Dubai to launch SARAAB, region's first AI model to detect deepfake video

The Dubai Electronic Security Centre will soon launch SARAAB, the region's first artificial intelligence model built to detect deepfake videos. Khaleej Times reported that the tool scans video footage and uses a heat map to flag facial areas that have been digitally altered. DESC unveiled the project on the opening day of Gisec Global 2026.

What is SARAAB and how does it work?

SARAAB is an AI model developed by the Dubai Electronic Security Centre to identify deepfake videos. It analyzes footage using a heat map that highlights the exact facial features that have been manipulated. The model checks an entire video rather than isolated frames, so it can catch deepfake segments hidden within otherwise genuine clips.

Hassan Majid Alkhazraji, senior artificial intelligence executive at DESC, explained how the tool handles longer videos. "If it was a two-minute video, we would analyze it for the whole of two minutes. Maybe the last 30 seconds are deepfaked. So, that will also be analyzed as well with the model," he said.

When will SARAAB launch?

SARAAB is set to launch by the end of 2026. DESC says the model has a 91 per cent accuracy rate, placing it among the most accurate deepfake detection tools in the world. The center made the announcement during Gisec Global, a three-day cybersecurity exhibition running from September 16 to September 18 at the Dubai Exhibition Centre in Expo City.

Who developed SARAAB and why?

DESC built SARAAB over the past six months. Alkhazraji said the project was prompted by concerns from various government entities that malicious actors could use deepfakes to create fake advertisements. SARAAB will be deployed on Hugging Face, an open-source platform that allows users to view, modify, and enhance its source code. It is also the first AI model developed by a government entity anywhere in the Arab region.