Cyberattacks strike UAE warns

Defence affairs - Ali Al hammadi reports

The UAE Government’s Cybersecurity Council has warned that cyber threats are escalating rapidly worldwide, driven by automation and artificial intelligence, underscoring the importance of staying informed and strengthening cyber awareness to reduce risks and protect digital lives.

In a statement posted on its official social media accounts, the Council said cybercrime is rising at an alarming pace, with a cyberattack occurring every 39 seconds, reflecting the accelerating frequency of attacks globally. It added that estimates indicate global cybercrime costs will reach around $11.9 trillion in 2026, and could rise to $19.7 trillion by 2030.

The Council stressed that cybercrime is evolving rapidly through more sophisticated and intelligent attacks, calling for enhanced digital awareness as a fundamental line of defense, and urging individuals and organizations alike to remain vigilant and protected in cyberspace.

The UAE Government’s Cybersecurity Council announced significant progress in the country’s readiness for the post-quantum era, highlighting the expansion of cooperation with QuantumGate, the national platform supported by the Advanced Technology Research Council and specializing in quantum-resilient cybersecurity.

The Council and QuantumGate will work together to strengthen national readiness by accelerating the UAE’s transition towards secure cybersecurity in the age of quantum technologies. Their joint efforts will focus on enhancing the country’s ability to anticipate and mitigate risks before quantum decryption capabilities emerge, strengthening preparedness in priority sectors, and taking early, systematic steps towards large-scale migration of cryptographic systems.

 With this shift from strategy to coordinated national implementation, the UAE stands among the first countries globally to activate a comprehensive post-quantum strategy.

The next phase of cooperation will translate the national strategy into practical, system-wide readiness through three core programs:

The National Information Assurance Program, to enhance baseline security requirements and improve resilience across public and private sector entities.

The National Cybersecurity Index Platform, to strengthen nationwide measurement, monitoring, and assessment capabilities