• Consolidated net profit reached AED 14.4 billion, growing 34 per cent Year-over-Year
• e&’s subscriber base increased to 244.7 million across Asia, Africa, Middle East, Central and Eastern Europe
• Full year dividend per share of 90 fils that will increase to 95 fils in 2026
• Hatem Dowidar the Group CEO will step down at the end of March after 6 years in the role
• Masood M. Sharif Mahmood will take over on April 1^st as the Group CEO, in addition to his current role as CEO of e& UAE.

e& has delivered record financial performance in 2025, reporting consolidated revenues of AED 72.9 billion, an increase of 23.1 per cent year-over-year (YoY).  

Consolidated net profits grew to AED 14.4 billion, growing 33.6 per cent, driven by progress across its business verticals. Consolidated EBITDA rose by 21.1 per cent YoY, reaching AED 32.0 billion.

e& UAE continued its solid performance, with its subscriber base surpassing 16.3 million, representing an increase of 8.4 per cent compared to the previous year. The group’s total subscriber base grew to 244.7 million, marking a 31.3 per cent growth compared to 2024.

Financial highlights for FY 2025

* Included Telenor Pakistan figures as reported to PTA

** Adjusted for Maroc Telecom reported number

For FY 2025, the board has proposed a cash dividend of 47 fils per share for the second half (July to December) of 2025, bringing the total annual dividend to 90 fils per share. The board has also announced that the total annual dividend will increase in 2026 to reach 95 fils per share—further highlighting e&’s commitment to delivering added value to its shareholders.

Also today, e& announced that its Group Chief Executive Officer, Hatem Dowidar, has decided to step down from his position as Group CEO after 6 years in the role. The Board of Directors has accepted his resignation, with his last day in service to be 31 March 2026.

Dowidar has led e& since 2020, steering the organisation through a period of significant transformation and international expansion. Under his leadership, e& accelerated its strategic evolution from a regional telecommunications operator into a global technology and group, strengthening its footprint across the Middle East, Africa, Asia and Europe, and advancing its digital, fintech, enterprise and digital lifestyle verticals. During his tenure, the Group delivered record financial performance and reinforced its position as one of the world’s leading technology and telecom brands.

The Board of Directors has appointed Masood M. Sharif Mahmood, who has been serving as Chief Executive Officer of e& UAE since 2021, as successor to assume the roles of both, Group Chief Executive Officer of e& and Chief Executive Officer – UAE, effective 1 April 2026.

H.E. Jassem Mohamed Bu Ataba Alzaabi, Chairman of e&, said: “e&’s record 2025 results reflect the continued success of our strategy to evolve into a global technology group anchored by strong business pillars and disciplined execution. We are redefining the future of connectivity and enabling new possibilities across enterprise solutions, fintech and digital platforms.

On behalf of the Board, I extend our sincere appreciation to Hatem for his leadership and the significant progress achieved during his tenure. He has played a key role in advancing e&’s transformation and strengthening long-term shareholder value, and we wish him every success in his future endeavours.”

Hatem Dowidar said: “It has been an honour to lead e& during a defining chapter in its history. I am proud of what we have accomplished together, transforming our business, expanding internationally, and building new growth engines for the future. The record results achieved in 2025 reflect the strength of our strategy, the resilience of our operating model, and the dedication of our people.

I extend my sincere gratitude to the Chairman, the Board, our leadership team and all our employees for their unwavering commitment and support. I remain confident in e&’s continued success in the years ahead under the leadership of Masood.”

Masood M. Sharif Mahmood said:

“I am deeply honoured to take on the role of Group Chief Executive Officer of e& and grateful for the opportunity to lead this ambitious global company,”. Masood, who brings more than 25 years of senior leadership experience in communications, investments and technology sectors, also said “I want to thank Eng Hatem Dowidar for his exceptional leadership and partnership and the Chairman and the Board of Directors for their trust and endorsement. I look forward to building on our shared achievements with our talented teams, OpCos, and partners worldwide.”

e& remains focused on executing its strategic priorities, embedding advanced technologies including AI across its operations, and delivering sustainable value for its shareholders, customers, partners and the communities it serves.

Key Operational Highlights

e&

The UAE’s Sovereign Launchpad, developed in collaboration with Amazon Web Services (AWS) and endorsed by the UAE Cyber Security Council went live enabling full national data sovereignty and security, supporting the UAE’s leadership in digital infrastructure.

e& successfully completed its divestment of its 40 per cent stake in Khazna Data Center and also collaborated with Qualcomm Technologies to accelerate digital transformation in the UAE through advanced 5G solutions and edge AI.

Together with IBM, e& launched a comprehensive watsonx AI governance platform to strengthen compliance, oversight, and ethical practices across its integrated and growing ecosystem. In addition, e& released a joint study with the IBM Institute for Business Value titled “MENA’s AI advantage: Opportunity to leap ahead and lead,” highlighting the region’s potential to emerge as a global leader in this field.

