The United Arab Emirates recorded 640,000 cyberattacks in a single day amid the ongoing Iran conflict. UAE officials say the attacks targeted critical infrastructure and key economic sectors.
Dr. Mohamed Al Kuwaiti, head of the UAE Cybersecurity Council, disclosed the figure during an interview with CNN. He said attackers targeted energy, oil and gas, electricity, water, government systems and the financial sector.
Al Kuwaiti said many of the attacks were detected before they could cause major disruption. However, he warned that cyber threats can extend beyond temporary service outages. Attackers can also target sensitive data and critical digital systems.
The latest figure is below the UAE’s earlier peak of nearly 800,000 daily attacks. That level was recorded in April during heightened regional tensions. Before the conflict, the UAE typically faced around 200,000 to 300,000 attacks each day.
According to Al Kuwaiti, Iran remains one of the main players behind the attacks. He specifically identified Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps as being responsible for many of them. This attribution reflects the UAE’s assessment and has not been independently established in the cited reports.
The UAE has urged businesses and other organizations to remain alert as cyber activity continues. Security experts have also warned that attackers can remain inside compromised systems for long periods before taking action.
Artificial intelligence is adding another layer to the threat. Al Kuwaiti said AI has significantly accelerated cyberattacks and made them more sophisticated. The technology is being used in both offensive operations and defensive systems.
The UAE is also using AI to detect, defend against, and disrupt cyber threats. Officials say the country has strengthened its defenses as attacks continue against critical sectors.
The attacks are also not limited to traditional hacking methods. Recent campaigns have involved ransomware, supply-chain attacks, malware, phishing and attacks on connected devices. AI is increasingly being used across several of these attack types.
UAE officials have therefore called for stronger security checks, regular testing and continuous monitoring of critical systems. They have also stressed the importance of employee awareness, as human mistakes can provide attackers with an entry point.
With cyber activity remaining elevated during the regional conflict, UAE authorities are continuing to monitor threats across government, infrastructure and financial networks.
