• About Us
  • Advertising
  • Digital Magazine
  • Supplements
  • Media Pack
  • Privacy Policy
  • Contact us
CXO Insight Middle East
  • News
  • Opinion
  • Business
    • Industries
      • Transport
      • Retail
      • Government
      • Real Estate
      • Education
      • Energy
      • Banking and Finance
    • Channel
  • Future
    • Tech
    • Gadgets
    • Science
    • Space
    • Sustainability
  • Events
    • Channel Insights Summit 2025
    • Insight Innovation Summit
    • CXO50 Oman
    • CXO50
    • ICT Awards
      • Dubai 2025
      • Saudi Arabia
    • Cyber Strategists Summit
    • Cloud Connect 2025
    • Channel Awards 2024
    • All events
  • GITEX
  • Digital Magazine
No Result
View All Result
CXO Insight Middle East
  • News
  • Opinion
  • Business
    • Industries
      • Transport
      • Retail
      • Government
      • Real Estate
      • Education
      • Energy
      • Banking and Finance
    • Channel
  • Future
    • Tech
    • Gadgets
    • Science
    • Space
    • Sustainability
  • Events
    • Channel Insights Summit 2025
    • Insight Innovation Summit
    • CXO50 Oman
    • CXO50
    • ICT Awards
      • Dubai 2025
      • Saudi Arabia
    • Cyber Strategists Summit
    • Cloud Connect 2025
    • Channel Awards 2024
    • All events
  • GITEX
  • Digital Magazine
No Result
View All Result
CXO Insight Middle East
No Result
View All Result

Unveiling the key threats facing the Middle East’s hospitality and leisure sector in 2025

by CXO Staff
February 27, 2025
in Opinions

Ram Narayanan, Country Manager, Check Point Software Technologies, Middle East, explores the evolving cyber threats facing the UAE’s hospitality sector and the urgent need for proactive defence strategies

Unveiling the key threats facing the Middle East’s hospitality and leisure sector in 2025

The Middle East’s hospitality and leisure sector is experiencing rapid growth, accompanied by a surge in cyber security challenges. As organisations continue their digital transformation, the hospitality sector in particular, is becoming a prime target for cyberattacks. From major data breaches to sophisticated malware campaigns, businesses in the UAE and across the region need to strengthen their defences to protect sensitive customer data and maintain trust.

Ram Narayanan, Country Manager at Check Point Software Technologies, Middle East
Ram Narayanan, Country Manager at Check Point Software Technologies, Middle East

A rising tide of cyberattacks

In the past six months, organisations in the Middle East have faced an average of 2,215 cyberattacks per week, significantly higher than the 1,682 attacks per week observed across Europe, the Middle East, and Africa (EMEA). The UAE, along with Turkey and Saudi Arabia, continues to be a major target for cybercriminals due to its extensive adoption of digital technologies and the presence of international enterprises, making it an attractive target for threat actors exploiting vulnerabilities.

Among the prevalent malware affecting the region are FakeUpdates, Androxgh0st, and Formbook, often infiltrating systems through phishing emails and social engineering tactics. Notably, 77 per cent of malicious files in the Middle East were delivered via email in the past 30 days, highlighting the persistent threat posed by phishing campaigns.

The evolving cyber security threat landscape

The threat landscape in the region is growing increasingly complex. Nation-state actors now employ AI-driven strategies, including disinformation campaigns and disruptive malware, to destabilise digital infrastructures. While these attacks may not immediately cause widespread damage, they pave the way for future exploits targeting emerging vulnerabilities.

Ransomware poses another significant threat, with criminals shifting from encrypting data to extorting it through data leaks. The healthcare and hospitality sectors, handling substantial amounts of personal data, are prime targets for these increasingly targeted attacks.

Infostealers: The silent threat

Infostealers have seen a 58 per cent increase in attacks globally in 2024, particularly targeting sensitive corporate credentials and tokens, focusing on Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) environments. As UAE companies adopt flexible work environments, attackers increasingly exploit these vulnerabilities to gain initial access and exfiltrate valuable data.

The surge in infostealer attacks means businesses must be vigilant, with businesses urged to deploy advanced monitoring and detection systems to identify suspicious activities early and mitigate the risk of data breaches.

