**Title: Every Iranian Strike Came with a Cyberattack, UAE Cyber Chief Says**
**Dubai, UAE – September 17, 2026** – In a revealing statement during the Arab Media Summit, Dr. Mohamed Al Kuwaiti, head of the UAE Cybersecurity Council, highlighted a concerning trend during the ongoing conflict involving Iran: every missile and drone strike against the UAE was accompanied by a simultaneous cyberattack. This dual assault raises significant questions about the intersection of traditional warfare and cyber operations, an area where international law remains largely unaddressed.
Dr. Al Kuwaiti explained that the cyberattacks were not isolated incidents but rather coordinated efforts targeting critical infrastructure, including ports, refineries, and airports. “Whenever we see a kinetic attack on any of the ports or on any refineries or the airport, there is always a cyberattack towards many of those entities,” he stated. This comprehensive strategy of combining physical and cyber warfare has, according to Dr. Al Kuwaiti, not been observed elsewhere to this extent.
The cyberattacks included a variety of tactics such as supply chain compromises, ransomware, fraud, advanced persistent threats, and the dissemination of deepfakes. Key sectors such as electricity, water, and aviation were particularly vulnerable, with much of the infrastructure being privately owned. Dr. Al Kuwaiti noted the collaborative response from both local and international private sector entities, emphasizing a united front in the face of these threats. “Local private sectors or international private sectors, they all came together into this solidarity,” he remarked, reinforcing the UAE's position as a leader in cyber defense.
In addition to the direct cyberattacks, Dr. Al Kuwaiti pointed out a second layer of warfare that involved the rapid spread of misinformation online. He observed that during the crisis, false narratives proliferated faster than verified information, complicating the public's understanding of the situation. “Now it's no longer seeing is believing,” he cautioned, highlighting the challenges posed by misinformation in the digital age.
One of the critical issues raised by Dr. Al Kuwaiti is the inadequacy of current international laws to address cyber warfare. He lamented the absence of a framework akin to the Geneva Conventions that could govern state responses to cyberattacks. “There is still no Cyber Geneva Convention that protects based on the laws, as in the physical laws,” he stated. This legal ambiguity raises pressing questions about the rights of nations to retaliate against cyberattacks and the potential for escalating conflicts in the digital realm.
Dr. Al Kuwaiti advocated for the integration of security measures into digital systems from the outset, emphasizing the importance of incorporating advanced technologies, including artificial intelligence and large language models. He urged collaboration among governments, corporations, universities, and civil society to share knowledge and best practices in cybersecurity. “Countries might really spend so much in doing their digital transformations, but yet with a simple attack all of this could go down,” he warned, underscoring the fragility of digital infrastructures.
Looking ahead, the UAE has set ambitious goals for its digital future, aiming to achieve AI-driven nation status by 2071. This vision includes significant investments in data center and cloud capacities to enhance the nation’s cyber resilience. Dr. Al Kuwaiti expressed his commitment to advocating for the establishment of international norms regarding cyber conduct through platforms such as the United Nations and the International Telecommunication Union.
As the UAE navigates these complex challenges, the implications of combining kinetic and cyber warfare will likely shape the future of international relations and security policies. The need for a robust legal framework and cooperative global strategies has never been more urgent, as nations grapple with the evolving nature of conflict in the digital age.