The UAE ranked sixth globally among countries where Microsoft customers were most frequently affected by cyber activity during the first half of 2026, according to Microsoft’s 2026 Digital Defense Report. It ranked second across the Middle East and Africa.
The report draws on more than 165 trillion security signals each day and says artificial intelligence is accelerating both cyberattacks and defence. Identity remains the main route attackers use to access organisations, while incidents are increasingly affecting parties beyond the original target.
Microsoft, the UAE Cyber Security Council and Core42 also plan to deploy MDASH, Microsoft’s AI-powered cybersecurity capability, across UAE government entities. The system is designed to help security teams identify vulnerabilities, prioritise risks and respond more quickly, while supporting sovereign security and privacy requirements.
Microsoft said attackers are using AI to operate faster and at greater scale, while defenders are applying it to detect, investigate and disrupt threats. The company recommends stronger authentication, reduced reliance on passwords, regular incident-response testing and systems that keep critical operations running during disruptions.
Source: Fintech News UAE