Through an academic partnership, e& partnered with New York University Abu Dhabi to advance research and development in 6G technologies. The Group partnered with The Butterfly Foundation, the University of Wollongong, and Zayed University to launch a programme supporting students and recent graduates of determination to focus on building essential skills and exploring suitable career paths within an inclusive and supportive environment.

e& Carrier & Wholesale Services opened two new offices, one in Miami, Florida, and other in Johannesburg, South Africa marking a significant milestone in the Group’s global expansion and strengthens its role as a key enabler of seamless, intelligent connectivity across continents.

As part of efforts to strengthen organisational resilience, the Group launched a Business Continuity service. e& received an “S-Class” rating, the highest tier, under the Dubai AI Seal initiative launched by the Dubai Centre for Artificial Intelligence at the Dubai Future Foundation. e& also won the award for “Best Procurement Transformation,” recognising its innovative approach to transforming procurement into a strategic driver of innovation using AI, advanced analytics, and agile practices.

e& partnered with 4iG Group based in Hungary and the Western Balkans to explore opportunities in subsea and terrestrial networks, hyperscale data centres, and regional connectivity corridors linking the Middle East and North Africa with Europe.

The Group launched the AI Academy; a strategic initiative aimed at developing AI skills across its workforce. During the year, e& also celebrated the graduation of 25 Emirati men and women from the fifth cohort of the AI Graduate Programme, bringing the total number of beneficiaries since its launch in 2021 to 284.

With Amazon Web Services (AWS), e& launched the “AI Nation – Afaaq” programme through the e& Academy to train 30,000 people in AI and cloud skills. The Group also introduced the Cybersecurity Startups Accelerator in partnership with AWS, CrowdStrike, and the UAE Government’s Cyber Security Council to support and accelerate the growth of more than 500 Emirati cybersecurity startups.

In addition, e& launched the first sustainability hackathon in the GCC, in collaboration with several regional telecom operators, to accelerate the transition to more sustainable and energy-efficient networks, reduce electronic waste, and inspire innovation in digital infrastructure.

As an effort to support the Arabic language, e& launched a new free keyboard designed specifically for users accustomed to writing in Arabizi, offering a familiar layout of letters and numbers to help users transition to writing in Arabic.

e& UAE

The region’s first advanced 5G network (5.5G) set a new global benchmark for speed, reliability, intelligence, and sustainability. In addition, the company commenced commercial operations of RedCap technology on its 5.5G network, marking the first live deployment of the technology in the UAE. This expanded the scope of 5G to include low-power smart connectivity for IoT applications and wearable devices such as smartwatches.

Leveraging its reliable and extensive network, e& UAE contributed to the UAE achieving a global milestone by recording the highest fibre-to-the-home coverage rate worldwide at 99.5 per cent spanning 16.0 million kilometres, delivering ultra-fast connectivity to 2.97 million homes as part of its Fibre-First strategy.

e& UAE also played a key role in the country ranking first globally for mobile download speeds, including 5G according to the Ookla Speedtest Index. The company successfully tested the 6 GHz and 600 MHz frequency bands allocated by the regulatory authority for international mobile telecommunications services.

For the first time in the region, e& UAE launched 5G network slicing solutions for enterprises across its network. In addition to this, it launched the next-generation enterprise connectivity platform another milestone that integrated proprietary e& UAE technologies such as Trust Net and AI Net, while offering seamless integration with global cloud service providers including AWS, Microsoft Azure, and Oracle Cloud.

It also implemented a private 5G network with Emirates Steel (EMSTEEL), adding advanced network slicing capabilities to support real-time automation, predictive maintenance, and worker safety monitoring.

In support of the business sector, e& UAE worked on modernising its 5G core network, established an AI Centre of Excellence in collaboration with Intel, and launched “MissionOn,” a secure national platform for instant voice and video communications designed for frontline teams.

In UAE, it continued to support national digital priorities through a range of impactful strategic partnerships, including collaboration with the Ministry of Industry and Advanced Technology to support more than 7,000 SMEs certified under the UAE’s In-Country Value programme.

Visitors travelling to Abu Dubai and Sharjah airports will now receive free SIM cards upon arrival, enhancing the travel experience and supporting the development of advanced digital services across the UAE.

With UAE-based space technology company Space42 it plans to explore opportunities in direct-to-device (D2D) connectivity between satellites and devices. The partnership is built on the Equatys platform and aims to enable seamless advanced 5.5G connectivity across satellite and terrestrial networks. With Space42, the company will also develop, test, and deploy vehicle-to-everything (V2X) connectivity technologies, supporting autonomous mobility and smart city infrastructure development across the UAE.

With Al Maryah Bank AE Coin payments was enabled across several e& channels and digital platforms. This landmark step strengthens the UAE’s global leadership in digital payment innovation and positions e& UAE as the first to adopt a fully licensed, central bank-approved stablecoin for bill payments and digital transactions.

At the enterprise level, e& UAE deepened its collaboration with Microsoft to deploy M365 Copilot at scale, in a move designed to transform the workplace through AI. The two companies also launched the “AI for Business Skilling” programme, an initiative aimed at equipping small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) with essential AI skills.

Continuing its efforts to empower SMEs in the UAE, e& UAE partnered with Aleria to deliver tailored AI business solutions designed to improve decision-making, enhance operational efficiency, and optimise cost management.

