GEMS Education’s Kausar Mukeri on Empowering the Next Generation.
The UAE’s digital transformation is revolutionizing various sectors – and education is no exception. As AI, cloud computing, and other advanced technologies become deeply integrated into student learning, the need to address the cybersecurity challenges these tools introduce becomes critical. Kausar Mukeri, Director of Technology at GEMS Education, underscores the importance of safeguarding students’ interactions with technology from the outset. “Our students are coding, building, and interacting with AI tools at an early age. We want them to innovate—but safely. That’s why cybersecurity is embedded into our learning platforms, infrastructure and culture,” Kausar said.
As digital transformation rapidly advances in the Middle East, education stands at the intersection of immense opportunity and growing cyber risk. The widespread adoption of digital tools and AI-powered platforms in the classroom offers exciting potential—but also introduces new threats. “The UAE is a global leader in adopting advanced technologies, but with that leadership comes increased exposure to cyber threats,” said Kausar. “We are not just protecting IT systems—we are safeguarding sensitive data across students, parents, and staff, including academic records and personal identifiers. What makes this even more critical is that children are now exposed to the digital world at a very young age, which increases their vulnerability to scams, data theft, cyberbullying and even extortion.”
Rather than resorting to restrictive controls, GEMS Education takes a balanced, proactive approach that focuses on education and empowerment. With young learners depending on open platforms to explore, build, and create, overly rigid limits would stifle innovation. GEMS instead equips students with the tools and awareness to navigate the digital landscape responsibly. A recent example of this approach was the viral Ghibli AI image trend. Kausar’s team quickly recognized not just its popularity, but the data privacy concerns it raised. “It’s the perfect example of how fast things move in the digital world. Something fun can become a major risk without the right awareness. That’s why awareness is key—for students, and just as importantly, for parents,” he explained. To reinforce this mindset, GEMS runs an annual Cybersecurity Awareness Day, delivering age-specific sessions across grade levels. This is supported by ongoing campaigns throughout the year, including videos, social media content, and direct email communication to parents—creating a culture of cybersecurity that extends from the classroom to the home.
Kausar notes that many educational institutions in the UAE are voluntarily aligning with international data protection standards such as the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and the UAE’s Personal Data Protection Law (PDPL). These proactive measures demonstrate the sector’s commitment to trust and information security. “There’s a growing realization that cybersecurity and data protection aren’t just compliance requirements—they’re foundational to building and maintaining trust among students, parents, and educators,” he said. “Our responsibility goes beyond classroom walls. It extends into the digital experiences that shape our students’ daily lives.” Looking to the future, Kausar believes the continued integration of AI, machine learning, and cloud computing will reshape education, but also raise the stakes for cybersecurity.
“Cybersecurity is an ongoing commitment—one that requires continuous adaptation to the evolving digital threats our students face,” he said. “As we innovate, we must also build the frameworks that protect that innovation.” As the UAE accelerates toward a digital-first future, the education sector stands at a pivotal moment—where innovation must be matched by accountability. With students engaging with technology from an early age, creating secure, resilient digital learning environments has never been more urgent. Cyber resilience in education will require a collective effort—not only from public and private sectors, but from educators, students, and families working together. Through this shared responsibility, we can safeguard personal data, nurture digital trust, and protect the future of learning.
