Brief
Microsoft ranks UAE sixth globally for cyber impact in 2026 report
The UAE ranked sixth worldwide for cyber activity impact in the first half of 2026, according to Microsoft’s Digital Defence Report.
By Felo News Desk · Published
Microsoft’s 2026 Digital Defence Report, released during Cyber Security month in Dubai, says the United Arab Emirates was the sixth‑most frequently affected country by cyber activity in the first half of 2026.
What happened
The report, based on more than 165 trillion daily security signals, identified three key shifts: AI accelerating both attacks and defence, identity as the primary entry point for attackers, and cyber incidents spilling over to affect third parties. In the same period, the UAE ranked second in the Middle East and Africa for cyber impact.
What the reports add
Microsoft highlighted that AI is now embedded in government services, enterprise operations and critical infrastructure, prompting a need for security to be built into AI adoption rather than added later. The firm announced a joint rollout of MDASH, its AI‑powered cybersecurity tool, with the UAE Cyber Security Council and Core42 for government entities.
What was said
Yazan Khasawneh, Director of Cyber Security at Microsoft UAE, told Gulf News, “The UAE is entering a phase in which AI is becoming part of the operating model of government and business. Cybersecurity therefore cannot be treated as a separate layer added after transformation takes place.”
How it came about
Earlier Felo coverage noted rising cyber risks in the UAE as AI and cloud missteps exposed vulnerabilities (see UAE Cybersecurity Risks Rise as AI and Cloud Missteps Exposed). The new report builds on that trend, showing how AI‑driven threats are reshaping defence strategies.
Key facts
- UAE ranked sixth globally for cyber activity impact in H1 2026 (gulfnews.com)
- UAE was second in the Middle East and Africa for cyber impact (gulfnews.com)
- Microsoft, UAE Cyber Security Council and Core42 will deploy MDASH across government entities (gulfnews.com)
- AI, identity attacks and spill‑over effects are the three shifts defining cybersecurity in 2026 (gulfnews.com)
Sources
- [1] gulfnews.com — originally reported as “UAE Faces Escalating Cyber Threats as AI Revolutionizes Security Landscape”
