The Abu Dhabi Emergency, Crisis and Disaster Management Centre has issued a fresh cybersecurity warning, highlighting a sharp rise in digital threats during emergencies and periods of regional tension.
In its newly released Cybersecurity Awareness Guide During Crises, developed with the Department of Government Enablement, the Centre outlined six major cyber risks that become more prevalent during crisis situations. These include phishing scams, account breaches, malware, identity theft, fake social media accounts, AI-enabled fraud, deepfakes, and data leaks through untrusted websites.
The bilingual guide, published in Arabic and English under the second phase of the “Our Community is Ready” campaign, aims to improve public awareness and encourage safer digital behaviour during emergencies.
AI now central to cyberattacks
Dr. Mohammed Hamad Al Kuwaiti said artificial intelligence is no longer a supporting tool for cybercriminals but has become central to modern attack methods.
He stated that hostile actors, including Iran, have recently used AI platforms such as ChatGPT and other tools to support cyber operations targeting the UAE. According to him, AI is being used for reconnaissance, gathering intelligence, identifying vulnerabilities, improving phishing messages, developing malware, and creating misleading content for information warfare.
He said recent incidents reflect a major shift in cyber tactics, with AI making attacks faster, more convincing, cheaper to launch, and easier to scale.
Up to 700,000 attacks per day
Dr. Al Kuwaiti revealed that the UAE is currently dealing with between 500,000 and 700,000 cyberattack attempts daily, particularly against strategic sectors during periods of heightened pressure. He added that many of these attacks are linked to state-backed actors.
Compared with the period before February 28, authorities have seen a clear increase in both the volume and sophistication of threats, with greater use of AI and deepfake technology.
Common signs of fraud
The guide lists several warning signs citizens should watch for, including:
- Urgent requests for passwords or verification codes
- Suspicious links or unknown websites
- Unexpected money transfer requests
- Messages promising unrealistic rewards
- Login alerts from unfamiliar devices
- Unsolicited voice or video messages asking for sensitive information
- Messages written in an unusual or overly formal style
- Impersonation of official or trusted entities
Advice for individuals and businesses
Authorities urged the public to rely only on official sources, avoid spreading unverified information, and think carefully before responding to emotionally charged messages. People are also advised to verify audio and video content before sharing it and avoid panic-driven decisions.
Dr. Al Kuwaiti stressed that individuals remain the first line of defence. He encouraged users to enable multi-factor authentication, use strong unique passwords, regularly update devices and software, back up important data, and avoid unsecured public Wi-Fi.
He said: “The country does not wait for threats to act; it maintains continuous readiness to safeguard national infrastructure and services.”
He added: “The most important message is that in times of tension, your awareness must be faster than phishing, calmer than rumors, and more accurate than fabricated content.”
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