Dubai’s Electronic Security Centre (DESC) has launched SARAAB, an open-source artificial intelligence model that detects deepfake videos. The agency unveiled it on September 16 at the opening day of GISEC Global 2026 in Dubai Exhibition Centre, Expo City Dubai.
An Emirati team at DESC built SARAAB entirely in-house. As a result, it marks the first deepfake detection model developed by a government entity in the Arab region. The tool scans videos frame by frame using heat maps on facial areas. These heat maps highlight synthetic layers and manipulation signs that remain invisible to the human eye.
Furthermore, SARAAB achieves up to 91% accuracy on tested datasets and 89% accuracy on previously unseen data. However, DESC clarified that performance varies based on video compression, editing techniques, image quality, and generation methods.
Additionally, the model can analyze videos as short as seven seconds. It also detects partial manipulations within longer footage. For example, it can flag a 30-second deepfake edit inside a two-minute video.
DESC plans to release SARAAB on developer platforms, including Hugging Face, by the end of 2026. The open-source release will allow AI engineers, cybersecurity specialists, and researchers to test and improve the model. In comparison, most existing open-source deepfake detectors require at least 15 seconds of video for effective analysis.
Amer Sharaf, DESC’s Cyber Security Systems and Services Sector CEO, warned that AI now accelerates established forms of cybercrime. Consequently, deepfake threats now include fake social media profiles, voice cloning, and convincing impersonation videos targeting public figures and relatives.
“The initiatives we are launching today embody this approach… AI is allowing attackers to speed up methods that previously required far more manual work,” he said.
Besides SARAAB, DESC also launched two other initiatives at GISEC Global 2026. The Dubai Cyber Skills Framework provides a unified reference for cybersecurity qualifications, certifications, and career progression. Meanwhile, the ISR Auditor Certification Programme trains professionals to assess compliance with Dubai’s Information Security Regulation.
Yousuf Hamad Al Shaibani, DESC CEO, emphasized Dubai’s goal of building homegrown cybersecurity solutions. He added that Dubai aims to develop tools and expertise with influence beyond its borders.
