Quick Answer: eShield IT Services provides certified VAPT (Vulnerability Assessment and Penetration Testing) services in Dubai and across UAE — covering web applications, networks, mobile apps, cloud environments, and APIs. Our OSCP-certified testers follow OWASP and PTES methodology, deliver CVSS-rated reports mapped to NESA IAS and PCI DSS requirements, and include a complimentary retest of all critical findings. VAPT pricing starts from AED 7,000 for a web application assessment.
VAPT Services in Dubai & UAE — Vulnerability Assessment & Penetration Testing
eShield IT Services is a specialist VAPT company in Dubai delivering certified Vulnerability Assessment and Penetration Testing across web applications, mobile apps, network infrastructure, cloud environments, and APIs. With DA 54 and a team holding OSCP, CEH, and CISSP certifications, we are among the highest-credentialed VAPT providers in the UAE — serving BFSI, healthcare, government contractors, fintech, and enterprise clients across Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Sharjah, and the wider GCC.
UAE regulatory frameworks including NESA IA Standards, DFSA Technology Risk requirements, PCI DSS, and the Central Bank of UAE cybersecurity guidelines all mandate regular security assessments. Our VAPT reports are structured to map directly to these frameworks — making compliance documentation straightforward.
What Is VAPT and Why Does Your UAE Business Need It?
VAPT combines two complementary security testing processes:
- Vulnerability Assessment (VA): Systematic scanning and cataloguing of security weaknesses across your systems — giving breadth of coverage across your entire attack surface.
- Penetration Testing (PT): Manual exploitation of discovered vulnerabilities by certified ethical hackers to confirm real-world impact — giving depth by proving what is actually exploitable.
Together, VAPT answers the two most important security questions: what weaknesses do we have? and how much damage could an attacker actually cause? Without both, you are either missing vulnerabilities (VA only) or not prioritising correctly (PT only).
VAPT Services We Offer in UAE
Web Application VAPT
Manual and automated testing of web applications against OWASP Top 10 — SQL injection, XSS, broken authentication, insecure APIs, IDOR, SSRF, and business logic flaws. Covers authenticated and unauthenticated testing across all user roles. Essential for UAE e-commerce, fintech, SaaS, and portal applications handling sensitive data under UAE PDPL.
Tools used: Burp Suite Pro, OWASP ZAP, Nikto, SQLMap, custom scripts
Cost: AED 7,000 – 25,000 | Duration: 3–7 days
Network Penetration Testing
External and internal network penetration testing of firewalls, routers, switches, VPNs, Active Directory, and servers. Identifies misconfigured services, unpatched CVEs, weak credentials, and lateral movement paths that an attacker could use to move from a perimeter breach to your crown-jewel systems.
Tools used: Nmap, Nessus, Metasploit, BloodHound, CrackMapExec
Cost: AED 15,000 – 60,000 | Duration: 5–10 days
Mobile Application VAPT (iOS & Android)
Static and dynamic analysis of iOS and Android apps against OWASP Mobile Top 10 — insecure data storage, improper authentication, insufficient cryptography, insecure communication, and client-side injection. Critical for UAE fintech, healthcare, and retail apps under UAE PDPL and CBUAE regulations.
Tools used: MobSF, Frida, Objection, Burp Suite, APKTool
Cost: AED 10,000 – 35,000 | Duration: 5–8 days
Cloud Security VAPT (AWS / Azure / GCP)
Configuration assessment and penetration testing of cloud environments — IAM misconfiguration, exposed storage buckets, insecure serverless functions, container security, and privilege escalation paths. Mapped to CIS Benchmarks and NESA cloud security requirements.
Cost: AED 18,000 – 70,000 | Duration: 5–10 days
API Security Testing
REST and GraphQL API testing for OWASP API Top 10 — broken object-level authorisation (BOLA), excessive data exposure, lack of rate limiting, mass assignment, and improper authentication. APIs are now the #1 attack vector for UAE digital businesses.
Cost: AED 8,000 – 22,000 | Duration: 3–5 days
OT / SCADA Security Assessment
Specialised security assessment for Operational Technology (OT), Industrial Control Systems (ICS), and SCADA environments — critical for UAE energy, utilities, and industrial sectors subject to NESA Critical Information Infrastructure requirements.
Testing Approaches — Black Box, Grey Box, White Box
| Approach | What the Tester Knows | Best For | Closest Simulates |
|---|---|---|---|
| Black Box | Nothing — public information only | External attacker simulation, pre-launch testing | Real external attacker |
| Grey Box | Some access — credentials, architecture docs | Most web app & network VAPT engagements | Compromised insider / phished employee |
| White Box | Full access — source code, network diagrams | Code review + VAPT, compliance assessments | Malicious insider with full access |
Most UAE VAPT engagements use a grey box approach — it delivers the best balance of realism and efficiency, covering more ground in less time than pure black box while exposing deeper issues than a surface-level external test.
Our VAPT Methodology
- Scoping & Authorisation: Define test boundaries, excluded systems, testing windows. Signed authorisation document — legally compliant with UAE Federal Decree-Law No. 34 of 2021.
