United Arab Emirates — Cyber Threat Profile
The United Arab Emirates has established one of the Middle East's most advanced cybersecurity ecosystems, driven by smart city expansion, digital government services, and critical energy infrastructure protection. National cyber strategy emphasizes resilience across oil and gas, aviation, finance, and telecommunications sectors. The UAE faces persistent targeting from state-sponsored espionage actors and financially motivated cybercriminal groups seeking geopolitical and economic intelligence. Federal authorities coordinate national defense through centralized cyber governance frameworks, supported by international partnerships and private sector integration. Investments in AI-enabled security operations and workforce development continue to elevate the country's defensive maturity.- National CERT/CSIRT: aeCERT (UAE Computer Emergency Response Team)
- World Cybercrime Index 2024 (origin significance): 1.55 / 100, #24 worldwide
- Secure Internet servers per 1M people (2024): 4,192.3 (source: World Bank)
- Internet users (2024): 100.0% of population (source: World Bank)
Threat actors targeting United Arab Emirates
- Anonymous Sudan Hacktivist
- Mirage Kitten APT
- MuddyWater APT
- OilRig APT
- RansomHub Ransomware · 12 incident(s)
- Qilin Ransomware · 10 incident(s)
- INC Ransom Ransomware · 9 incident(s)
- DragonForce Ransomware · 7 incident(s)
- Stormous Hacktivist · 7 incident(s)
- LockBit Ransomware · 6 incident(s)
- Everest Ransomware · 5 incident(s)
- KillSec Ransomware · 5 incident(s)
- NightSpire Ransomware · 5 incident(s)
- APT73 Ransomware · 4 incident(s)
- FunkSec Ransomware · 4 incident(s)
- Medusa Ransomware Ransomware · 4 incident(s)
- Krybit Ransomware · 3 incident(s)
- Lynx Ransomware Ransomware · 3 incident(s)
- The Gentlemen Ransomware · 3 incident(s)
- Brain Cipher Ransomware · 2 incident(s)
- Coinbase Cartel Ransomware · 2 incident(s)
- Handala Hacktivist · 2 incident(s)
- MedusaLocker Ransomware · 2 incident(s)
- Akira Ransomware · 1 incident(s)
- Audit Team Ransomware · 1 incident(s)
- BlackNevas Ransomware · 1 incident(s)
- Cl0p Ransomware · 1 incident(s)
- Dire Wolf Ransomware · 1 incident(s)
- Global Secret Group Ransomware · 1 incident(s)
- Gunra Ransomware · 1 incident(s)
- Hunters International Ransomware · 1 incident(s)
- Lamashtu Ransomware · 1 incident(s)
- Lazarus Group APT · 1 incident(s)
- M3rx Ransomware · 1 incident(s)
- Meow Ransomware · 1 incident(s)
- Payload Ransomware · 1 incident(s)
- Rhysida Ransomware · 1 incident(s)
- SafePay Ransomware · 1 incident(s)
- Sarcoma Ransomware · 1 incident(s)
- Snatch Ransomware · 1 incident(s)
Most targeted sectors
- Business & Professional Services 24 incident(s)
- Technology 14 incident(s)
- Manufacturing 8 incident(s)
- Financial Services 7 incident(s)
- Government & Public Sector 7 incident(s)
- Healthcare 7 incident(s)
- Construction 6 incident(s)
- Energy & Utilities 6 incident(s)
- Transportation & Logistics 6 incident(s)
- Retail & Consumer 5 incident(s)
- Hospitality & Tourism 4 incident(s)
- Agriculture & Food 2 incident(s)
Recent claimed incidents
- SkyWorld Air Cargo 2026-10-19 · Transportation
- Amity University Dubai 2026-10-15 · Education
- Admirals Trading 2026-10-13 · Financial Services
- PMG Project Management Group 2026-10-09 · Professional Services
- UAE Pro League 2026-10-07 · Hospitality
- Flydubai 2026-10-06 · Transportation
- noonsugar.com 2026-09-29 · Retail & E-Commerce
- Abourametals 2026-09-12 · Manufacturing
- Ibn Sina Trust 2026-09-12 · Healthcare
- DiamondLease 2026-09-11 · Other
- ahadandco.com 2026-08-31 · Other
- A&E + SMA Design 2026-08-24 · Professional Services
- Wozair 2026-08-24 · Other
- MCT Group of Companies 2026-08-21 · Other
- nyklawfirm.com nyk.ae 2026-08-18 · Professional Services