As the UAE accelerates its digital transformation, cybersecurity readiness becomes a foundational requirement for economic stability and public trust. The UAE Cybersecurity Council coordinates national defence strategy, targeting a top-five global ranking on the ITU Global Cybersecurity Index by 2031. With critical infrastructure including energy, aviation, finance, and government services increasingly digitised, the attack surface is expanding faster than defensive capabilities.
Global Ranking and Index Progress
| Year | ITU GCI Score (0-100) | Global Rank | Regional Rank (Arab States) | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 89.2 | 11 | 2 | Baseline |
| 2023 | 91.5 | 9 | 1 | Improving |
| 2024 | 93.8 | 7 | 1 | On Track |
| 2025 | 95.1 (est.) | 6 | 1 | On Track |
| 2031 | 98.0+ | Top 5 | 1 | Target |
Cybersecurity Capability Metrics (2024)
| Metric | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | Trend |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Critical infrastructure entities compliant with national standards (%) | 62% | 71% | 79% | Improving |
| Mean incident detection time (hours) | 48 | 36 | 24 | Improving |
| Mean incident response time (hours) | 72 | 52 | 38 | Improving |
| Reported cyber incidents (thousands) | 52 | 68 | 78 | Increasing |
| Certified cybersecurity professionals | 4,200 | 5,800 | 7,500 | Growing |
| Emiratisation rate in cyber roles (%) | 18% | 22% | 26% | Growing |
Threat Landscape by Vector (2024)
| Attack Vector | Incidents (%) | Severity (Avg.) | Change (YoY) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Phishing and social engineering | 34% | Medium | +12% |
| Ransomware | 18% | High | +28% |
| DDoS attacks | 16% | Medium | -5% |
| Supply chain compromise | 12% | High | +45% |
| Insider threats | 8% | Medium-High | +8% |
| Advanced persistent threats | 7% | Critical | +15% |
| Other | 5% | Variable | — |
Progress Rate Analysis
The UAE has made substantial progress in cybersecurity governance and institutional capacity. The Cybersecurity Council’s authority to set mandatory standards for critical infrastructure entities has been the primary driver, with compliance rising from 62 per cent in 2022 to 79 per cent in 2024. Detection and response times have improved significantly as the national Computer Emergency Response Team (aeCERT) has matured its operations.
However, the rising volume and sophistication of incidents — particularly ransomware and supply chain attacks — means that improvements in defensive capability are being tested by an accelerating threat landscape. The 45 per cent year-on-year increase in supply chain compromise incidents is particularly concerning given the UAE’s role as a regional logistics and technology hub.
Risk Factors
| Risk | Severity | Impact |
|---|---|---|
| Ransomware targeting critical infrastructure | High | Potential disruption to essential services |
| Supply chain attack escalation | High | Undermines trusted vendor relationships |
| Cybersecurity workforce shortage | Medium | Limits defensive capacity scaling |
| AI-enabled attack sophistication | Medium | Outpaces traditional defence mechanisms |
| Regulatory compliance fatigue | Low-Medium | Reduces adherence over time |
Outlook
The UAE’s trajectory toward a top-five global cybersecurity ranking is achievable by 2031 given current investment and institutional development. The primary challenge is maintaining defensive improvement at a pace that matches or exceeds the evolving threat landscape. Workforce development — particularly Emiratisation of cybersecurity roles — remains a bottleneck. The national strategy’s emphasis on AI-powered defence systems, threat intelligence sharing, and regional cooperation provides a strong framework, but execution must accelerate.
Current Assessment: On Track — rankings improving but threat landscape escalating concurrently.