e& doubles down on AI, cloud as H1 profits soar 60%

Dubai: UAE-based telecoms and tech conglomerate e& (formerly Etisalat Group) reported a 60.7% surge in net profit for the first half of 2025, reaching Dh8.8 billion, as strong revenue growth and strategic divestments boosted performance.

The Group’s H1 consolidated revenue rose 23.3% year-on-year to Dh34.9 billion, while EBITDA climbed 18.8% to Dh15.4 billion with a healthy margin of 44.1%. In the second quarter alone, e& booked Dh18.0 billion in revenue, up 28.1% from a year earlier.

e& also reported a Q2 net profit of Dh3.5 billion, an increase of 9.7% from the previous year. The company’s subscriber base grew to 198 million globally, a 13.1% annual increase, with 15.5 million users in the UAE.

Group CEO Hatem Dowidar said the performance highlights the strength of e&’s diversified business model and focus on operational excellence. “We preserved momentum across verticals and executed key strategic moves like the divestments of Khazna and Airalo,” he said, adding that the Group will continue to scale future technologies.

AI push, global growth

e& has made major moves in 2025 to refocus operations and embrace emerging technologies:

• Divested 40% of Khazna Data Centers for Dh8 billion

• Acquired Serbia Broadband to expand its European presence

• Launched UAE Sovereign Cloud Launchpad with AWS and the Cyber Security Council

• Formed edge AI and 5G innovation partnership with Qualcomm

• Rolled out an AI governance framework with IBM

• Graduated 284 UAE nationals from its AI training program since 2021

The Group also received the top-tier ‘S Class’ rating under the Dubai AI Seal for responsible AI development, and was named the World’s Fastest Growing Brand in 2025 by Brand Finance.

Chairman Jassem Mohamed Bu Ataba Alzaabi called the performance a result of strategic foresight: “Thanks to the UAE’s visionary leadership, e& remains committed to shaping innovation-led, resilient societies across all our markets.”

Outlook

With ongoing digital infrastructure investments, global market expansion, and a growing AI portfolio, e& says it will stay focused on future technologies and long-term value creation.

The company’s performance comes despite global macroeconomic challenges, including inflationary pressures and tech sector volatility.