UAE Faces 800,000 Cyberattacks Daily Amidst Rising AI Threats

Around 800,000 cyberattacks are recorded daily across the United Arab Emirates, according to the UAE Cyber Security Council, as threats become more complex and increasingly driven by artificial intelligence. The figure marks a rise from an estimated 200,000 daily attempts prior to recent regional tensions, with both the frequency and sophistication of attacks increasing. Mohammed Al Kuwaiti, head of the council, said the threat landscape has shifted from isolated hacking attempts to coordinated, multi-layered attacks targeting institutions, systems and individuals. Authorities have identified hundreds of hostile actors, including 350 organised groups, 320 amateur hackers and 120 entities linked to malicious software. Monitoring efforts also include around 5,000 Telegram channels. The activity is reported to span approximately 20 countries and involve more than 40 organisations, including groups linked to Iran. Officials said the use of artificial intelligence has enabled attacks to scale more rapidly with less human involvement, contributing to increased risks across sectors. Financial scams and attempts to influence public opinion are among the methods observed. Authorities advised individuals and organisations to follow basic cybersecurity practices, including updating devices, changing default passwords and verifying applications and investment offers before use. The council said cyber threats remain ongoing regardless of broader conditions, with activity continuing during periods of relative stability.