Internet disruption across UAE, Gulf and Asia: Red Sea cable cuts and repair efforts

General

Internet disruption across UAE, Gulf and Asia: Red Sea cable cuts and repair efforts

A critical incident unfolded in early September 2025 when multiple submarine fiber optic cables in the Red Sea were cut, likely by a ship’s dragging anchor, leading to widespread internet slowdowns across Asia, the Middle East, and Africa. The affected cables include SEA-ME-WE-4 (South East Asia–Middle East–Western Europe 4), IMEWE (India, Middle East, Western Europe), FALCON GCX, and Europe India Gateway.

Countries such as India, Pakistan, and the UAE experienced varying degrees of service degradation, from slower browsing speeds to strained access to cloud platforms like Microsoft Azure. Microsoft confirmed increased latency for Azure users whose traffic passed through the Middle East, but assured that rerouting to alternative paths kept services operational.

Regional telecom operators such as the UAE’s du and Etisalat (e&) and Pakistan Telecommunication Company warned of continued slowdowns, especially during peak hours, while exploring alternative bandwidth options to mitigate disruptions.

Repairing undersea cables is a complex undertaking requiring specialized cable-laying vessels. Analysts estimate that full restoration could take days to several weeks, depending on logistical, geopolitical, and technical factors. The U.S. State Department is “closely monitoring” the situation, given the vital role these cables play in global commerce, security, and communications.

Beyond the immediate impacts, this incident highlights a recurring vulnerability. The Red Sea remains a high-risk chokepoint, one where accidental damage from shipping and deliberate disruption alike pose tangible threats to global digital infrastructure. Ongoing efforts to diversify digital corridors, through terrestrial routes across the Middle East and greater redundancy, will be essential to bolster resilience against future incidents.