e&, formerly Etisalat, is an Emirati joint-stock telecommunications company. It is currently the 16th largest in the world by subscribers.
On 31 December 2021, Etisalat reported consolidated revenue of AED 53.3 billion and net profits of AED 11.1 billion.[2] The total market capitalization of the company currently is AED329 billion.[3] In May 2023, Etisalat reported revenue of AED 13 billion for Q1,[4] AED 13.6 Billion for Q2, AED 13.3 Billion for Q3, and AED 13.7 Billion for Q4. In 2024, the revenue was AED 14.2 Billion for Q1, AED 14 Billion for Q2, AED 14.4 Billion for Q3, and AED 16.4 Billion for Q4.[5] In 2025, E& reported annual revenue of AED 72.9 billion [6] respectively.[7]
Etisalat is one of the main Internet hubs in the Middle East (AS8966), providing connectivity to other telecommunications operators in the region. It is also the largest carrier of international voice traffic in the Middle East and Africa combined and the 12th largest voice carrier in the world.[8] As of October 2008, Etisalat has 510 roaming agreements covering a total of 186 countries and enabling BlackBerry, 3G, GPRS and voice roaming.[9] Etisalat operates Points of Presence (PoP) in cities such as New York, London, Amsterdam, Frankfurt and Paris. And has one in Singapore. In December 2011, Etisalat announced the launch of the Etisalat 4G LTE Network.[10] In May 2018, Etisalat announced the launch of Etisalat 5G LTE Network, becoming the very first telecom operator in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region to do so.[11]
On 24 February 2022, Etisalat Group launched a new brand identity, changing their brand name from Etisalat to e& in order to reflect its transition from a traditional telecom company to a global technology and investment conglomerate. The group also announced that the company will withhold and use the previous branding identity both within the UAE and internationally.[12]
History
Etisalat Group was founded in 1976 as a joint-stock company between International Aeradio Limited, a British company, and local partners. In 1983, the ownership structure changed – United Arab Emirates government held a 60% share in the company and the remaining 40% were publicly traded.
In 1991, the UAE central government issued Federal Law No. 1, which gave the corporation the right to provide the telecommunications wired and wireless services in the country and between UAE and other countries. It also gave the firm the right to issue licenses for owning, importing, manufacturing, using, or operating telecommunication equipment. This practically gave Etisalat both regulatory and control powers, which completed the monopoly of the telecom giant in the UAE. In order to safeguard the country's economic development, the law made provisions for the development of the telecommunication sector in the country.
The increase of exchange lines from 36,000 in 1976 to more than 737,000 in 1998 was one of the important indicators of Etisalat network's growth and development. Today Etisalat stands 140th among the Financial Times Top 500 Corporations in the world in terms of market capitalisation, and is ranked by The Middle East Magazine
e&
e& is headquartered in Abu Dhabi and includes three regional offices – Abu Dhabi, Dubai, and the Northern Emirates. The Northern Emirates regional center is based in Sharjah and covers the telecom's operations in the emirates of Ajman, Umm Al Quwain, Fujairah, and Ras Al Khaimah.[15][16][17]
In the UAE, e& operates where mobile penetration is already among the highest in the world "200%",[18] Etisalat became known for its efforts to roll out its Fibre-To-The-Home (FTTH) network in the UAE. By the end of 2009, Etisalat had completed the FTTH roll-out for 85% of households in Abu Dhabi, positioning the UAE's capital as the first in the world to be covered by fibre.[19]
International presence
Etisalat International Investments was the business unit of Etisalat that operated telecom operations outside the UAE and managed the corporation's stakes in telecommunications carriers in Afghanistan, Egypt, Niger, Saudi Arabia, and Pakistan. The International Investments unit, and its management team, were re-structured into Etisalat Group, and Ahmad Abdulkarim Julfar was appointed as Group CEO in 2011,[42] followed by Saleh Al Abdooli in 2016.
