The UAE has seen a sharp rise in cyber threats in 2024, particularly ransomware attacks, with 34 reported incidents between January and November, up from 27 in all of 2023, according to Acronis Threat Research Unit data.
This increase reflects the nation's prominence globally, making it a prime target for cybercriminals aiming to exploit vulnerabilities in finance, telecommunications, government, and critical infrastructure sectors. Additionally, as per the same report, malware detections have also surged by 65.3%, jumping from 16.05% in 2023 to 26.52% in 2024.
In comparison to its regional peers, the UAE leads the Middle East in reported cyber incidents. For example, Saudi Arabia recorded 11 ransomware attacks in 2024 to date, Lebanon saw an increase from 2 to 7, Oman from 3 to 4, and Jordan experienced a decline from 3 to 1. This positions the UAE as the most affected in the region, facing a higher volume and more complex cyber threats than its neighbours.
With the cost of data breaches in the Middle East averaging $8.7m, financial organisations in the UAE are under growing pressure to fortify their cyber security measures to protect sensitive data and avoid significant financial and reputational damage.
UAE’s critical infrastructure sectors, including energy, oil, and gas, are also facing heightened risks. Experts predict that cyber attacks on industrial control systems and operational technology could severely disrupt production and lead to major financial losses.
“The growing use of smart city technologies and the expansion of IoT in the UAE are increasing the digital attack surface,” said Mr Ziad Nasr, general manager of Acronis Middle East. “As more devices and systems become interconnected, cyber criminals have greater opportunities to exploit vulnerabilities, potentially essential services.”
Phishing attacks are expected to evolve in 2025, with the integration of AI and deepfake technology enabling attackers to convincingly impersonate executives. This will create significant risks through Business Email Compromise (BEC) schemes and other social engineering tactics.
Acronis is a Swiss cyber security and data protection technology company with its corporate headquarters in Schaffhausen, Switzerland, and global headquarters in Singapore. It has 15 offices worldwide and employees in 50+ countries.