MBME Group and ZENDATA have announced a new joint venture to establish ZENDATA Cyber Defense, a cybersecurity firm created to deliver advanced protection services across the Middle East and selected international markets.
The new company will draw on MBME Group’s digital services infrastructure and strong regional presence, alongside ZENDATA’s experience in cyber operations, threat intelligence and incident response. MBME Group supports millions of users through its large digital payments and services network, while ZENDATA operates accredited Security Operations Centres across Europe, Singapore and the Middle East, delivering continuous monitoring and managed security services.
ZENDATA Cyber Defense will be based in Abu Dhabi and will serve clients across the GCC, the wider Middle East and global markets where demand for advanced cyber defence continues to grow.
Comprehensive cyber defence services
The joint venture will provide a broad set of cyber security services designed to strengthen resilience at organisational and national levels. These include a 24/7 Security Operations Centre delivered through a SOC-as-a-Code model, with tailored solutions for IT and OT environments.
Clients will also have access to threat intelligence services, dark web monitoring and proactive threat hunting. Global incident response, cyber crisis management and business continuity planning will form part of the service offering, alongside risk audits, penetration testing and compliance advisory.
The partnership combines MBME Group’s relationships with government and semi-government bodies with ZENDATA’s operational expertise, with the aim of building a trusted cybersecurity partner for large-scale digital initiatives.
Abdelhadi Mohamed, Managing Director and Group CEO of MBME Group, stated: “Cybersecurity has become a foundational requirement for digital economies. As MBME continues to scale advanced payment and digital services platforms across the UAE and the wider region, our partnership with ZENDATA integrates world-class cyber resilience into our growth strategy. ZENDATA Cyber Defense will empower governments, regulators, and enterprises to shift from reactive defense to proactive, intelligence-led protection.”
Isabelle Meyer, CEO and Co-Founder of ZENDATA, added: “Over the past years, we have seen a sharp rise in both the volume and sophistication of cyberattacks targeting critical infrastructure, financial services, and public services across EMEA. By joining forces with MBME Group, we are creating a cyber defense champion that is rooted in the region, backed by global expertise, and designed to operate at the scale of national digital transformation programs. ZENDATA Cyber Defense is the Cyber SWAT team of highly specialized engineers, combining years of experience.”
Building secure digital ecosystems
ZENDATA Cyber Defense aligns with government-led strategies that prioritise secure digital infrastructure, data sovereignty and protection of essential services. The joint venture aims to integrate security into digital platforms used for citizen services, financial systems and public sector operations.
Future plans include the development of an AI-powered, in-country Security Operations Centre compliant with UAE regulations and Central Bank standards. The company will also deliver sector-specific solutions for finance, energy, healthcare, logistics and smart cities, while working with regulators and industry partners to raise cyber resilience across the region.
