Etisalat has delivered a stellar financial performance for the first nine months of 2026, reporting a 46% jump in net profit to Dh17.2 billion. This record-breaking run was fueled by a 10% rise in consolidated revenue, which reached Dh57.6 billion, alongside significant growth in its subscriber base, which now stands at over 254 million globally. While the bottom line was bolstered by the strategic sale of its stake in Vodafone, even excluding these gains, the company maintained a strong adjusted net profit of Dh9.2 billion, reflecting the underlying strength and resilience of its core operations.

The company is now aggressively pivoting toward becoming an AI-first telecommunications provider, positioning itself as a vital backbone for cloud computing, cybersecurity, and digital infrastructure projects. Group CEO Masood M. Sharif Mahmood emphasized that Etisalat is heavily investing in high-capacity connectivity to support the growing demands of governments and enterprises. With ambitious plans to expand its international connectivity to over 500 terabits per second by 2030, the telecom giant is clearly focusing on long-term technological dominance, ensuring it remains at the heart of the UAE’s digital transformation and global AI ambitions as it celebrates its 50th year in operation.