Sara Al Hosani, Cyber Threat Intelligence Director, Department of Government Enablement, UAE

1) How do you use your role to ensure that technology and policy are truly inclusive?

In my role as Director of Cyber Threat Intelligence at the Department of Government Enablement in Abu Dhabi, I make sure that technology serves everyone, safely and fairly.

I focus on embedding cybersecurity and threat intelligence practices that protect all government entities and, by extension, every citizen who depends on digital services.

Inclusivity for me means ensuring that every system, from smart services to national platforms, is resilient and trustworthy, so no one is left vulnerable in the digital space. 

2) What’s a moment in your career when you saw firsthand how technology or a new policy changed a citizen’s life for the better?

By sharing a concise threat-intelligence report on emerging cyber threats, we enabled early detection and prevention.

Services remained uninterrupted, government assets were safeguarded, and citizens continued using digital platforms safely, clear proof that timely, intelligence-led collaboration benefits the public. 

3) What was the most impactful project you worked on this year, and how did you measure its success in building trust and serving the needs of the public?

Rolling out an AI-enabled threat-intelligence capability. We measured success through earlier detections, faster incident response, and fewer escalations affecting public-facing systems, translating into greater confidence that government assets and citizen services are continuously protected. 

4) What was one unexpected lesson you learned this year about designing for real people? This can be about a specific project or a broader lesson about your work.

I learned that even the most advanced technology must always communicate clearly with people. Transparency and simplicity build trust far more effectively than technical sophistication alone.

Whether it’s cyber advisory to the public or a technical report to leadership, the human element, clarity, empathy, and accountability, defines how well innovation serves its purpose. 

5) We hear a lot about AI. What's a practical example of how AI can be used to make government services more inclusive and trustworthy?

AI can act as an invisible guardian.

In cybersecurity, for example, it detects anomalies, prevents fraud, and anticipates risks before they occur, protecting government assets and citizens without requiring them to take any technical action.

In this sense, AI doesn’t just enhance efficiency; it makes digital trust inclusive by safeguarding everyone, from the most tech-savvy users to those less familiar with technology. 

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6) How are you preparing for the next wave of change in the public sector? What new skill, approach, or technology are you most excited to explore in the coming year?

I’m focusing on adopting agentic AI within Cyber Threat Intelligence, autonomous agents that can independently collect, enrich, and correlate threat data under human oversight.

These AI agents will enhance detection accuracy, automate analysis, and accelerate decision-making to better protect government assets and citizens.

By combining human judgment with AI-driven precision, we can anticipate and mitigate risks before they impact on essential public services. 

7) What advice do you have for public sector innovators who want to build a career focused on serving all citizens?

Never lose sight of the purpose behind the technology. Public sector innovation is not about complexity; it is about impact.

Build solutions that are secure, transparent, and empathetic to citizens’ needs.

And always collaborate, innovation thrives where people from different backgrounds come together to solve shared challenges.  

8) Who inspires you to build a more inclusive and trustworthy public sector?

I’m inspired by the women leaders across the UAE who are redefining what leadership in technology looks like, balancing innovation, integrity, and inclusion.

Their example motivates me to mentor and support more women in cybersecurity so that the next generation sees technology as a space where their voice matters. 

9) If you had an unlimited budget, what would your dream project be?

I would build a national Cyber Resilience and Awareness Center, combining AI-driven threat prediction with citizen education.

It would empower every resident to understand digital risks, access trusted resources, and participate in building a safer online ecosystem.

True resilience starts when cybersecurity becomes a shared responsibility. 

10) Outside tech, what excites you the most?

Mentoring young professionals brings me great joy; seeing them grow and succeed reminds me why public service is worth every challenge.