In collaboration with Open Innovation AI, e& UAE launched a dedicated AI laboratory aimed at developing innovative local solutions and accelerating the pace of innovation. e& UAE strengthened its collaboration with Samsung to provide customers across the UAE with the latest generation of AI-powered smartphones.

The company launched Neo Home, a new range of fibre packages offering speeds of up to 1 Gbps to deliver a seamless viewing experience, faster downloads, and additional customisable TV services. Parental Control was launched as a comprehensive connectivity and online safety service that enables parents to filter content, monitor devices, and manage screen time, ensuring a safer and more balanced digital experience for children across the UAE.

Smiles announced a new partnership with Tencent Cloud, the cloud arm of the company behind WeChat, to enhance digital commerce capabilities in the UAE. The super app also expanded its partner ecosystem through an integration agreement with Etihad Guest, enabling seamless loyalty point exchanges between the two programmes.

e& UAE joined the “Father’s Endowment” campaign that aims to establish a sustainable endowment fund valued at AED 1 billion to support healthcare for low-income patients, in honour of fathers across the UAE. It also partnered with the UAE Cyber Security Council to launch the Al Ain Innovation Centre to strengthen its position as a global hub for innovation, digital transformation, and the development of a sustainable knowledge-based economy.

In customer experience, the company received recognition from Forrester for transformation through initiatives such as the Customer Experience Change Makers, efforts to redesign the customer journey, and leadership engagement programmes such as “Customer Hour.” In recognition of its digital innovation efforts, e& UAE was awarded three prestigious CAMARA certifications under the GSMA Open Gateway initiative, reinforcing its leadership in API innovation and interoperability.

The Middle East’s first 6G connectivity trial using terahertz frequencies was conducted  with New York University Abu Dhabi, achieving record data transmission speeds. The company also led efforts to establish the UAE 6G Innovation Centre and the country’s first unified national laboratories for 5G and 6G networks, in partnership with Khalifa University and Zayed University, supporting the UAE’s position as a key global contributor to 6G standards development.

In collaboration with Open Innovation AI, e& UAE published a joint report titled “GenAI adoption: A strategic blueprint for the future.” The report provides a comprehensive analysis of how generative AI is reshaping business operations and outlines a practical roadmap to help organisations harness its transformative potential.

e& life

In 2025, e& life accelerated momentum across fintech, digital banking, entertainment, and lifestyle, translating scale into stronger leadership, deeper platform integration, and improved profitability across its core verticals.

In fintech, e& money maintained its position as the UAE’s #1 licensed fintech app, with total cards issued surpassing 1.76 million, doubling year-on-year. Transaction value grew 2.8 times, while remittance activity continued to scale strongly, reinforcing its leadership in digital payments.

The platform secured Finance Company license approval, enabling entry into lending, expanded into payroll and salary solutions, and strengthened embedded finance capabilities, broadening its financial SuperApp proposition and monetisation base.

Wio continued its strong expansion in 2025, growing deposits and revenue materially year-on-year, supported by rising investment activity and sustained customer satisfaction leadership, reiterating its position as UAE’s most loved digital bank.

In entertainment, STARZPLAY delivered strong growth while executing transformational milestones, completing its merger with evision and scaling across key verticals. App installs surpassed 10.6 million (+82 per cent vs. 2024), and AVOD users more than doubled over last year. Long-term sports rights and premium Arabic content partnerships further strengthened its position as a leading regional entertainment hub.

In lifestyle, Careem Everything App delivered strong growth alongside margin expansion, nearly doubling GTV and revenues and significantly improving its path to profitability with double digit margin improvement. Careem Plus subscriptions surpassed 550,000 members, deepening ecosystem engagement across food, quik commerce, and payments.

e& enterprise

e& enterprise continued to play a strategic role in driving digital transformation across the region through strategic partnerships and advanced future-ready technologies.

Among these was its partnership with AWS to launch the UAE Sovereign Cloud Launchpad. With this partnership, e& enterprise is helping governments and regulated industries modernise critical workloads in a secure, locally hosted environment that meets national compliance requirements while unlocking innovation through scalable cloud infrastructure.

The company  expanded its strategic partnership with Microsoft to accelerate AI adoption across critical sectors in the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Egypt, and Türkiye.

With Emeritus it signed a three-year partnership to launch an AI training programme aimed at empowering executives, senior leaders, and middle management with leadership, strategic, and practical skills.

In addition, with global cloud communications platform Infobip it introduced a new customer interaction centre that combines advanced customer engagement solutions with the engageX platform. Similarly, e& enterprise worked closely with Salesforce to integrate advanced customer relationship management solutions, including Sales Cloud, Marketing Cloud, and Tableau on the platform.

In Egypt, e& enterprise partnered with iscore to co-build an AI-powered credit risk and data governance platform.. This new platform turned legacy processes into a fully automated, compliant, and secure ecosystem that accelerates credit decisions, enables real-time fraud detection, and advances financial inclusion.

In 2025, Beehive signed a non-binding offer letter with Themar to transform SME financing in KSA. This strategic move looks to officially establish Beehive as a regulated fintech lender in the Kingdom, significantly strengthening its presence in one of the region's most dynamic SME markets.

