LAW ENFORCEMENT MEMBERS paid close attention to the briefing before heading to the Brinia Airport to examine the drone-crash site.

It was the second day of the ISALEX training exercise—a three-day event hosted in March by the UAE Ministry of Interior—where officials from the nine member countries of the International Security Alliance (ISA) stress-tested their ability to coordinate and respond to 21st century security threats. As part of the exercise, crisis-response teams, cybersecurity officials, and drone experts each tackled scenarios like drone threats and foiled ransomeware attacks.

There was just one twist: their training took place in the metaverse.