UAE Reports 500,000 to 700,000 Daily Cyberattacks Linked to Iran-Backed Hackers
The United Arab Emirates is facing a sustained surge in cyberattacks using artificial intelligence tools and deepfakes, according to a warning issued by Abu Dhabi's Emergency, Crisis and Disaster Management Center. State-sponsored hackers associated with Iran are conducting the attacks across critical infrastructure in the Gulf region.
The UAE encounters between 500,000 and 700,000 cyberattack attempts daily, the center said in its "Cybersecurity Awareness Guide During Crises." Phishing incidents alone rose 32% in the first quarter of 2026.
How AI is Being Weaponized
Attackers are deploying generative AI and LLM tools like ChatGPT for reconnaissance, vulnerability identification, and crafting sophisticated phishing emails. The same technology generates deepfakes-synthetic audio and video-to spread false information and trigger public panic.
A network of over 40 proxy organizations and sympathizers operates on behalf of Iran to conduct these activities, according to the guidance.
Experts documented a 340% increase in AI-driven cyber breaches across the region in the six months before May 2026.
What Operations Teams Need to Know
The UAE Cybersecurity Council activated its National Cyber Security Operations Center and deployed AI-based defense systems. The government released a bilingual public guide identifying common attack patterns.
For operations staff, the guidance recommends:
- Enable multi-factor authentication on all accounts
- Verify urgent requests for data through official channels before responding
- Watch for unfamiliar login alerts and unsolicited messages requesting sensitive information
- Use official news sources to verify information, especially during crises
- Avoid clicking links in unexpected messages
Spreading misleading AI-generated material carries legal consequences in the UAE: imprisonment, fines, and deportation for expatriate workers.
Operations professionals managing infrastructure in the region should review their AI learning path for cybersecurity analysts to understand both attack methods and detection strategies.
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