UAE cybersecurity officials say attacks targeted energy, water, government and financial systems as regional tensions intensified.
DUBAI: The United Arab Emirates faced 640,000 cyberattacks in a single day amid heightened regional tensions, with attempts targeting critical infrastructure and key economic sectors, according to the country’s cybersecurity chief.
Dr. Mohamed Al Kuwaiti, chairman of the UAE Cybersecurity Council, said the attacks targeted energy, oil and gas, electricity, water, government systems and the financial sector. He said UAE security teams detected the activity proactively and worked to prevent attacks from disrupting critical services.
The latest figure came after a much higher peak earlier in the year. Al Kuwaiti said the UAE had recorded nearly 800,000 cyberattacks around April, compared with roughly 200,000 before the conflict, highlighting the sharp increase in digital threats during periods of geopolitical tension.
The attacks have extended beyond conventional hacking attempts, with authorities reporting threats involving ransomware, supply-chain attacks and malware aimed at critical infrastructure. Government systems and financial institutions have also been targeted, according to Al Kuwaiti.
UAE cybersecurity officials have urged businesses and government institutions to maintain heightened vigilance. Experts have warned that attackers can remain inside compromised systems for extended periods before exploiting access, making continuous monitoring and rapid detection important for organizations operating essential services.
Human error also remains a significant cybersecurity vulnerability. Al Kuwaiti said more than 85% of cyber threats begin with an incorrect or unintended click by an average user. He has stressed the importance of cybersecurity awareness as phishing, impersonation and other social-engineering techniques become increasingly sophisticated.
Al Kuwaiti has identified Iran as a major actor behind some of the recent cyber activity. He specifically said Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps was responsible for many of the attacks. That attribution reflects the assessment of UAE authorities and has also been reported by regional media; it should not be treated as an independently established attribution in every case.
Artificial intelligence is adding another layer to the threat. Al Kuwaiti said AI has accelerated cyberattacks and increased their sophistication, while the UAE is also using AI-based technologies to detect, defend against and disrupt malicious activity.
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