In line with its commitment to the highest standards of security and compliance, e& enterprise’s OneCloud platform achieved ISO/IEC 27017 and ISO/IEC 27001:2022 certifications. In addition, the company announced plans to launch the next generation of its fully sovereign OneCloud platform in the UAE, powered by Oracle Alloy.

e& enterprise was recognised by IDC across multiple prestigious categories. Help AG received the Strategic Partner Award from the Abu Dhabi Department of Health. In addition, Help AG Saudi Arabia was recognised by Palo Alto Networks as Partner of the Year for Secure Access and Endpoint Services.

Within the enterprise solutions sector, with the Office of Information Technology and eGovernment of the Republic of Serbia it will work on data centre expansion in Serbia.

The company also launched a sovereign AI inference platform with Dell and Intel, enabling high-performance AI workloads to be deployed locally in line with the highest security standards and data residency requirements. In addition, e& enterprise unveiled SLM in a Box in partnership with AWS and Intel, aimed at accelerating the adoption of AI across the public and private sectors

e& international

e& international delivered several significant achievements during 2025. e& PPF Telecom Group completed the acquisition of 100 per cent of Serbia Broadband, creating a converged player with a stronger competitive position in the Serbian market.

O2 Slovakia, part of e& PPF Telecom, signed a binding agreement with Liberty Global to acquire 100 per cent of UPC Slovakia for EUR 95 million. As a fixed line provider, UPC’s assets complement O2’s strong mobile offering in Slovakia.

In 2025, e& international operating companies launched 5G service in 3 markets – Morocco, Egypt and Serbia. The commercial launch of 5G marks a major milestone towards broad-based digital growth through higher speeds, wider coverage, and new digital opportunities.

e& international companies also invested in spectrum to support 5G and ensure the best network experience for customers with additional spectrum acquired in Morocco and Serbia. O2 Slovakia also participated in the largest spectrum auction in the country’s history, with licences extending until 2048.

PTCL completed its acquisition of 100 per cent of Telenor Pakistan. Meanwhile, PTCL Flash Fiber maintained its position as the largest fibre-to-the-home provider in Pakistan and reached more than 8,20,000 subscribers.

In Morocco, Maroc Telecom (MT) and Inwi (Wana Corporate) signed an expanded partnership to establish two joint ventures UniFiber and UniTower to accelerate the rollout of fibre-optic and 5G networks.

In Egypt, e& Cash rebranded to e& money, and the platform was upgraded to provide a more comprehensive financial services experience, including the first instant international money transfer service in the country, developed in collaboration with Banque du Caire.

e& PPF Telecom Group received international recognition in European markets for its strong performance in mobile services, with Yettel Hungary named the Fastest Mobile Network by Ookla, and both Yettel Serbia and Yettel Bulgaria winning Best in Test by umlaut.

In Saudi Arabia, Mobily was recognised as the fastest-growing telecommunications brand in the Middle East, with its brand value increasing by more than 140 per cent over the past five years. Mobily also announced investments exceeding SAR 3.4 billion in digital infrastructure projects, including data centres and subsea cables, highlighting the company’s strategic role in supporting the Kingdom’s digital transformation.

In Afghanistan, Etisalat Afghanistan provided humanitarian and logistical support to returning families, including the distribution of more than 17 tonnes of food aid, upgrades to 4G network towers, and the establishment of new service points at border crossings. These efforts enhanced connectivity and supported local communities.

e& capital

In 2025, e& capital deployed capital across a mix of regional champions and global disruptors, reinforcing its commitment to backing high-growth, innovation-led businesses.

During the year, e& capital participated in a funding round for Qlub alongside key regional and global investors, supporting the company’s global expansion and strengthening its smart payments platform for restaurants. It also co-led a Series A round for Fuze with Galaxy, enabling the development of a digital asset infrastructure platform for the Middle East and Türkiye. In addition, e& capital invested in Opus by AppliedAI, an advanced AI enterprise automation platform for regulated sectors, helping drive greater efficiency and compliance.

e& UAE, the flagship telecom arm of global technology group e&, in partnership with Samsung Gulf Electronics, today announced All-In TV, a first-of-its-kind service in the MENA region. Customers can get a new Smart TV from a wide variety of Samsung TVs with popular streaming services in a single, simple monthly plan, consolidated on the customer’s e& UAE bill. 

Designed to remove the complexity and upfront cost typically associated with upgrading home entertainment, All-In TV bundles a Samsung TV with streaming apps, from STARZPLAY alongside OSN+ and Amazon Prime, plus free delivery, professional installation, and an extended two-year warranty. Customers also benefit from a free built-in upgrade path to a newer TV model with every contract renewal.

The service is offered across a curated range of Samsung TVs, including The Frame, QLED, and OLED models across screen sizes from 55 to 85 inch, giving customers the flexibility to choose between design-forward screens, enhanced colour vibrancy, and cinematic picture quality, all within a single seamless monthly plan.

All-In TV can be added to any active account, with monthly payments starting from AED [109] per month over 24 months. Customers can enjoy savings of up to AED [3,700] compared to purchasing the TV and streaming service subscriptions separately.

