Two Members of the Hawalli Governorate Council Emphasize the Importance of Addressing Rising Cyber Threats to Smart Cities
Salalah, Sept 7 (KUNA) -- Two members of the Hawalli Municipal Council emphasized today, Monday, the importance of addressing escalating cyber risks targeting the infrastructure of smart cities, including water, energy, transport, and surveillance systems, stressing the need to establish appropriate institutional and legal frameworks to counter potential threats. This came during a scientific session titled “Cybersecurity of Smart Cities: From Technical Risks to Legal and Institutional Response,” presented by Dr. Faeq bin Salama and lawyer Hadeel Ma’arfi on the sidelines of the 64th Executive Council meeting and the 20th General Conference of the Arab Cities Organization, held in Salalah.
Bin Salama outlined technical risks and general cyber threats, while Ma’arfi addressed the legal aspects of the session, discussing national legislations and Arab and international frameworks for judicial cooperation in this field.
Speaking to KUNA about the importance of participating in this Arab forum, Bin Salama said it holds special significance as a genuine platform for unifying Arab perspectives on digital and urban transformation issues, and as an “opportunity” to highlight Kuwait’s experience in this file. She added that the presence of specialists and officials from municipalities, governorates, and cities across the Arab region enhances the building of partnerships in areas of innovation and urban sustainability.
Bin Salama expressed her hope that the General Conference of the Arab Cities Organization, scheduled for tomorrow, would yield practical and actionable recommendations, notably the adoption of unified Arab guideline frameworks for cybersecurity in smart cities and the strengthening of mechanisms for exchanging expertise and early warning systems among member cities.
Regarding the role of Kuwaiti governorates in urban development, she noted that council members in governorates play a pivotal role in monitoring infrastructure projects and local services, and in aligning them with modern trends in innovation and sustainability, thereby enhancing citizens’ quality of life and keeping pace with the “Kuwait 2035” vision.
For her part, Ma’arfi told KUNA that participation in this Arab forum stems from a commitment to keeping abreast of shared urban issues among Arab countries and exchanging developmental experiences and practices to serve the improvement of municipal and local services.
Within the context of the scientific paper, she called for the necessity of legal and institutional frameworks and a comprehensive package of legislations aimed at protecting digital infrastructure, ensuring privacy, and securing data flow, while respecting several key rights, most notably human rights. (End) M.J.B./N.S.A.
