The United Arab Emirates says it has foiled organized cyber attacks targeting critical infrastructure, highlighting rising digital threats in the Gulf region.
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| State media reports that the UAE has stopped coordinated cyber attacks involving ransomware and AI-powered phishing campaigns against key national platforms. Image: CH |
Abu Dhabi, United Arabic Emirates — February 22, 2026:
The United Arab Emirates has thwarted what officials described as organized cyber attacks targeting the country’s digital infrastructure and critical sectors, according to the state-run Emirates News Agency, signaling an escalation in the sophistication of threats facing Gulf states.
Authorities said the attacks included attempts to infiltrate government and national networks, deploy ransomware and conduct systematic phishing campaigns aimed at key platforms. The operations reportedly leveraged artificial intelligence technologies to enhance offensive tools, marking a shift toward more automated and adaptive cyber tactics.
No actor was publicly identified as responsible, a common practice in sensitive cyber incidents where attribution can be technically complex and geopolitically delicate.
The reference to AI-assisted attacks underscores how emerging technologies are reshaping the cybersecurity battlefield. AI can be used to automate vulnerability scanning, craft convincing phishing messages and adapt malware in real time to evade detection systems. For digitally advanced economies such as the UAE — which has invested heavily in smart cities, e-government services and AI research — the expanding attack surface presents both opportunity and risk.
The UAE has positioned itself as a regional technology hub, integrating digital systems across finance, energy, transportation and public services. This interconnectedness makes national platforms more efficient but also potentially more vulnerable to coordinated cyber campaigns.
The announcement comes amid heightened global concern over ransomware and state-linked cyber operations targeting critical infrastructure. While the UAE did not assign blame, analysts note that cyber intrusions in the Gulf often intersect with broader regional rivalries and international tensions.
By publicizing the thwarted attacks, Emirati authorities may be signaling both resilience and deterrence — reassuring domestic and foreign investors about the country’s digital defenses while warning potential adversaries of robust monitoring capabilities.
Though specific sectors were not named, “vital sectors” in the UAE typically include energy installations, aviation systems, financial networks and government services. Disruption in any of these areas could have regional economic repercussions given the country’s role as a logistics and financial gateway between East and West.
The use of ransomware — which encrypts systems until payment is made — and phishing campaigns suggests attackers sought both financial leverage and data exfiltration. In many recent global cases, such tactics have been combined to maximize pressure on victims.
The limited disclosure reflects the delicate balance governments strike between transparency and operational security. Detailed technical information about vulnerabilities or defensive responses can aid adversaries, yet markets often demand clarity when critical infrastructure is involved.
For the UAE, the episode highlights a broader reality: as nations race to adopt AI and digitize public life, cyber defense becomes inseparable from national security strategy. Whether these attacks were criminally motivated, politically driven or part of a larger coordinated campaign remains unclear — but their sophistication points to a rapidly evolving threat environment in which digital infrastructure is increasingly a frontline.