Integrating Micro-Credentials into Undergraduate Programmes: Employer, Educator, and Student Perspectives in the UAE

Abstract

This study examines the changing role of cybersecurity leadership in artificial intelligence (AI)-enhanced risk management within the United Arab Emirates (UAE) banking sector. Using a quantitative, cross-sectional survey of 200 professionals from banks and related institutions, the research investigates how regulatory pressure, governance practices, and leadership competence influence the adoption of AI in risk management. Descriptive, reliability, and factor analyses confirm the validity of five constructs: Regulatory Pressure and Compliance (RPC), Cybersecurity Governance Practices (CGP), Leadership Competence in AI Cyber Risk (LCR), Changing Role of Cybersecurity Leadership (CRCL), and AI Adoption in Risk Management (AIRM). The regression results show that governance (β = 0.351, p < 0.001), regulation (β = 0.229, p < 0.001), and leadership competence (β = 0.239, p = 0.001) significantly predict AI adoption, jointly explaining 51.4 per cent of the variance. Although the evolving leadership role (CRCL) shows no direct significance, it indirectly supports governance and competence development. The findings reveal that effective AI risk management in the UAE banking sector depends on governance maturity, regulatory foresight, and AI-literate leadership. The study contributes to cyber governance theory by presenting the governance–competence–regulation triad as a model for responsible and ethical AI integration in highly regulated financial environments. Keywords: cybersecurity leadership, artificial intelligence governance, risk management, UAE banking sector