Nearly two-thirds of UAE residents say they have been hacked or had data stolen, according to a new consumer study from IDEMIA Secure Transactions, placing the country among the highest rates of reported cyber incidents globally.
The survey, conducted by IPSOS BVA across 11 countries with more than 3,300 respondents, found that 63 per cent of UAE residents reported experiencing hacking or data theft, compared to a global average of 38 per cent. A further 32 per cent said those incidents had direct financial consequences, more than double the global average.
The findings sit against a backdrop of near-universal digital engagement. Some 97 per cent of UAE respondents described themselves as frequent users of digital tools, and 79 per cent said they do everything they can online or via smartphone. The country’s exposure to cyber incidents appears to track its adoption rate: the more connected the population, the broader the attack surface.
Security is now a top-of-mind consideration for UAE consumers when choosing between digital services, with 40 per cent citing it as their primary selection criterion. Rather than dampening adoption, the study suggests that heightened awareness of risk is reshaping what consumers expect from digital products: security built in, not bolted on.
Appetite for stronger authentication is high. Some 86 per cent of respondents said they would want to use their physical payment card as a strong authentication method for online identity verification, and 85 per cent said they would like to see all websites and applications linked to their payment card visible directly within their banking app.
The study also captured views on emerging threats. Some 61 per cent of UAE respondents said they believe artificial intelligence is making cyberattacks more sophisticated. Among those familiar with quantum computing, 83 per cent already view it as a potential cybersecurity threat.
“The UAE is one of the world’s most advanced digital economies, and its consumers are demonstrating that trust and innovation must evolve together. As a company securing billions of digital interactions every year, we see firsthand at IDEMIA Secure Transactions how expectations around trust and security are evolving. As digital ecosystems become increasingly connected and emerging technologies such as AI and quantum computing reshape the cybersecurity landscape, building trust will become one of the defining challenges of the digital economy,” Marc BERTIN, CTO at IDEMIA Secure Transactions said in a statement..
The report arrives as UAE regulators tighten the security framework around digital finance. The Central Bank has mandated the removal of SMS-based one-time passwords from financial transactions, and Federal Decree-Law No. 6 of 2025 has extended oversight to cover fintechs, digital wallets, and payment service providers. The country’s National Cyber Security Strategy runs through 2031.
