In its latest Global Internet Trends report for Q3 2024, Cloudflare reveals substantial shifts in internet traffic and cybersecurity on a global scale, with the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) emerging as key markets in terms of traffic growth and security challenges.
Global Overview
Cloudflare’s overall network performance in Q3 2024 demonstrated robust growth, with a significant increase in data traffic and a surge in cyber threat mitigation efforts. On average, the company blocked 165 billion cyber threats daily, marking a five percent increase compared to the previous quarter. Meanwhile, daily internet requests reached 4.37 trillion, reflecting a five percent quarter-over-quarter increase and a remarkable 26% year-on-year growth.
UAE: Cybersecurity at the Forefront
Internet Traffic Surge
During Q3 2024, the UAE experienced a three percent increase in internet traffic compared to the previous quarter, indicating sustained digital adoption. This growth is attributed to the expanding digital economy, bolstered by initiatives in artificial intelligence, smart cities, and financial services.
Cloudflare handled an average of 13 billion daily content requests in the UAE during the quarter. Of these requests, 790 million (six percent) were blocked due to cyber-attacks, representing a significant 33 percent increase in mitigated traffic.
Rising Cyber Threats
Cybersecurity remains a pressing issue for the UAE, with Cloudflare blocking an average of 1.5 billion cyber threats daily—a staggering 120 percent increase quarter-over-quarter. This surge can be partly attributed to the UAE’s expanding digital economy and its rapid evolution into a global financial and technology hub.
The Banking, Financial Services, and Insurance (BFSI) sector was the most targeted industry, followed closely by gaming, media, and cryptocurrency sectors. The primary defenses against application layer attacks included DDoS mitigations (70 percent) and WAF rules (30 percent). Among the WAF rules, SQL Injection (SQLi) attacks were the most prevalent, accounting for 28 percent of blocked threats, followed by HTTP anomalies (13 percent) and file inclusions (13 percent).
Strategic Outlook
The UAE’s digital economy continues to experience rapid growth, driven by forward-thinking government policies and initiatives such as the Dubai Economic Agenda (D33). However, the rising threat of cyber-attacks necessitates stronger collaboration between public and private sectors to bolster cybersecurity infrastructure.
Saudi Arabia: A High-Growth Market
Traffic Expansion
Saudi Arabia recorded an impressive 65 percent increase in internet traffic in Q3 2024 compared to Q2 2024, establishing it as one of the fastest-growing markets globally. This surge in digital growth aligns with the country’s Vision 2030 agenda, which emphasizes smart cities, e-governance, and economic diversification. Cloudflare managed an average of 39 billion daily requests in Saudi Arabia, with 820 million (two percent) identified as cyber-attacks.
Cybersecurity Developments
Cyber threats targeting Saudi Arabia increased by 11 percent quarter-over-quarter, with Cloudflare blocking an average of 118 million cyber-attacks daily. Key sectors under attack included consumer goods, internet services, architecture and planning, and telecommunications. Similar to the UAE, the top defenses against attacks were WAF rules (76 percent) and DDoS mitigations (22 percent), with HTTP anomalies (18 percent), SQLi (13 percent), and file inclusion (13 percent) being the most common attack vectors.
Implications for the Digital Ecosystem
Saudi Arabia’s rapidly growing digital landscape presents both opportunities and challenges. The country’s ambition to create a connected society, supported by significant investments in technology infrastructure, also attracts cybercriminals. As digital adoption increases, enhanced cybersecurity measures become essential to sustain Saudi Arabia’s digital aspirations.
Comparative Snapshot: Other Global Trends
While the UAE and Saudi Arabia demonstrated unique growth patterns, several other countries also exhibited noteworthy internet trends:
- United States: A modest two percent increase in traffic, accompanied by significant cyber-attacks targeting the IT sector.
- Germany: An eight percent rise in internet traffic, with the largest DDoS attack recorded in Q3 2024.
- India: A six percent increase in internet traffic, with a staggering 316 percent surge in cyber threats, highlighting vulnerabilities in sectors like gaming and BFSI.
Strategic Implications for the UAE and Saudi Arabia
The surge in internet traffic and cyber threats in both the UAE and Saudi Arabia underscores the dynamic nature of the digital landscape in the Middle East. Both countries are making substantial investments in digital transformation, innovative infrastructure, and next-generation technologies, making them attractive targets for cybercriminals.
Key Takeaways:
- Prioritized Cybersecurity Investment: As cyber threats continue to escalate, both the UAE and Saudi Arabia must invest in advanced security solutions, workforce training, and cross-border collaboration to stay ahead of evolving threats.
- Proactive Threat Intelligence: Cloudflare’s data indicates the necessity for enhanced threat intelligence sharing among stakeholders to identify, mitigate, and respond to attacks promptly.
- Focus on Emerging Sectors: Both nations should strengthen cybersecurity measures in rapidly expanding sectors such as BFSI, gaming, and telecommunications to protect critical infrastructure.
The Q3 2024 internet trends reinforce the positions of the UAE and Saudi Arabia as leaders in digital growth within the Middle East. As internet usage and digital adoption continue to rise, robust cybersecurity strategies will be essential for sustainable growth. The data-driven insights provided by Cloudflare serve as a crucial guide for policymakers, businesses, and cybersecurity experts in shaping the future of the digital economy in the region.
