Social Engineering Attacks: How UAE Businesses Can Protect Themselves

Social engineering remains the top attack vector in the Middle East. Learn the techniques attackers use and how to build human-layer defenses for your UAE organization.

Despite billions spent on technical security controls, social engineering attacks continue to be the most effective way into UAE organizations. Over 90% of successful cyberattacks begin with a phishing email, a pretexting phone call, or a Business Email Compromise (BEC) attempt. In the UAE, BEC attacks targeting financial departments are particularly prevalent.

Common Attack Techniques in the UAE

Attackers targeting UAE businesses often impersonate government entities (immigration, tax authority), senior executives requesting urgent wire transfers, or IT departments requesting credential verification. Spear phishing targeting Arabic and English speakers uses sophisticated language models to create convincing messages. Invoice fraud, where attackers impersonate suppliers and redirect payments, has cost UAE businesses millions.

Building Human-Layer Defenses

Technical controls alone cannot stop social engineering. You need a security awareness program that goes beyond annual compliance training. Implement regular phishing simulations, create a culture where employees feel safe reporting suspicious communications, and establish verification procedures for financial transactions and sensitive requests.

Technical Controls That Help

Layer technical defenses to reduce social engineering exposure: email authentication (DMARC, DKIM, SPF), advanced email filtering with sandboxing, URL rewriting and time-of-click analysis, and conditional access policies that verify user identity and device health before granting access to sensitive systems.

Bayden offers comprehensive social engineering defense programs for UAE organizations, combining security awareness training, phishing simulations, technical controls assessment, and incident response procedures. Our approach reduces successful phishing rates by 80% within six months.