- Reconnaissance: OSINT gathering on your organisation — exposed assets, technology stack, email addresses, publicly known vulnerabilities.
- Vulnerability Scanning: Automated scanning using Nessus, Burp Suite Pro, and OpenVAS to build a comprehensive vulnerability inventory.
- Manual Exploitation: Certified testers manually confirm and exploit vulnerabilities — going beyond what automated tools detect. Business logic flaws, chained vulnerabilities, and privilege escalation paths discovered here.
- Post-Exploitation: Simulate lateral movement, privilege escalation, and data exfiltration to demonstrate the full attack chain impact.
- CVSS-Rated Report: Findings with CVSS v3.1 scores, exploitation evidence, business impact, and prioritised remediation roadmap. Mapped to NESA IAS, PCI DSS, or ISO 27001 as required.
- Debrief & Free Retest: Technical walkthrough with your team + complimentary retest of all critical and high findings after remediation.
VAPT Pricing in Dubai & UAE 2026
| Service | Scope | Cost (AED) | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|
| Web App VAPT | 1 app, authenticated + unauthenticated | 7,000 – 25,000 | 3–7 days |
| API Security Testing | REST/GraphQL API | 8,000 – 22,000 | 3–5 days |
| Mobile App VAPT | iOS or Android, static + dynamic | 10,000 – 35,000 | 5–8 days |
| Network Penetration Test | External + internal network | 15,000 – 60,000 | 5–10 days |
| Cloud Security VAPT | AWS/Azure/GCP environment | 18,000 – 70,000 | 5–10 days |
| Enterprise Full-Scope VAPT | Web + Network + Mobile + Cloud | 50,000 – 200,000+ | 2–4 weeks |
Why VAPT Is Mandatory for UAE Businesses
- NESA IAS: Mandates periodic vulnerability assessments and penetration testing for all UAE Critical Information Infrastructure operators.
- PCI DSS: Requires annual penetration testing and quarterly vulnerability scanning for all entities storing, processing, or transmitting payment card data.
- DFSA TRM: DIFC-regulated financial firms must maintain robust security testing programmes as part of Technology Risk Management obligations.
- CBUAE Cybersecurity Regulations: UAE banks and financial institutions must conduct regular security assessments of systems handling customer data and financial transactions.
- Cyber Insurance: UAE insurers increasingly require evidence of recent VAPT before issuing or renewing cyber liability policies.
Frequently Asked Questions — VAPT in Dubai & UAE
What does VAPT stand for?
VAPT stands for Vulnerability Assessment and Penetration Testing. It combines systematic vulnerability scanning (finding weaknesses) with manual penetration testing (proving those weaknesses are exploitable). Together, VAPT provides a complete picture of your security posture — breadth from the assessment, depth from the penetration test.
How long does VAPT take in Dubai?
A basic web application VAPT takes 3–5 days of testing plus 2–3 days for report writing. A comprehensive enterprise VAPT covering web, network, and mobile typically takes 2–4 weeks. eShield provides fixed timelines in the scope agreement so you can plan around testing windows and compliance deadlines.
What certifications should a VAPT company in UAE have?
Tester-level certifications: OSCP (Offensive Security Certified Professional), CEH (Certified Ethical Hacker), GPEN (GIAC Penetration Tester), or CREST CRT. Company-level: ISO 27001 certification of the firm’s own operations indicates operational security maturity. eShield’s VAPT team holds OSCP, CEH, and CISSP credentials.
Is VAPT legal in the UAE?
Yes — VAPT is fully legal in the UAE when conducted with written authorisation from the system owner. Unauthorised testing violates UAE Federal Decree-Law No. 34 of 2021 on cybercrime. eShield provides a scope authorisation document for every engagement before any testing commences, ensuring full legal compliance.
What is the difference between black box and grey box VAPT?
Black box VAPT simulates a real external attacker — the tester has no prior knowledge of your systems and works only from publicly available information. Grey box VAPT gives the tester partial knowledge (credentials, architecture diagrams) — simulating a phished employee or compromised insider. Most UAE VAPT engagements use grey box as it provides better ROI: more vulnerabilities found in less time than pure black box.
How often should UAE companies do VAPT?
Best practice and most UAE compliance frameworks require VAPT at minimum annually, plus after significant changes — new application launches, cloud migrations, major infrastructure changes, or mergers. PCI DSS requires annual penetration tests and quarterly vulnerability scans as mandatory controls. NESA IAS requires periodic assessments without specifying exact frequency, but annual is the standard interpretation.
What does a VAPT report include?
A professional VAPT report from eShield includes: an executive summary for management (non-technical), CVSS v3.1-scored technical findings with exploitation evidence (screenshots, payloads), business impact assessment for each finding, prioritised remediation roadmap, and compliance mapping to relevant frameworks (NESA IAS, PCI DSS, ISO 27001). We also hold a debrief call with your technical team to walk through the findings before the report is finalised.
Get a VAPT quote for your UAE business today
Call +971-585-778-145 | [email protected] | Request a free scoping call