Dr. Tamer Eltoni, Senior Vice President for Devices & Future Growth Ventures at e& UAE, said: “All-In TV simplifies the way customers upgrade their home entertainment with one monthly payment, and everything is included, from the Samsung TV and the streaming services, to delivery, installation and extended warranty. With a built-in upgrade option every two years, customers can experience the latest technology and innovation without the usual hassle or upfront cost.”

Vineet Kumar, Head of the Visual Display Division at Samsung Gulf Electronics, said: “We are proud to collaborate with e& UAE to bring Samsung’s latest display technology to customers through a flexible and accessible model. Together, we are making a future-ready home entertainment experience within reach across our visual display portfolio, from The Frame to QLED and OLED. With All-In TV, customers can enjoy premium viewing experiences while keeping upgrades simple, seamless and affordable.”

All-In TV reflects e& UAE’s continued focus on reimagining how customers access and experience technology, integrating premium devices, trusted content, and flexible payment models into a seamless end-to-end service that delivers both value and simplicity.

e& Carrier & Wholesale (CWS) has announced the successful launch of its 5G Standalone (5G SA) network, setting a new standard for global connectivity with advanced roaming capabilities and exclusive Security Edge Protection Proxy (SEPP) integration via its IPX platform.

This achievement positions e& Carrier & Wholesale as the advance provider in the region offering SEPP facilities to Mobile Network Operators (MNOs) from its Point of Presence (PoP). The new 5G SA architecture, operating independently of legacy networks, delivers ultra-fast speeds up to 100 times faster than 4G, with unparalleled reliability and ultra-low latency.

By enabling seamless 5G SA roaming across borders, e& Carrier & Wholesale is empowering operators to deliver next-generation applications, from immersive AR and VR experiences to advanced IoT solutions and AI-driven services. The integration of SEPP through the IPX platform ensures secure, trusted connectivity by protecting signalling exchanges between global operators. Successful SEPP-to-SEPP testing with leading partners including TATA Communications highlights e& Carrier & Wholesale’s leadership in driving international collaboration.

Omar Bin Humidan Al Zaabi, Senior Vice President Product & Business Development, e& CWS said: “With this launch, we are reinforcing our position as the global hub for secure and advanced connectivity. Delivering 5G SA roaming with exclusive SEPP support reflects our commitment to enabling seamless, reliable, and secure international services for our global partners. This milestone sets a benchmark for the industry and strengthens the UAE’s role in shaping the future of connectivity.”

This milestone is another in a row continuing its evolution from a regional telecom operator to a global technology powerhouse, these achievements reaffirm its leadership position and dedication to powering digital economies through advanced infrastructure and customer-centric innovation.

e& money today announced the beginning of a bold new era in its journey to reshape digital finance in the UAE, following the approval of a Finance Company license from the Central Bank of the UAE. This milestone marks more than an expansion of services. It signals a shift in ambition from enabling transactions to unlocking financial opportunity.

Over the past years, e& money has transformed how people pay, send, and spend. Today, more than 2 million customers rely on the app for everyday payments, international remittance, and card spending making it one of the UAE’s most inclusive digital payment ecosystems with the highest number of active users in the country. These strong foundations have built scale, trust, and deep data intelligence, positioning e& money to take its next decisive step.

With the Finance Company license, e& money is expanding beyond payments into lending — not as a standalone product, but as an integrated part of a connected financial experience. This move opens new possibilities for individuals who have long been underserved by traditional financial models, and brings credit into the same simple, digital-first environment customers already trust.

This evolution reinforces e& money’s long-term vision of financial inclusion and its ambition to be a true financial superapp — one that supports customers across their full financial journey, from everyday transactions to moments that enable growth, stability, and progress.

At the heart of this new chapter is a data and AI-driven approach to credit. By leveraging real transaction behavior, alternative data, and advanced analytics, e& money has developed an enhanced credit scoring model designed to responsibly extend access to credit to new segments of society, including individuals who may not have previously been eligible for loans.

Khalifa Al Shamsi, CEO of e& life and e& international, said: ““In a digitally advanced economy like the UAE, access to credit is still not a given. While the UAE has achieved near universal financial inclusion, gaps remain when it comes to conventional lending. At e& money, we believe its about facilitating access this is not a risk issue — it’s an access issue. With this next chapter, we are rethinking how credit is assessed and delivered, using data and technology to open doors for people who have long been overlooked.”

Under this new phase, e& money will progressively introduce a range of fit-for-purpose lending solutions, rolled out in stages. These will include buy-now-pay-later offerings, early wage access, credit cards, and other solutions — all designed with transparency, affordability, and strong customer protection at their core.

This expansion strengthens e& money’s role within the broader digital ecosystem of e& and reinforces its position as a catalyst for inclusive growth and digital transformation in the UAE. As e& money enters this new era, its focus remains clear: to make financial services simpler, fairer, and accessible — and to turn everyday financial activity into real opportunity for everyone.

e& Carrier & Wholesale Services (C&WS), the international wholesale arm of global technology group e&, today announced the successful landing and integration of the 2Africa submarine cable system at its carrier neutral SmartHub data centre in the UAE.

Building on the completion of the core 2Africa system announced by the consortium, this milestone brings the cable’s capacity into service locally, strengthening the UAE’s international connectivity infrastructure and reinforcing its position as a global digital hub.

