The rapid proliferation of deepfake technology has reached the highest levels of government in the UAE, with the country’s Minister for Economy, Abdullah Bin Touq Al Marri, revealing he was recently targeted by fraudsters. Speaking at Gitex 2025, the minister’s experience underscores a growing regional threat that is blurring the lines between reality and AI-driven deception, impacting everyone from government officials to major corporations like the Abu Dhabi-based EDGE Group.
A High-Profile Target
Minister Al Marri, representing the UAE Ministry of Economy, told the Gitex audience that his image had been manipulated and used in sophisticated video campaigns on social media to promote fraudulent investment schemes. “Please be aware that I will never do it. I will never put my face in front of that and say come and invest into shares,” Al Marri stated, highlighting the urgent need for public vigilance. He was not the only high-profile figure to be targeted. Waleid Al Mesmari, president of space and cyber technologies at defence group Edge, shared that he too was the victim of a deepfake, albeit a harmless one created by a colleague. These incidents showcase the accessibility and increasing realism of the technology.
The Regional Surge in Malicious AI
The problem extends far beyond isolated pranks or single scams. According to data from identity verification firm Sumsub, the Middle East is experiencing an explosion in deepfake activity. In the first quarter of 2024 alone, the number of detected deepfakes skyrocketed by 900% year-on-year in Iraq and 600% in Saudi Arabia. Significant increases were also recorded in Iran (350%) and Kuwait (200%), with the UAE seeing a 14% rise. “Deepfake content is exploding and the Middle East is squarely in the crosshairs,” noted Jonathan Micael, a security researcher at cybersecurity company Acronis TRU.
Beyond Reputational Risk
While reputational damage is a significant concern, the financial implications are staggering. One of the most severe cases in the region involved fraudsters using deepfake voice technology to impersonate a company executive in 2021, successfully tricking a UAE-based bank into transferring $35 million. This incident serves as a stark reminder of the technology’s potential to bypass traditional security measures. According to consulting firm Deloitte, global losses attributed to generative AI and deepfakes are projected to hit $40 billion in the US alone by 2027, signaling a critical threat to businesses worldwide.
The Call for Detection Technology
The rising tide of AI-generated misinformation has prompted urgent calls for countermeasures. Minister Al Marri emphasized the critical need for advanced technological solutions to authenticate digital content and protect personal and corporate identities. “We need technology today that detects deepfakes, to protect me first of all, but overall to protect our identity as a human race,” he urged. This sentiment is echoed by cybersecurity experts who advocate for robust, multi-layered identity verification systems to combat the growing sophistication of AI-driven fraud.
About The UAE Ministry of Economy
The Ministry of Economy of the United Arab Emirates is the federal government body responsible for formulating and implementing economic policies to drive the diversification and sustainable growth of the national economy. It focuses on enhancing the UAE’s competitiveness across various sectors, including trade, investment, tourism, and innovation, while creating a business-friendly environment that attracts foreign investment and supports local enterprises.
Source: AGBI
