Internet speeds in the United Arab Emirates have been impacted by recent cuts to underwater cables in the Red Sea. Dubai Over 99 percent of all international internet traffic is carried by underwater fiber-optic cables, which are used extensively in the UAE and much of the rest of the world. Internet connection has recently been hindered throughout the Middle East and portions of Asia, including India and Pakistan, due to interruptions brought on by underwater cable cuts in the Red Sea. Over the weekend, users in the United Arab Emirates noticed reduced speeds and sporadic connectivity; however, by Sunday, services had mostly restored to normal.
Even though these problems were short-lived, they show how susceptible the internet is to physical cable outages and make one wonder if satellite internet providers like Starlink could offer a dependable backup. What led to the internet outage in the UAE? Failures impacting the SMW4 and IMEWE cable systems close to Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, were blamed for the most recent slowness. In order to connect Europe, the Middle East, and Asia, these underwater cables are essential.
Although the precise origin of the cable cutting is still unknown, concerns are raised throughout the region since underwater wires can be purposefully attacked or inadvertently damaged by ship anchors. While traffic that is not routed through the Middle East remains unaffected, Microsoft also stated that certain areas of the region “may experience increased latency due to undersea fiber cuts in the Red Sea.”
Middle Eastern satellite internet and Starlink In order to facilitate broadband satellite services, such as Starlink, the Telecommunications and Digital Government Regulatory Authority (TDRA) of the United Arab Emirates is investigating new legislation. The goal of the July 2025 public consultations is to let authorized providers to deliver satellite internet to UAE citizens. Space X’s Starlink technology, which offers connectivity in isolated and arid regions, is currently in use in a number of Middle Eastern nations, including Qatar, Oman, Bahrain, Jordan, and Yemen. Starlink was recently authorized by Saudi Arabia for usage in the maritime and aviation industries to increase digital infrastructure. How Starlink could help the UAE Network diversity Combining fiber and satellite connections to guarantee continuous service has long been a normal strategy for UAE ISPs.
According to Jimmy Grewal, general director of the UAE-based maritime electronics business ELCOME, services like Starlink have several benefits over regular satellite connectivity, including latency that is often ten times lower. “Starlink could help deliver better internet quality during fiber outages, along with systems like SES’s O3b M-POWER and Amazon’s Project Kuiper in the future,” Grewal told News Channel. The problem is that none of these satellite providers can completely replace the UAE’s broken underwater cables at this time. But in times like the one we are witnessing now, they can be a useful addition, keeping people connected and reducing stress.
Satellite services like Starlink and Kuiper, however, have the potential to be a fantastic addition to assist increase Internet capacity and offer short-term respite in the event of situations like to the one we are presently facing. Jimmy Grewal, Managing Director of ELCOME, a marine electronics company situated in the United Arab Emirates
Where fiber cannot reach, satellite internet can. Services like Starlink could serve as a backup and keep people online in the event that underwater cable outages occur. Examples from the real world include: Tonga: The country had to rely on satellite connectivity, such as Starlink, when underwater cables were damaged in 2022 and 2024. South Africa: While Starlink users stayed connected, numerous cable failures resulted in extensive outages. The Direct-to-Cell (D2C) technology from Starlink increases its potential even more. Without the need for Wi-Fi or extra gear, it enables cell phones to connect straight to satellites, enabling texting, location sharing, and eventually voice and data services. Even in situations where ground infrastructure is compromised, its low-Earth orbit satellites, which orbit at a distance of about 350 km (217 miles), aid in preserving communication.
There are weaknesses with satellite services. Thousands of Starlink users were impacted by a two-and-a-half-hour global outage that occurred in July 2025. Specialized ships are needed to repair underwater cables, and finding and repairing damage might take days or weeks. Rerouting becomes more difficult when multiple failures occur along the same path, and latency may grow until complete restoration.
One of the most delicate internet chokepoints in the world is still the Red Sea region, which is susceptible to both geopolitical threats and unintentional harm from shipping operations.