As of July 2021, Etisalat has presence and operations in 15 countries outside the United Arab Emirates.[43]
As of 2023, Etisalat owns a stake of 14.6% in Vodafone Group one of Europe's largest telecommunication groups.[44] In 2024, the British government warned that e&’s association with Vodafone poses a national security risk. Robert Buckland and Oliver Dowden also urged for measures to address national security concerns.
Subsidiary
This strategic alliance aims to foster collaboration across multiple high-growth sectors, enabling both companies to leverage each other's operational strengths and geographical reach. The primary areas of focus for this partnership include:
- In strategic collaboration, Vodafone and e& have formalized a relationship agreement that designates e& as a key shareholder in Vodafone. This marks a new phase in their partnership, which originally began in May 2022 when e& made its initial investment in Vodafone.[55]
- Recently, Vodafone Group confirmed that e&, a global technology conglomerate, has increased its shareholding in Vodafone to 15.01%. This marks an increase from the previous 14.006% ownership by e&.
- Enterprise Solutions: Vodafone and e& will explore opportunities to jointly offer cross-border digital services to multinational enterprises and public sector organizations. These services will span fixed and mobile connectivity, private mobile networks, IoT, cybersecurity, and cloud-based solutions.
- Procurement: Both companies will share best practices in procurement and potentially engage in joint procurement activities.
- Carrier, Wholesale & Roaming: The operators will collaborate to establish themselves as preferred partners in providing access to advanced digital infrastructure.
- Technology Roadmap: Vodafone and e& will collaborate on future technology developments, including the evolution of Open RAN and other emerging innovations.
Former presence
Canar – Sudan
Etisalat is one of the founding partner companies of Canar Telecom, a fixed-line telecom services operator. In September 2007 Etisalat has raised its stake in Canar from 37% to 82% at an estimated cost of AED 584.17 million (US million).[59]
Canar was launched on 27 November 2005.[60] The operator is reported to use NGN and Wireless Local Loop (WLL) technologies for its voice, data, internet, and multimedia services. Canar is one of the first operators in Africa to use an NGN network core.[61] In 2016, Etisalat made an exit from the Sudanese market by selling its 92.3% share to the Bank of Khartoum for AED349.6 million.[62]
Acquisitions
- e& Telecommunications Group, a leading global technology company, has acquired the Turkish cloud services provider, GlassHouse, through its fully owned subsidiary, e& enterprise.[79]
- A definitive agreement has been signed between e& enterprise and Mediterra Capital, a private equity firm specializing in investments in Turkey, to acquire 100% ownership of GlassHouse for a sum of $60 million.[80]
- This acquisition enhances e&'s ability to leverage GlassHouse’s cloud expertise in both the UAE and Saudi Arabia markets.
- GlassHouse is known for its focus on data backup and business continuity solutions. The company has achieved strong double-digit growth in revenue, with more than 80% of its earnings generated in US dollars. Additionally, e& holds a 14.6% stake in Vodafone, a leading UK telecommunications firm.
- In 2023, e& reported a consolidated net profit of AED 2.3 billion ($630 million), reflecting a 7% growth compared to the previous year.
Controversies
VoIP ban
The United Arab Emirates blocks many popular voice over IP services like Skype. The only licensed VoIP services is BOTIM and GO CHAT, which are both operated by Etisalat.[81] [82]
BlackBerry controversy
In July 2009, Etisalat pushed an update to BlackBerry devices operating on the telecom's national network, citing performance improvements. However, it was later discovered[83] that the update contained eavesdropping software, developed by the US-based software development company SS8, which specializes in electronic surveillance.
See also
- 9mobile Prize for Literature
- du
- Etisalat Award for Arabic Children's Literature
- List of mobile network operators
- Telecommunications in the United Arab Emirates
External links
- Official website eand.com outside UAE
References
- Etisalat Annual Report 2024 eand.com, retrieved 28 March 2024^
- Financial Highlights e&, 14 February 2016, retrieved 11 April 2022^
- Etisalat Group | Share Information^