A surge in cyberattacks, physical strikes on cloud infrastructure and the growing use of AI by both attackers and defenders are forcing Gulf states to rethink how they protect critical digital infrastructure.
The importance of enhancing operational resilience across the Gulf has taken on new urgency since the outbreak of the U.S.-Iran war on February 28.
In the UAE alone, daily cyberattack attempts surged from roughly 200,000 to as many as 700,000 as geopolitical tensions flared over recent months. Last week, the UAE’s financial sector was targeted by a wave of sophisticated cyberattacks.
While they were successfully thwarted, the country’s Cyber Security Council noted that cybercriminals are increasingly using AI to develop more advanced techniques.
A report published last month by Help AG, the cybersecurity arm of UAE telecoms operator e&, highlighted how AI has emerged as a force multiplier, enabling attackers to accelerate reconnaissance and adapt techniques in real time.
