Research Paper: Cyber Threat Report: The UAE Financial Sector Cyber Threat Landscape

This report is a collaborative effort between the Research and Innovation Centre of Rabdan Academy and the ADGM Academy Research Centre, with assistance from UQ Cyber at the University of Queensland. It provides insights from senior IT security managers at UAE financial institutions, aiming to enhance the understanding of current cyber threats and promote resilience in the financial sector.

Cyber-attacks pose significant risks to financial institutions, impacting financial assets, market operations, and economic stability. This report identifies the seven most common types of cyberattacks: ransomware, phishing/spear-phishing, DDoS attacks, AI-facilitated manipulations, device deception attacks, operational attacks, and information supply chain attacks. It highlights vulnerabilities leading to these attacks, categorised into technical, socio-technical, and socio vulnerabilities, to help IT policymakers prioritise and address these threats.