UAE Enterprises Lead in Zero Trust Adoption Amid Rising Threats

The latest State of Workplace Password Security 2026 report from Zoho Corporation sheds light on the cybersecurity landscape in the United Arab Emirates, highlighting impressive strides in Zero Trust Security (ZTS) implementation. Zero Trust Security is a cybersecurity framework that requires verification from anyone trying to access resources on a private network, regardless of whether they are within or outside the organization's perimeter. This approach assumes breach and verifies every access request as though it originated from an open network.

Despite facing over 45 percent of organizations reporting cyberattacks in the past year—a figure higher than the Middle East and Africa (MEA) regional average of 36 percent, which itself tops global rates—UAE businesses demonstrate robust preparedness. An overwhelming 96 percent possess essential tools like real-time threat detection and endpoint security to counter these incidents effectively.

High Zero Trust Maturity Sets UAE Apart

At the core of this resilience is strong Zero Trust adoption, with 80 percent of UAE enterprises having a defined Zero Trust strategy. This positions the UAE ahead of global averages where 65 percent of businesses still lack any Zero Trust architecture. Achieving zero standing privileges—ensuring users have only the minimum access necessary and no persistent elevated permissions—remains a work in progress: 60 percent are somewhat close, 22 percent have fully attained it, and 18 percent lag behind.

Challenges persist, however. Forty-two percent of respondents point to unmanageable identity growth as a barrier, matched by the same percentage citing insufficient tools and processes. In a hybrid workforce environment—47 percent fully in-office, 41.8 percent hybrid, and 10.9 percent remote—these identity management hurdles amplify risks.

Identity Security: The Critical Gap in UAE Cybersecurity

Identity visibility emerges as a key vulnerability. While only 40 percent of UAE organizations report lacking complete control over identities—far better than the MEA's 79 percent—fundamental gaps remain. Over 43 percent lack Identity and Access Management (IAM) systems, which control who has access to what resources. More than 45 percent have yet to implement Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA)—an extra verification layer beyond passwords—or password management solutions.

Advanced controls show wider adoption shortfalls:

• 38 percent without email security
• 53 percent lacking secure browsers
• 58 percent without device management
• 65 percent not using passkeys (passwordless authentication using biometrics or hardware tokens)
• 67 percent missing log management for auditing activities

These deficiencies create entry points for attackers exploiting compromised credentials or excessive privileges.

Common Cyber Threats Targeting UAE Businesses

Phishing tops the list at 25.5 percent, followed by malicious insiders at 20 percent and social engineering at 16.4 percent. These identity-based threats thrive in environments with poor visibility and outdated controls. UAE's digital transformation—fueled by AI and cloud adoption—makes it a prime target, with reports of 500,000 to 700,000 daily attack attempts, many state-sponsored.

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This table illustrates the uneven maturity, underscoring the need for comprehensive identity-centric security.

AI's Growing Role in Bolstering UAE Defenses

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is pivotal, with 64 percent of UAE leaders convinced it bolsters security and 53 percent already deploying AI-powered tools. Priorities include real-time threat detection (70.6 percent) and User Behavior Analytics (UBA) (52.9 percent), which flags anomalous activities. Globally, 90 percent see AI's potential, but readiness lags at 8 percent—UAE fares better, aligning with its tech-forward ethos. Zoho's full report details how AI addresses credential sprawl from 59 percent of employees using 15+ apps.

Budget Commitments Signal Long-Term Resilience

A resounding 76.4 percent plan security budget hikes over five years, outpacing global 72 percent. Sectors like technology (30.9 percent of sample) and finance (21.8 percent) lead, with mid-sized firms (50-999 employees) dominating. Education (5.5 percent) and government (9.1 percent) also feature, reflecting broad applicability.

Alignment with UAE National Cybersecurity Strategy 2025-2031

The Zoho findings resonate with the UAE's National Cybersecurity Strategy 2025-2031, structured around five pillars: governance, capability building, innovation, international cooperation, and ecosystem mobilization. With 60 initiatives, it emphasizes resilient infrastructure, Zero Trust principles, and public-private partnerships. Amid 71.4 percent state-sponsored threats and 128 incidents in early 2026, the strategy mandates proactive measures like continuous verification—core to Zero Trust. Enterprises adopting ZTS align with national goals for digital sovereignty and threat mitigation. Details in the official strategy document.

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Real-World Implications and Success Pathways

UAE firms implementing Zero Trust report fewer breaches; for instance, cloud-heavy sectors see 58 percent fewer phishing successes per global benchmarks. Case studies show SMBs reducing attack surfaces via IAM and MFA, cutting lateral movement by 45 percent. Recommendations: prioritize identity visibility, integrate AI for UBA, phase in passkeys, and consolidate vendors for seamless stacks.

• Step 1: Inventory all identities and apps.
• Step 2: Enforce least privilege via IAM.
• Step 3: Deploy MFA and passwordless auth.
• Step 4: Monitor continuously with AI logs.
• Step 5: Simulate breaches for maturity assessment.

Future Outlook: UAE as Regional Cybersecurity Leader

With Gulf Zero Trust adoption projected to surge tenfold by 2025-end and UAE's strategy through 2031, enterprises are poised for leadership. Rising budgets, AI integration, and ZTS maturity will counter escalating threats from AI-driven ransomware and state actors. By closing identity gaps, UAE can sustain its digital economy growth while minimizing risks.

Stakeholders from tech to education must collaborate, leveraging tools like Zoho Vault for credential hygiene and Directory for IAM to build unbreakable resilience.