UAE Faces Daily Cyberattack Threats: A Battle Plan

Increasingly Sophisticated Cyberattacks Threaten the UAE – How the Country Defends Against 200,000 Daily Attacks

Nearly 200,000 cyberattacks occur daily in the United Arab Emirates, with smart cities, government systems, and critical infrastructures as common targets. The risks posed by these attacks go beyond technical concerns, directly endangering the country's economic stability, national security, and the daily lives of its residents.

Artificial Intelligence: A Tool for Defense – and Attack

Artificial intelligence plays an increasingly significant role in cyber defense, yet attackers use the same tool to hack systems. AI-assisted attacks are more sophisticated, faster, and harder to detect than ever before.

As a result, UAE authorities work continuously – monitoring, analyzing, and blocking potential threats around the clock. The coordinated efforts of law enforcement agencies, digital security agencies, and professional partners are essential to prevent the tens of thousands of daily attacks from causing real-world damage.

The Weakest Link: The Human Factor

One of the most common forms of attack remains phishing, targeting the most vulnerable factor – humans. Attackers often use social engineering techniques to trick victims into providing sensitive information or opening malicious files.

Therefore, the UAE consistently launches cyber awareness campaigns, organizes trainings, and conducts practical simulations to better prepare the public and businesses. The goal is to treat the human factor not as vulnerability, but as the first line of defense.

National Cybersecurity Strategy: A Five-Year Plan for the Future

In early 2025, the UAE government officially adopted the National Cybersecurity Strategy, built on five main pillars. These aims to enable the safe and rapid introduction of innovations while ensuring a resilient, protected, and strong digital environment.

The key elements of the strategy include:

Protecting critical infrastructures,

Enhancing cyber awareness across all social layers,

Training and retraining, particularly for the younger generation,

Ethical and safe application of artificial intelligence,

Expanding international cooperation to address global threats.

The Key to the Future: Cooperation and Preparedness

The UAE combats cyberattacks not only with technological tools but through cultural change as well. Cooperation between the public, educational institutions, the private sector, and the state is vital. Conscious digital behavior and the safe use of modern technologies all contribute to the country's defense against rapidly evolving digital threats.

(Source based on UAE government’s statement.)