Spanning approximately 45,000 kilometres, 2Africa is the world’s largest submarine cable system, connecting Europe, Asia, Africa, and the Middle East, and plays a vital role in meeting the region’s rapidly increasing international bandwidth requirements.

Nabil Baccouche, Group Chief Carrier & Wholesale Officer, e&, said: “The successful landing and integration of 2Africa is a strategic achievement that reinforces e&’s role as a trusted global connectivity partner. By bringing this system into service in the UAE, we are strengthening international resilience and enabling our partners and customers to scale with confidence as demand for high-capacity, low-latency connectivity continues to grow.”

The landing of this state-of-the-art subsea cable now enhances network capacity, resilience, and latency performance, supporting the growing demand for data, cloud services, and digital transformation across the UAE and beyond. By diversifying international routes, the 2Africa system ensures more reliable and seamless connectivity for carriers, content providers, enterprises, and consumers.

Global technology group e& is highlighting the dangers of excessive screen use to help families and young people, aged 8 to 19, turn screen time into healthier habits. Following its debut at GITEX 2025, the Addictech initiative will offer parents and young people practical tips and highlight e&’s parental control tools that make day-to-day choices easier. The aim is to make it simple for families to recognise the signs of unhealthy use and build balanced routines that protect both physical and mental health.

Addictech is a collection of conceptual devices that look like the future of mental and physical health technology but act as a wake-up call. It uses the familiar look and feel of tech launches to shine a light on the real impact of social media overuse and screen addiction on children and teenagers. At its core are three eye-catching, thought-provoking devices presented as if they were the latest gadgets. “SpineAlign” points to posture problems caused by long hours looking down at screens. “NeuroGrip” highlights the strain from constant swiping and tapping. “Dopamine Regulator” calls out the mood swings linked to endless scrolling. While the products are intentionally fictional, the dangers they represent are real. The message is clear: if unhealthy habits are addressed early and together, families will not need fixes like these.

Three social films exposing the hidden dangers of excessive screen use: tech hunch, weakened hands, and mental overstimulation can be found at https://www.etisalat.ae/addictech

Fares Hamad Fares, Vice President, Group Digital Marketing, Brand & Communications at e& said: “We hope that “Addictech” strikes a chord because it turns a serious topic into something people can relate to and talk about. We hope families can find useful guidance in minutes and start small changes that add up to better digital wellbeing, while staying connected. This is an ongoing effort to raise awareness, offer tools that genuinely help, and make sure tech-savvy young people have the support they need to navigate today’s screen-heavy world.”

e& UAE, the flagship telecom arm of e& in the UAE, is also giving families practical tools to build safer digital habits. Its Parental Control Service lets parents set limits, filter content, and monitor online activity across devices. This provides a safer, more balanced digital environment for children while helping parents stay actively involved in their online world. TDRA guidance on child online safety emphasises that parents should use parental control applications, teach children to protect their privacy, and have open communication with them.The figures speak for themselves. Adolescents who spend more than four hours a day on non-school screen time face much higher risks to their wellbeing, according to CDC research. Those with heavier use were over twice as likely to report symptoms of anxiety and depression, and were also more prone to poor sleep, low physical activity and weaker social and emotional support, a reminder of how excessive screen use can affect both mental health and daily life. A 2025 BMC study of university students found that anyone using their phone for more than five hours a day was more likely to experience wrist pain and reduced grip strength, especially when scrolling one-handed.

Alongside “Addictech”, children can also take more ownership of their screen habits through other tools that are designed to help teens build healthier digital routines, and Psychology Today notes that they can proactively shape their screen time through shared decision-making, open conversations and mutual respect with parents.

The etisalat.ae/addictech page brings together clear, age-appropriate advice for young people and simple steps that families can put into practice. It also connects to e& parental control features that help set sensible limits, create phone-free zones and make mindful choices that fit each household.

e& enterprise, the digital transformation arm of global technology group e& and Emergence, the US–based leading agentic frontier company, today announced a strategic partnership to accelerate the adoption of next-generation AI solutions across enterprises throughout the MENAT region (Middle East, North Africa and Türkiye). The collaboration aims to help organizations unlock operational efficiencies, faster and more accurate insights, stronger governance, and higher productivity, through the deployment of advanced autonomous AI agents. 

Emergence is widely recognized as a leading agentic AI research lab, founded by some of the world’s most accomplished AI veterans. As part of the partnership, e& enterprise becomes a key distribution and implementation partner for solutions built on the Emergence AI platform. Enterprise clients will gain unprecedented deployment flexibility — from cloud-agnostic installations to fully on-premises, air-gapped environments — supported by white-glove advisory and implementation services. Organizations across MENAT will be able to access the full power of the Emergence platform while retaining complete sovereignty over their data, models, and proprietary workflows, an essential requirement for regulated industries. 

“This partnership marks a pivotal moment in the evolution of enterprise AI across the MENAT region,” said Amit Gupta, VP & Head of Data, AI and Fintech at e& enterprise. “Enterprises are moving quickly to operationalize AI, and they need solutions that deliver real impact—not just experimentation. As AI becomes increasingly agentic, data governance has become one of the most critical enablers of safe, scalable automation. Emergence serves as the intelligence layer that brings built-in governance, observability and controls into every workflow. Our partnership introduces a new class of autonomous AI capability to the region—systems that can automate complex processes, accelerate decision-making, and enforce governance by design while ensuring full data and model sovereignty. This collaboration reflects our commitment to helping customers deploy AI safely, confidently, and at scale.”

