Cyberattacks Expected to Surge During Ramadan in UAE as Online Shopping Peaks
The UAE is bracing for a surge in cyberattacks during Ramadan 2025, as cybercriminals exploit the annual spike in online shopping and digital transactions. A report by Qrator Labs, a leading cybersecurity firm specializing in DDoS protection and traffic filtering, highlights an alarming increase in high-powered cyberattacks, with over 200 attacks exceeding 1 Gbps detected in the first quarter of 2024—coinciding with the holy month.
Qrator Labs said it detected over 200 powerful attacks exceeding 1 Gbps in the first quarter of 2024 when Ramadan takes place. This period also saw the longest attack of the year – it lasted for 464 hours (almost three weeks) and targeted the e-commerce segment, peaking at 280 Gbps, the company said.
The most targeted sector was e-commerce, accounting for 25.3 per cent of all attacks, with online retail being the most vulnerable microsegment, receiving 20 per cent of all attacks, the report said. Andrey Leskin, CTO at Qrator Labs, said businesses need to adopt comprehensive cybersecurity strategies, including advanced DDoS protection to protect themselves from cyberattacks.
Retail customers can enhance their security by regularly updating their passwords, using unique passwords for each shopping platform, enabling two-factor authentication, and ensuring safe transactions, he added. “Cybercriminals consistently exploit high-traffic seasons, and Ramadan 2025 is expected to be another peak period for DDoS attacks,” Leskin said.
“Businesses must anticipate and mitigate these risks by proactively implementing robust protection,”
Andrey Leskin, CTO at Qrator Labs