Cyberattacks in the UAE hospitality sector

The UAE’s hospitality industry faces these emerging threats. In January 2025, a significant breach was reported involving a hotel management platform which suffered a data breach that exposed guest information. The breach resulted in the theft of nearly eight terabytes of data, including sensitive personal details from major hotel chains. This incident underscores the vulnerability of the hospitality sector in the UAE, which is increasingly reliant on cloud-based systems for guest data management and reservations.

Additionally, the rise of CopyRh(ight)adamantys phishing campaigns, employing Rhadamanthys stealer malware, has impacted UAE entertainment and hospitality sector. These campaigns impersonate various companies to steal credentials, posing substantial risks to businesses reliant on online transactions and customer data.

Securing the future: What UAE organisations can do

As cyber threats escalate in sophistication, UAE hospitality organisations must take immediate action to enhance their cybersecurity posture. Key actions include:

  1. Employee awareness and training – Implement regular cyber security training to empower employees in identifying phishing attempts and other social engineering tactics.
  2. Advanced threat detection – Utilise AI-powered security tools for faster threat detection and response, minimising the impact of attacks.
  3. Cloud security and configuration management – Strengthen cloud security practices to mitigate risks associated with misconfigurations and poor API security in hybrid environments.
  4. Incident response and recovery – Develop comprehensive incident response plans to minimise downtime and restore operations swiftly after a cyberattack, preventing client trust.
  5. Regular vulnerability scanning – Conduct routine audits to identify and patch vulnerabilities in edge devices and systems proactively.

As the UAE’s hospitality sector expands, it faces increasing cyber threats that demand proactive defence strategies. By investing in robust cyber security measures, prioritising employee training, and leveraging advanced technologies, businesses can safeguard their digital infrastructure and protect clients data in an increasingly hostile digital landscape.

Tags: hospitalityleisureRam Narayananthreats
ShareTweet

Related Posts

Channel Vision Strategy: Empowering cyber resilience
Opinions

What most businesses get wrong about data security

In today's AI-driven world, vast amounts of data are generated daily across industries like finance, e-commerce, healthcare, and government services....

June 11, 2025
Why private cloud matters
Opinions

Why private cloud matters

As digital transformation accelerates across industries, private cloud has become a vital infrastructure model for organisations seeking the flexibility of...

June 9, 2025

Discussion about this post

Latest Issue

Tech predictions for 2024 and beyond

Amazon’s Werner Vogels on how cloud, data, and culture are shaping AI

June 13, 2025
WSO2 acquires API analytics and monetisation startup Moesif

Bold visions, stronger partnerships: AWS co-innovates across the Middle East

June 13, 2025
NTT DATA launches AI-powered SDI services for Cisco products

NTT DATA launches AI-powered SDI services for Cisco products

June 13, 2025

The most trusted source of strategic intelligence for IT decision makers in the Middle East.

About

  • About Us
  • Advertising
  • Digital Magazine
  • Supplements
  • Media Pack
  • Contact Us

Policies

  • Privacy Policy

© 2024 – CXO Insight Middle East. All Rights Reserved.

Facebook-f X-twitter Linkedin
Separated they live in Bookmarksgrove right at the coast of the Semantics, a large language ocean. A small river named Duden.

About

  • About Us
  • Site Map
  • Contact Us
  • Career

Policies

  • Help Center
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookie Setting
  • Term Of Use

Join Our Newsletter

© 2024 – CXO Insight Middle East. All Rights Reserved.

Facebook-f Twitter Youtube Instagram

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password?

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In
Join our mailing list
Sign up here to get the latest news, updates and special offers delivered directly to your inbox.
No Result
View All Result
  • News
  • Opinions
  • Business
    • Industries
      • Transport
      • Retail
      • Government
      • Real Estate
      • Education
      • Energy
      • Banking and Finance
  • Channel
  • Future
    • Tech
    • Gadgets
    • Science
    • Space
    • Sustainability
  • Events
    • Channel Insights Summit 2025
    • Insight Innovation Summit
    • CX50 Oman
    • CXO50
    • ICT Awards
      • Dubai
      • Saudi Arabia
    • Cyber Strategists Summit
    • Cloud Connect 2025
    • Channel Awards 2023
    • All events
  • Videos
  • GITEX GLOBAL
  • Digital Magazine

© 2024 - CXO Insight Middle East. All Rights Reserved.