The United Arab Emirates introduced the draft resolution on behalf of the Gulf Cooperation Council states and Jordan.
Geneva: The United Arab Emirates led a diplomatic push at a key International Telecommunication Union forum in Geneva, resulting in the unanimous adoption of a resolution condemning attacks on civilian telecommunications and information technology infrastructure, including submarine cables in the Gulf.
The measure was passed during the ITU council session held from April 28 to May 8, 2026, marking the first time the body has formally denounced such attacks on digital infrastructure.
The United Arab Emirates introduced the draft resolution on behalf of the Gulf Cooperation Council states and Jordan, reinforcing its growing role as a regional voice in international forums. The proposal received broad backing from member states and was adopted by consensus, while a separate draft submitted by Iran failed to gain agreement.
The resolution includes a formal international condemnation of attacks targeting telecommunications infrastructure in Bahrain, Kuwait, the United Arab Emirates and Jordan, with particular focus on damage to submarine cables in the Gulf corridor — a critical artery for global connectivity linking Asia, the Middle East, Europe and Africa.
It also calls on the International Telecommunication Union leadership to monitor and assess such incidents, report on their global implications and support coordinated international efforts to assist affected countries.
The initiative builds on wider international momentum, following recent resolutions by the United Nations Security Council and the United Nations Human Rights Council condemning attacks on civilian infrastructure, reinforcing a growing consensus on the need to safeguard digital systems.
Speaking during the session, Jamal Al Musharakh, the UAE’s permanent representative to the UN and other international organisations in Geneva, said attacks on communications infrastructure pose a direct threat to essential services, including emergency response, humanitarian coordination and economic activity.
He added that their impact extends beyond national borders, affecting the resilience and stability of digital networks at both regional and global levels.
Majed Al Mesmar, Director-General of the Telecommunications and Digital Government Regulatory Authority, said telecommunications infrastructure is “the backbone of our shared digital future”, stressing that protecting it is a collective responsibility essential to maintaining global connectivity.