“Every organization we work with shares the same challenge: they want to scale AI, but their data and processes are too fragmented and still require constant human oversight,” said Satya Nitta, Co-founder and CEO of Emergence. “Agentic automation changes this by allowing enterprises to finally understand their data and then make use of it far more quickly—saving months of human effort—to drive actionable insights. Our platform creates a unified, intelligent foundation where our autonomous agents can reason, act, and deliver measurable value. Partnering with e& enterprise allows us to bring this capability to organizations across the MENAT region, helping them reduce operational friction, strengthen governance, and deploy agentic systems that drive real competitive advantage."

Powered by Emergence’s Semantic Intelligence platform, agents can automate multi-step processes across systems—spanning use cases such as semiconductor yield analysis, pharmaceutical research, and financial reporting. Using a three-tier framework (Foundation, Intelligence, Transformation), the platform first automates foundational data work (discovery, mapping, unification, and entity resolution), then applies the Intelligence layer to define the concepts, relationships, and rules that deliver deep, contextual understanding. Within the Transformation layer, Emergence’s ACA engine (Agents Creating Agents) builds bespoke agents that automate complex workflows end-to-end, enabling faster decisions, lower manual effort, and rapid time-to-value.

By combining Emergence’s agentic AI platform with e& enterprise’s extensive regional presence and deep enterprise relationships, organizations across MENAT will gain access to forward-deployed AI solutions capable of solving the “last-mile problem” — the complex, business-specific integrations and operational nuances that generic AI products cannot address. 

The announcement comes at a time of rapid AI investment across the region. According to P&S Intelligence, the GCC artificial intelligence market alone is estimated at USD 12.3 billion in 2025 and is forecast to reach USD 26.0 billion by 2032, driven by enterprise demand for automation, process optimization, predictive analytics, and faster, more confident decision-making. In the GCC, 19% of organizations have already moved from pilots to full-scale implementation of Agentic AI, with 74% planning adoption.

• Announced at the World Economic Forum in Davos, the deployment marks e&’s move beyond traditional chatbots to enterprise-grade agentic AI.
• Powered by IBM watsonx Orchestrate, agentic AI is embedded into mission-critical governance and compliance systems across e&.

Global technology group e& and IBM (NYSE: IBM) today announced a strategic collaboration to advance towards an enterprise-grade agentic AI foundation at e&, starting with policy, risk, and compliance. Unveiled at the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting in Davos, the initiative reflects e&’s move beyond traditional natural language processing (NLP)-based chatbots toward governed, action-oriented AI embedded in core enterprise systems.

e& and IBM have introduced an agentic AI solution built on IBM watsonx Orchestrate – a product offering more than 500 tools and customizable, domain-specific agents from IBM and its partners – to help employees and auditors quickly access and interpret legal, regulatory, and compliance information. Integrated with IBM OpenPages and the broader watsonx portfolio, the solution delivers clear, traceable responses aligned with enterprise governance requirements.

A joint proof of concept delivered by IBM, GBM (Gulf Business Machines) and e& within eight weeks demonstrated how agentic AI can operate at enterprise scale under real-world conditions.

IBM’s Client Engineering team led the design and integration of the agentic AI solution, with GBM supporting delivery through project coordination and deep familiarity with e&’s OpenPages and watsonx Assistant environment. The work showcased AI capabilities that move beyond traditional question-and-answer tools, enabling reasoning and action while remaining aligned with e&’s governance, risk, and compliance framework.

“Our ambition is to move beyond isolated AI use cases toward enterprise-scale agentic AI that is trusted, governed, and deeply integrated into how the organization operates,” said Hatem Dowidar, Group CEO, e&. “By collaborating with IBM, we are embedding intelligence directly into our risk and compliance processes, enabling faster decisions, consistent policy interpretation, and a foundation for broader agentic AI adoption across the enterprise.”

IBM watsonx Orchestrate enables agentic AI that goes beyond chat-based interactions, allowing AI agents to reason, orchestrate tasks, and integrate with enterprise systems under governance controls. For e&, it provides a foundation for trusted, explainable AI that can scale across compliance and other enterprise domains. It helps to streamline compliance tasks, reduce response times, and enables 24/7 self-service access across the organization.

The initiative also aligns natively with watsonx.governance, already in use at e&, providing a strong foundation for AI governance, explainability, and compliance by design. By embedding agentic AI directly into the OpenPages governance, risk, and compliance platform, this represents one of the early enterprise-grade agentic AI implementations in the region, demonstrating how AI can support trusted, human-led decision-making under regulatory and operational requirements.

The deployment also demonstrates the flexibility of IBM’s AI and model gateway approach, enabling large language models to run across hybrid environments, including customer-managed infrastructure, while remaining governed under enterprise controls.

