Global transfers of major weapons increased 9.2 per cent between 2016–20 and 2021–25, driven largely by a surge in demand from Europe following the Russian-Ukrainian crisis, according to new data from the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI).

European states more than tripled their arms imports, making the region the world’s largest recipient of weapons. Ukraine alone accounted for 9.7 per cent of all arms transfers during the period.

The US remained the world’s largest arms exporter, supplying 42 per cent of global arms transfers, up from 36 per cent in the previous five-year period.

Overall, US exports rose 27 per cent, including a 217 per cent increase in shipments to Europe.

France comes in as the second-largest exporter

France ranked as the second-largest arms exporter, accounting for 9.8 per cent of global exports, while exports from Russia fell sharply by 64 per cent, reducing its share of global arms exports to 6.8 per cent.

Europe accounted for 33 per cent of global arms imports, with nearly half of those weapons supplied by the US. Poland and the UK were among the largest importers in the region after Ukraine.

Elsewhere, arms imports in Asia and Oceania fell by 20 per cent, largely due to a sharp drop in purchases by China as domestic defence production expanded.

Arms imports to the Middle East and Asia

In the Middle East, arms imports declined 13 per cent, although Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Kuwait remained among the world’s top importers. Imports to the region continued to be dominated by the US, which supplied more than half of all deliveries.

Four states in Asia and Oceania ranked among the 10 largest arms importers globally in 2021–25: India, Pakistan, Japan and Australia. The main supplier to the region in 2021–25 was the US, which accounted for 35 per cent of regional arms imports. Russia accounted for another 17 per cent and China for 14 per cent.

According to SIPRI figures, India was the world’s second-largest arms importer. Its imports decreased marginally (–4 per cent) between 2016–20 and 2021–25. The largest share of Indian arms imports came from Russia, at 40 per cent, a significantly smaller share than in 2016–20 (51 per cent) and almost half that in 2011–15 (70 per cent).

Arms imports by Pakistan grew by 66 per cent between 2016–20 and 2021–25. China supplied 80 per cent of Pakistan’s arms imports in 2021–25, up from 73 per cent in 2016–20.

Data from SIPRI tracks the volume of international transfers of major weapons systems, including sales, aid and licensed production, rather than their financial value.

Read: UAE reiterates ban on drones, light sport aircraft, cites exceptional circumstances

As tensions rise across the Middle East, cybersecurity experts are warning of a parallel surge in online scams and misinformation campaigns targeting the public through emails, messaging platforms and social media.

Authorities say cybercriminals are exploiting the uncertainty surrounding the situation by spreading fraudulent messages designed to appear as official communications. On March 4, the UAE Ministry of Interior issued a warning about scam emails impersonating government emergency services. The messages falsely claimed that residents needed to complete a mandatory registration form to qualify for state support or insurance coverage.

According to officials, the emails closely resembled legitimate government communications, making them particularly convincing. The tactic relies on creating urgency and leveraging perceived authority to pressure recipients into complying.

Alongside financial scams, fact-checkers have also identified a surge in manipulated and misleading online content related to the UAE. This includes AI-generated videos and mislabelled footage circulating as evidence of attacks in the country.

Authorities say such content often spreads faster than corrections. Dubai Police have warned that sharing unverified information may carry criminal penalties under UAE law, including fines of no less than Dhs200,000.

Cybersecurity firm KnowBe4 said the pattern mirrors trends seen during previous global crises, including the COVID-19 pandemic and the war in Ukraine. During such periods, scammers frequently launch donation fraud schemes, phishing emails disguised as embassy or government alerts, and deepfake imagery intended to provoke fear or spread disinformation.

Dr. Martin Kraemer, CISO Advisor at KnowBe4 said, “Crises are the most reliable recruitment tool bad actors have. When people are frightened and searching for information, they are not necessarily looking for the truth. They are looking for confirmation of what they already fear. That is exactly what scammers and disinformation actors exploit. What we are seeing right now, fake government emergency emails, mislabelled footage, AI-generated imagery, is not random. It is targeted, and it is designed to exploit the gap between what people feel and what they know. The antidote is not panic. It is discipline: pause, question the source, and go directly to official channels before acting on anything. That’s precisely how governments and organizations are educating people to react in stressful situations.”

KnowBe4 is urging residents, travellers and anyone following developments in the region to remain vigilant and apply basic verification practices when encountering online information or unsolicited communications.

The company advises treating messages that create urgency — such as requests to register immediately, confirm personal details or donate quickly — as potential warning signs. It also recommends verifying any footage or information before sharing it and consulting official government websites rather than clicking links included in unsolicited messages.

Experts also caution that advances in AI have made manipulated imagery increasingly convincing, meaning that videos and images alone should not be treated as reliable evidence without verification from multiple credible sources.

In the UAE, authorities encourage residents to report suspected scam emails or suspicious messages to the relevant agencies and to avoid engaging with unknown senders.

Read: Don’t click that link: Abu Dhabi customs issues public warning

A drone strike triggered a fire at a facility within the Ruwais Industrial Complex in Abu Dhabi on Tuesday.

Abu Dhabi’s government media office said authorities were responding to a fire at the facility after a drone attack, adding there were no injuries. It did not identify the facility.

No injuries were reported, the Abu Dhabi Media Office further said in a post on X.

The complex is the site of Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC) facilities that can refine up to 922,000 barrels of oil a day and serves as the central hub for the emirate’s downstream operations, including significant chemical, fertilizer and industrial gas plants.

The attack marks the latest since Tehran launched strikes on several of its neighbours in response to the US-Israeli assault on Iran. The attacks have forced several countries to cut production as shipping in the vital Strait of Hormuz oil transit ​chokepoint, carrying roughly a fifth of global oil flows, has ground to a ‌near ⁠halt.

Abu Dhabi Customs has issued a warning to residents and customers about fraudulent messages circulating through SMS and iMessage that falsely claim to represent the authority or shipping companies.

According to a WAM report, the public is being urged not to interact with such messages or open any links attached to them, as they may contain harmful content designed to steal personal or sensitive information.

Read more-Oversharing online? Here’s what UAE authority has to say about it

Officials said the scam messages often reference shipments or ask recipients to update delivery details, tactics commonly used to lure people into revealing their data.

Attempts to steal personal data

Authorities explained that some of these messages may appear convincing, sometimes using phone numbers or names that suggest a connection to official entities.

“These messages may include claims about a shipment or requests to update information,” the authority said, warning that fraudsters use such methods to gain access to personal data.

Abu Dhabi Customs stressed that customers should never share personal information with unknown sources and should rely only on official channels to access services and updates.

The authority reaffirmed its commitment to maintaining high cybersecurity standards and protecting customer data while working with relevant authorities to monitor and combat fraud attempts.

Residents are also encouraged to report suspicious messages impersonating Abu Dhabi Customs through official channels to help raise community awareness and curb phishing activities.