Emirates Integrated Telecommunications Company (du) has reported a net profit of AED 2.905 billion for the year 2025, marking a 17% increase from AED 2.487 billion in 2024. Additionally, revenues rose by 8.7%, reaching AED 15.9 billion, as stated by Fahad Al Hassawi, CEO of du, in an interview.
Below is the interview transcript
What were some of the standout financial results for du during the fourth quarter and fiscal year ending December 31, 2025
du demonstrated strong operational and financial performance due to the diligent execution of its business strategy and its continued operational excellence.
The company successfully achieved balanced revenue growth while effectively managing costs. It made significant strategic advances by continuing to expand its digital financial services with “du Pay”, enhancing cloud computing and AI capabilities, improving its presence in capital markets, and increasing liquidity levels through a successful secondary public offering.
Revenue experienced an 8.7% growth, reaching AED 15.9 billion, supported by a robust commercial performance and a favorable business environment in the UAE, along with strategic initiatives introduced by the company.
Furthermore, the disciplined execution of operational processes led to a 13.4% rise in EBITDA to AED 7.3 billion, while the EBITDA margin expanded by 1.9 percentage points to 46.1%. Net profits increased by 16.8% to AED 2.9 billion.
Why was 2025 a pivotal year for du in terms of growth momentum and accomplishments? How did the company reinforce its position amidst the rapid digital transformation in the UAE
The precise and disciplined execution of our business strategy in 2025 was the main driver behind the very strong financial and operational performance seen by the company, validating the effectiveness of our vision in supporting our continued investments alongside enhancing shareholder returns.
During this period, the company implemented an impactful agenda, which included improving network quality, expanding international connectivity, developing sovereign cloud infrastructure and data centers, and increasing the scope of AI services and digital financial solutions.
As we continued to focus on accelerating digital transformation, expanding digital infrastructure and capabilities, and achieving long-term sustainable value to lay strong foundations for a more prosperous digital future in the UAE, the board of directors recommended a final dividend of 40 fils per share for the year 2025. This increases total dividends for fiscal year 2025 to 64 fils per share, the highest in du’s history.
What were the key milestones achieved last year, especially regarding the customer base and demand for smart services
The past year saw remarkable achievements and exceptional figures, notably a significant annual growth of 8.8% in the mobile subscriber base during the fourth quarter, reaching 9.7 million subscribers. Net new subscribers over the past 12 months totaled 788,000.
This sustained expansion throughout the year was fueled by balanced growth across the postpaid subscriber base, which grew by 9.9% annually to reach 2.0 million subscribers, as well as a yearly increase of 8.6% in the prepaid segment, totaling 7.7 million subscribers.
The company enhanced its services alongside a rise in the population and tourism numbers through premium offers and services, driven by robust demand for the latest smartphone technologies and the continued appeal of offers, while expanding retail channels and stores to new areas. This, combined with a strong tourism sector and targeted seasonal campaigns, including “Flexi” bundle promotions and collaborations with Es’hada and Fazza, catered to diverse customer segments, sustaining subscriber growth throughout the year.
We anticipate this momentum to continue in 2026 as the UAE solidifies its position as a thriving global hub for investment and tourism, thereby increasing growth opportunities.
How did 2025 serve as a pivotal point for du Pay and its efforts to reshape the digital payment landscape in the UAE
Last year marked the first anniversary of du Pay, the advanced digital financial services arm of du, which celebrated a series of remarkable achievements, strategic partnerships, and innovative initiatives aimed at enhancing customer satisfaction and providing maximum value through the best money transfer and digital payment services.
In just one year since its launch, du Pay achieved strong business indicators, highlighted by its mobile app exceeding half a million downloads. Furthermore, the total value of transactions conducted through the app surpassed half a billion dirhams, demonstrating du Pay’s success in reaching all community segments and offering flexible services that include international and local money transfers, bill payments, credit card payments, and peer-to-peer transactions, among others.
How is du setting new standards for sustainable network innovation with advanced 5G technology (5G+)
du has implemented the Tri-Band Radio Remote Unit (RRU), a pioneering solution that operates in the 600 MHz band, marking a significant milestone in the development of advanced 5G networks (5G+) in the UAE.
Developed in collaboration with Huawei, this innovation provides improved indoor coverage and ultra-fast connectivity for users, while minimizing environmental impact through advanced sustainable features.
This exceptional achievement positions du as a leader in sustainable network innovation with advanced 5G technology, enhancing network efficiency and reinforcing du’s leadership in elevating customer experiences in the UAE.
This launch of the first-ever Tri-Band solution operating at 600 MHz is a crucial step in enhancing the digital experiences of customers.
How has the coverage of the 5G and 5G+ networks impacted the services offered to customers, particularly in enhancing indoor coverage
As part of its efforts to build and develop the advanced 5G+ network, du has launched the first multi-band indoor solution to enhance the 5G+ network, a strategic move that contributes to improving the telecommunications infrastructure and addresses significant technical challenges within buildings.
In partnership with Huawei, this innovative solution, known as the Multi-Band Indoor Base Station (IBS), is the first of its kind in the UAE designed specifically for indoor base stations.
This groundbreaking technology represents an essential achievement, significantly enhancing indoor coverage in critical locations, shopping centers, and key tourist destinations across the UAE.
The new solution combines the capabilities of 3G, 4G, and 5G networks into a single radio unit, thereby transforming the efficiency of communication infrastructure.
With this first-ever multi-band indoor solution developed through a joint design partnership, we aim to enhance our customers’ connectivity experience in line with our commitment to innovation and sustainability.
This solution will allow us to deliver exceptional 5G network performance in indoor spaces that customers depend on for living, working, and shopping.