intelligence can process and transform information in seconds, requiring countries to develop more agile and effective mechanisms for cooperation.

Yoo also noted that cyber operations, artificial intelligence and drone-related technologies have become direct factors influencing modern decision-making and called for collective approaches to tackling emerging threats.

He concluded by stressing the importance of learning from international experiences while adapting solutions to each country's specific strategic and security requirements.