The Maldives Police Service has inaugurated the country’s first-ever Cyber Security Operations Centre (CSOC), a dedicated facility designed to detect, prevent, and respond to cyber threats and crimes nationwide.

The establishment of the CSOC was made possible with the support of the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

The inauguration ceremony was attended by UAE Cyber Security Chief Mohamed Al Kuwaiti, Commissioner of Police Ismail Naveen, and Home Minister Ali Ihusaan.

Speaking at the event, Commissioner Naveen hailed the opening as a milestone for the police force, describing it as not just the opening of a facility, but the beginning of a new initiative to protect our country’s digital space.

He said the centre would serve as the nation’s “shield and watch tower” in cyberspace, actively working to identify, mitigate, and reduce cybercrimes.

Commissioner Naveen highlighted the evolving scope of national security, noting that safeguarding the nation now extends beyond physical policing to defending against threats in the digital realm.

He assured that the CSOC would bolster the country’s preparedness to counter any cyber threat.

Expressing gratitude to the UAE for its support, Naveen called the centre a testament to the strong ties between the two nations and also thanked Minister Ihusaan for his role in realising the project.

In conjunction with the CSOC launch, the foundation stone was laid for a modern data centre, also backed by the UAE Cyber Security Council. The facility aims to digitise police operations and strengthen law enforcement capabilities.

The inauguration comes amid a rise in digital crimes in the Maldives, including fraudulent extortion schemes and app hacking.

Authorities expect the CSOC to be instrumental in tackling these growing challenges.