“As organizations move from experimenting with AI to embedding it into the fabric of how they operate, governance and accountability become just as important as intelligence,” said Ana Paula Assis, SVP and Chair for Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and Asia Pacific, IBM. “Through our collaboration with e&, this proof of concept intends to demonstrate how agentic AI can be designed and validated for enterprise-scale use, deeply integrated into core systems, governed by design, and trusted to support human-led decisions and outcomes.”

This collaboration marks an important milestone in e&’s enterprise AI journey, establishing a scalable and governed foundation for agentic AI adoption across the organization. By embedding action-oriented AI directly into core governance and compliance workflows, e& is reinforcing its commitment to responsible innovation and setting a new benchmark for trusted, enterprise-grade agentic AI in the region.

e& enterprise, the digital transformation arm of global technology group e&, today announced a strategic collaboration with Sergas, a UAE-based gas system solutions provider, aimed at transforming the way energy operations are run and protected.

The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), signals a shared push toward smarter systems, stronger cybersecurity, and a better customer experience, all driven by innovation.

At the core of this collaboration is a suite of integrated digital capabilities designed to elevate Sergas’ operational efficiency, security, and customer engagement.

Next-Generation Security Operations Centre (SOC)

Delivered by HELP AG, an e& enterprise company, the SOC will bolster Sergas’ cybersecurity posture with advanced threat detection and rapid incident response. This ensures uninterrupted service delivery, increased operational reliability, and stronger protection for customer data.

EngageX A2P Communications Platform

By consolidating SMS, email, and WhatsApp into a single intelligent messaging hub, Sergas can automate service notifications, send targeted alerts, and personalise communications at scale. Customers will benefit from timely updates on billing, maintenance schedules, service requests, and safety advisories, all delivered through their preferred channels.

AI-Driven Contact Center Platform

The platform brings smarter self-service tools, omnichannel support, and enhanced workforce management. Sergas customers will gain quicker issue resolution, shorter wait times, 24/7 support, and more consistent service quality, whether they reach out through phone, chat, or digital channels.

Majd Coussa, Acting Chief Revenue Officer, e& enterprise, said: “This collaboration equips Sergas with a powerful set of digital capabilities that strengthen every part of their operation—from secure digital payments and enhanced cybersecurity to smarter customer engagement and AI-driven service delivery. It’s about giving them the tools to innovate faster, respond smarter, and deliver greater value to their customers.”

Mohamed Damak, Chief Executive Officer, Sergas Group, said: At Sergas Group, we are witnessing a rapid transformation driven by United Arab of Emirates's supportive investment climate and advanced regulatory framework. Our partnership with e& for Smart Solutions marks a key step in accelerating digital transformation through AI-powered solutions. By optimizing operations and reducing emissions, we’re shaping a smarter, cleaner future for the energy sector.”

The collaboration highlights how energy companies are embracing technology to stay ahead in a changing industry. With cybersecurity and data intelligence at its core, the partnership enables Sergas to optimise performance, enhance reliability, reduce emissions, and elevate the customer experience through the latest technologies.

e& UAE, the flagship telecommunications arm of global technology group e&, inked a landmark agreement with Al Rayan Investments to deliver high-speed managed Wi-Fi services connecting more than 42,000 residents across two of Abu Dhabi’s largest workforce and humanitarian communities, the Construction Workers Residential City (CWRC) Labor Camp and the Moon Flower Humanitarian City.

Under the agreement, e& UAE will design, deploy, and operate a high-speed, fully managed Wi-Fi network that provides high-quality internet, reliable coverage, secure access, and centralised performance management across both communities. The service will enable thousands of workers and displaced individuals to stay connected with their families, access digital services, and participate more fully in community life.

The MoU signing was attended by senior management from both e& and Al Rayan Investments who have played a key role in the implementation of the project, mainly Sultan Al Dhaheri, General Manager of e& UAE in Abu Dhabi, Saeed Al Yabhouni, CEO of Al Rayan Investments, Nader Nasseem General Manager, CWRC Labor Camp and Abdullah Al Ali Director of Operations, Moonflower Humanitarian City.

Sultan Al Dhaheri, General Manager of e& UAE in Abu Dhabi, said: “Connectivity is a fundamental right in today’s world, and every connection we build should make life a little easier for someone. Our work with Al Rayan Investment helps extend access to communities that need it most, connecting everyone and keeping people close to what matters: their families, their work, and their community. Through this partnership, we’re making sure that technology serves people first, advancing the UAE’s vision for inclusive, connected living.”

Saeed Al Yabhouni, CEO of Al Rayan Investments, said: “Real estate is ultimately about people and communities, not properties. And beyond housing, building strong communities is about giving people the means to connect and belong. This partnership with e& UAE ensures that the communities we build are connected, giving every resident the chance to stay in touch with their families, access information easily, and feel part of a larger community.”

This initiative is part of e& UAE’s continuous investment in intelligent connectivity services and next-generation network management solutions to ensure technology uplifts every community it reaches. It stems from the shared commitment of two leading national brands to make digital access universal, empowering people regardless of circumstance to participate in the country’s connected future. In line with the “We the UAE 2031” vision, which places people at the heart of sustainable development, this partnership is set to advance national goals in digital transformation, inclusion, and wellbeing, positioning Abu Dhabi as a model for connected, compassionate urban living.