Who should read this?

CEOs

CTOs

CISOs

Cyber Security Managers

Cyber threats remain a significant challenge for organizations in the UAE, affecting businesses across many sectors. Nine out of ten UAE companies have experienced a cyber incident in the past two years, while the country faces an average of 50,000 cyber attacks daily. In the Middle East and Asia-Pacific, ransomware affects a large number of users, largely because rapid digital transformation, expanding attack surfaces, and varying levels of cyber security readiness create more opportunities for attackers. As the UAE’s digital economy grows, so do its risks—especially from ransomware and phishing attacks, which are becoming more frequent and sophisticated.

According to the UAE Cybersecurity Council, ransomware attacks rose 32% year-over-year in 2024, while phishing attacks also increased, targeting employees and customers with more advanced tactics.

What does the rise in ransomware and phishing attacks mean for UAE businesses? It highlights the urgent need for organizations to understand evolving cyber threats and prepare effective incident responses. This article outlines the top five ransomware and phishing trends currently impacting UAE organizations and provides insights to help business leaders better prepare and respond.

Top 5 Ransomware Trends Impacting Businesses in the UAE

1. Rise of Ransomware-as-a-Service (RaaS)

The emergence and growth of Ransomware-as-a-Service (RaaS) platforms have transformed the ransomware threat. These platforms provide ready-made ransomware tools, infrastructure, and support to cyber criminals willing to pay for access. This means that attackers no longer need extensive hacking skills to carry out ransomware campaigns — they can “rent” ransomware operations from RaaS providers. As a result, ransomware attacks have become more frequent and widespread, significantly increasing the scale of ransomware threats facing organizations across the UAE.

2. Increasing Diversity of Ransomware Groups

The ransomware threat landscape in the UAE is evolving rapidly, with an increasing number of groups targeting organizations using a wider range of ransomware types and extortion methods. New players like DarkVault, Qilin, RansomEXX, and KillSec have emerged, while established groups like LockBit3 have seen a decrease in their share of attacks. This growing diversity, coupled with the dynamic nature of these groups—who frequently appear, disappear, or shift tactics—presents significant challenges for businesses. The constant change in the ransomware ecosystem requires organizations to stay agile, adapt their defenses, and continuously update security strategies to keep up with new threats and attack methods.

3. Phishing is Still the Main Entry Point

Despite improvements in technology, phishing remains the most common method used by attackers to deliver ransomware. In many ransomware attacks observed in 2024, phishing emails containing malicious attachments or links were the initial vector. When recipients open these emails, ransomware is installed on corporate systems, often spreading rapidly.

Phishing’s effectiveness lies in its combination of social engineering and malware delivery. Attackers exploit human trust and curiosity to bypass technological defenses

4. Growing Role of Access Brokers in Ransomware Attacks

In the UAE, Initial Access Brokers (IABs) are playing an increasing role in ransomware attacks. These specialized cyber criminals gain unauthorized entry into company networks and then sell this access to other attackers, including ransomware groups. By purchasing ready-made access, hackers can launch attacks more quickly and with less effort, raising the overall risk for organizations. This underground market means many UAE businesses may have cyber criminals inside their systems long before an attack is detected.

5. Increased Targeting of the Financial Sector

The financial sector in the UAE continues to be a prime target for ransomware attacks. These organizations typically hold highly sensitive data and are viewed as valuable targets because they not only manage critical information but also have the resources and urgency to pay ransoms quickly to prevent operational disruptions and reputational harm. This trend has intensified as ransomware groups recognize the urgency of financial institutions to swiftly resolve incidents, making them more likely to comply with ransom demands. As a result, ransomware attacks on financial services firms are becoming more frequent and severe, underlining the growing need for these organizations to strengthen their defenses.

Top 5 Phishing Trends Impacting Businesses in the UAE

1. Sophisticated Impersonation of Trusted Services

Attackers frequently use highly convincing emails impersonating trusted platforms to trick employees into revealing login credentials to gain unauthorized access to email accounts and corporate systems. These spear-phishing emails closely mimic legitimate communications, making them difficult to identify. The goal is to trick employees into revealing login credentials, giving attackers unauthorized access to email accounts and corporate systems.

2. Financial Fraud via Phishing is Increasing

Phishing campaigns targeting payment card data have sharply increased. Attackers often impersonate major UAE companies such as Etisalat, DEWA, and Aramex, tricking victims into handing over sensitive financial information. These scams lead not only to financial theft but also serve as gateways for ransomware attacks.

This trend signals the need for robust monitoring of financial transactions combined with user education on spotting phishing scams.

3. Rise in Phishing Attacks Bypassing Email Security Measures

Phishing attacks continue to evolve, increasingly bypassing traditional email security measures. Despite the widespread use of email security gateways, many phishing emails still manage to slip through, using advanced techniques like email spoofing and hiding malicious attachments as legitimate files. As attackers refine their tactics, businesses are facing a growing challenge in detecting these sophisticated threats. This trend underscores that relying solely on technological defenses is no longer enough—ongoing employee awareness and proactive reporting are essential to stay ahead of these evolving phishing risks.

4. Growing Use of Diverse Social Engineering Techniques

Phishing is no longer limited to email. Attackers increasingly use phone calls (vishing), text messages (smishing), and other tactics like baiting and pretexting to deceive victims. Fraudsters impersonate trusted entities such as police, banks, and government bodies, often pressuring individuals to pay fake fines or disclose personal information.

This expanding variety of social engineering techniques makes scams harder to recognize and demands broader awareness efforts across all communication channels.

5. Rise of Phishing-as-a-Service (PhaaS)

Phishing-as-a-Service (PhaaS) is rapidly growing in the UAE. This trend allows attackers of all skill levels—from experienced hacker groups to beginners—to launch phishing campaigns using ready-made tools and services available for rent. Because PhaaS lowers the technical skills needed to carry out attacks, it has led to an increase in the number and variety of phishing threats targeting businesses across the UAE. Many of these attacks are highly targeted, focusing on specific organizations, industries, or government sectors.

The Need for Proactive Action

As the UAE accelerates its digital transformation, ransomware and phishing attacks are becoming more frequent and sophisticated. Recent data shows that the number of ransomware groups targeting local organizations has nearly doubled within a year, while a large portion of UAE websites remain vulnerable to phishing attacks. These statistics highlight a critical reality: cyber security risks are expanding rapidly and cannot be ignored or treated as purely technical issues.

For business leaders, this means cyber security must be a strategic priority. It requires sustained investment in stronger defenses and ongoing employee education to stay ahead of evolving threats. Taking decisive and proactive action today is essential not only to protect sensitive data but also to preserve customer trust and support the UAE’s ambitions as a secure and competitive digital economy.