Cloudflare has released its Q1 2026 Global Internet Trends & Insights Report, highlighting a sharp rise in cyber threats across the Middle East alongside accelerating digital adoption in key markets such as the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA).
Globally, Cloudflare processed an average of 7 trillion daily Internet requests during the quarter marking an 11% quarter-on-quarter increase and 30% annual growth. Of these, approximately 3.3% were identified and blocked as potential cyberattacks. On average, the company mitigated 234 billion cyber threats per day, with the Europe, Middle East, and Africa (EMEA) region witnessing a notable 22% rise in blocked threats.
“Organizations across the Middle East are embracing digital innovation at remarkable speed, but that growth is also expanding the attack surface for cybercriminals.” – Ercan Aydin, AVP, Middle East, Turkey & Africa, Cloudflare
In Saudi Arabia, Internet traffic grew by 7% compared to the previous quarter, reflecting steady digital expansion. However, this growth was accompanied by a 36% surge in mitigated malicious traffic. Cloudflare handled around 56 billion daily content requests in the country, with roughly 1.3 billion (2%) flagged as cyberattacks each day. The company also recorded an average of 172 million daily cyber threats targeting Saudi Arabia, a 37% increase quarter-on-quarter. Key sectors under attack included consumer goods, IT services, media, education, and real estate.
The UAE demonstrated even stronger digital momentum, with Internet traffic increasing by 12% during the same period. Cloudflare processed approximately 23 billion daily requests, blocking around 529 million (2%) as malicious. Most notably, cyber threats targeting the UAE surged by 51%, reaching an average of 1.2 billion attacks per day. Highly targeted industries included transportation, tourism, online media, gaming, and software.
The report underscores a clear trend: as governments and enterprises across the Middle East push forward with digital transformation, threat actors are escalating their efforts to exploit vulnerabilities. Cloudflare emphasizes the growing need for robust cybersecurity frameworks, proactive threat mitigation, and enhanced network visibility.
With digital ecosystems becoming more complex and interconnected, the findings reinforce the importance of resilient infrastructure to safeguard critical services and sustain growth in the region’s rapidly evolving digital economy.
