The United Arab Emirates (UAE) thwarted organised cyber attacks targeting the country’s digital infrastructure and vital sectors, the state news agency WAM said on Saturday.

The attacks “included attempts to infiltrate networks, deploy ransomware and conduct systematic phishing campaigns targeting national platforms”, and involved artificial intelligence technologies to develop offensive tools, it added.

The report did not say who was to blame for the attacks.

WAM reported that cyberattacks of a “terrorist nature” aimed to “destabilise the nation and disrupt essential services”.

It said that the UAE’s Cybersecurity Council “affirmed that the safety of individuals, the protection of personal data, and the continuity of critical services remain top priorities”.

The council said that attacks “also involved the exploitation of artificial intelligence technologies to develop sophisticated offensive tools, reflecting a qualitative shift in the methods employed by terrorist groups and their ability to harness modern technologies to carry out digital attacks”.

As per WAM, the Cybersecurity Council advised the public to report cyber threats or suspicious activities to official channels.

The council “reiterated its full commitment to safeguarding the digital domain, preserving stability”, WAM reported.