Etisalat has launched a major strategic project aimed at expanding its digital infrastructure capabilities inside the UAE and across international markets, supporting the country’s growing requirements for artificial intelligence and reinforcing its position within the global digital ecosystem.
The launch was witnessed by His Highness Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Vice President, Deputy Prime Minister and Chairman of the Presidential Court, who was briefed on the group’s plans and future projects designed to strengthen the infrastructure required for the rapid development of AI technologies and the digital economy.
The initiative represents a significant expansion of Digital Infrastructure capacity and forms part of the UAE’s broader efforts to ensure that its technological foundations are capable of supporting the next stage of digital growth.
International Connectivity to Exceed 500 Tbps
A central component of the project is Etisalat’s plan to increase its international connectivity capacity to more than 500 terabits per second (Tbps) by 2030.
The planned capacity represents an increase of more than 25 times compared with the group’s current international connectivity capacity. The project will also introduce diversified connectivity routes intended to improve efficiency and reliability while delivering advanced performance with low latency.
The expansion is designed to provide the infrastructure necessary to accommodate the rapidly increasing movement and processing of data worldwide, particularly as AI applications, digital services and cloud-based technologies continue to grow.
Sheikh Mansour Highlights the Strategic Role of Infrastructure
In his capacity as Chairman of the Emirates Investment Authority (EIA), the main shareholder in Etisalat Group, Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed was briefed on the group’s plans and future projects.
His Highness emphasised that investment in advanced digital infrastructure represents a fundamental pillar for supporting emerging technologies and enabling a knowledge-based, innovation-driven economy.
He also highlighted the importance of coordinated national efforts and the role of UAE institutions in advancing the country’s ambitions in artificial intelligence and the digital economy.
Sheikh Mansour said the UAE continues to invest in advanced infrastructure based on its vision for the future, stressing that readiness for the next stage of development depends on building the foundations capable of supporting economic growth, accelerating innovation and strengthening the country’s global competitiveness.
AI at the Center of the UAE’s Next Growth Phase
Sheikh Mansour described artificial intelligence as a central pillar of the UAE’s development journey, while stressing that expanding digital capabilities is essential to creating the ecosystem needed to unlock AI’s full potential.
The infrastructure being developed is intended to empower public and private institutions across the UAE to build and innovate with AI at the scale expected during the coming decade, while maintaining confidence in the efficiency and capabilities of the infrastructure supporting these technologies.
The UAE’s ambition, according to Sheikh Mansour, extends beyond simply keeping pace with technological change. The country aims to actively contribute to the creation and development of advanced technologies.
He noted that high-impact digital infrastructure projects strengthen the UAE’s readiness for the future while reinforcing its position as a global hub for advanced technology and artificial intelligence.
Etisalat Marks 50 Years With a New Vision
The launch coincided with the beginning of Etisalat’s 50th anniversary celebrations, which were also witnessed by Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed.
During the occasion, the group unveiled its new vision of becoming a leading AI-powered and AI-enabling telecommunications company while continuing to operate under the Etisalat name, which has been trusted by customers for five decades.
The new project represents the group’s first major commitment under its updated strategy, which is structured around four principal business engines: telecommunications, AI and business solutions, infrastructure, and fintech.
The strategy reflects the company’s intention to position its infrastructure and technology capabilities at the heart of its next phase of development.
Etisalat: The UAE Must Build With AI
His Excellency Jassem Mohamed Bu Ataba Alzaabi, Chairman of Etisalat Group, said the project reflects the company’s conviction that the UAE should not simply adopt artificial intelligence, but should also govern it and build with it.
Achieving that ambition, he explained, requires Digital Infrastructure capable of operating at a scale that prepares the country for future technological demands.
The planned expansion of international connectivity from 20 Tbps to more than 500 Tbps therefore represents a strategic step in addressing the growing challenges associated with global data processing and data flows.
These challenges are becoming increasingly significant as AI technologies advance and generate greater demand for high-capacity, reliable and responsive digital networks.
Diversified Routes and Low-Latency Connectivity
According to Alzaabi, the project will increase the flexibility and reliability of the infrastructure needed to support UAE AI campuses, global cloud providers and the group’s operations and customers across its different markets.
The use of diversified routes, combined with a low-latency design, is expected to ensure that the UAE remains connected to the global digital economy through fast, direct and resilient links.
The project will also contribute to maintaining the country’s digital sovereignty while strengthening the underlying infrastructure supporting international data flows.
By expanding connectivity capacity on such a significant scale, Etisalat is positioning the UAE’s digital networks to respond to the accelerating requirements of artificial intelligence, cloud computing and other advanced technologies.
A 50-Year Legacy Enters a New Technological Era
Alzaabi said the project reflects the same commitment that has guided Etisalat throughout its 50-year history.
As the group marks its anniversary, the company is defining what the next era of technology requires and positioning the new project as part of its response to those changing demands.
For five decades, Etisalat has built infrastructure on which the UAE depends, with a focus on flexibility and resilience across its markets.
With artificial intelligence emerging as the defining technology of the current generation, the company maintains that the underlying principle remains unchanged: building the infrastructure required to support technological progress.
Global Reach Across 38 Countries
Etisalat Group currently operates across 38 countries and serves more than 250 million subscribers.
This international footprint gives the new project significance beyond the UAE, enabling it to connect national infrastructure more directly with the global digital ecosystem.
The expanded capacity is expected to support the group’s operations and customers across its markets while strengthening the UAE’s role as a key point of connection within the global digital economy.
The initiative therefore combines domestic infrastructure expansion with a broader international connectivity strategy, reflecting the increasingly global nature of AI, cloud computing and digital services.
Strengthening the UAE as a Global AI Hub
The project ultimately supports the UAE’s ambition to become a global hub for advanced technology and artificial intelligence.
By expanding Digital Infrastructure capacity and international connectivity, the initiative is designed to reinforce the country’s digital competitiveness and provide public and private institutions with the infrastructure required to deploy AI at scale.
The move also underscores the growing importance of reliable, high-capacity and low-latency networks as countries compete to attract advanced technologies, AI infrastructure and digital investment.
With international connectivity targeted to exceed 500 Tbps by 2030, Etisalat’s latest project marks a major step in expanding the technological foundations supporting the UAE’s digital economy and its ambitions for the next generation of artificial intelligence.
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