6 October 2026
etisalat, the UAE telecom group formerly branded e&, will raise its international connectivity capacity from 20 terabits per second (Tbps) to more than 500 Tbps by 2030, an increase of over 25 times. The project was launched in Abu Dhabi on Monday, 5 October 2026, in the presence of Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Vice President, Deputy Prime Minister and Chairman of the Presidential Court. Alongside the extra capacity, etisalat will build diverse international routes with a low-latency design, aimed at the UAE’s AI campuses, global cloud providers and the group’s customers in its 38 markets. The investment amount and the specific routes have not been disclosed.
What was announced on 5 October
According to the official release, Sheikh Mansour witnessed the launch of etisalat’s strategic project to develop and expand digital infrastructure capacity within the UAE and abroad. He attended in his capacity as Chairman of the Emirates Investment Authority (EIA), the main shareholder of the etisalat group, and was briefed on the group’s plans to build the infrastructure needed for the fast growth of AI and the digital economy.
The project has two parts. The first is capacity: international connectivity, which links the UAE to networks and data centres in other countries, is to grow from 20 Tbps today to more than 500 Tbps by 2030. The second is the shape of the network: etisalat plans diverse routes designed to make connectivity more efficient and reliable, with what the group calls advanced, low-latency performance. In practice, more routes mean more paths for traffic to leave and enter the country, so that a single damaged link has less effect on the service.
The release does not give the cost of the project, the cable systems or landing points involved, the stages between now and 2030, or any change in prices for customers. Gulf News reported the launch on 6 October 2026, describing it as a 25-fold increase in the UAE’s global digital connectivity.
| Indicator | Figure |
|---|---|
| International capacity today | 20 Tbps |
| Target by 2030 | More than 500 Tbps |
| Increase | Over 25 times |
| Main users named | AI campuses, cloud providers, group customers |
| etisalat group footprint | 38 countries, 250 million+ subscribers |
| Investment amount | Not disclosed |
Why the project is tied to AI
Both speakers linked the project directly to artificial intelligence. Sheikh Mansour said that AI is a central pillar of the country’s development and that digital capabilities should allow every public and private institution in the UAE to build and innovate with AI at the scale the coming decade will demand. He added that the UAE aims not only to keep pace with new technologies but to take part in creating them.
Jassem Mohamed Bu Ataba Alzaabi, Chairman of the etisalat group, said the UAE should not simply adopt AI but govern it and build with it, and that this requires digital infrastructure at a matching scale. In his words, moving international connectivity from 20 Tbps to more than 500 Tbps responds to the growing pressure on global data processing and data flows, and is meant to meet the requirements of the UAE’s AI campuses, global cloud providers and the group’s customers. He also said the routes and low-latency design should keep the country’s link to the global digital economy fast, direct and resilient while ensuring the UAE’s digital sovereignty.
The link to AI is practical. Large AI data centres exchange very large volumes of data with users, partners and other data centres abroad. Abu Dhabi is already building such capacity: Stargate UAE, an AI cluster announced in May 2025 with a planned capacity of 1 GW, had its first 200 MW scheduled to come online in 2026. Data centres of this kind need international links that grow at the same pace.
etisalat at 50: name, strategy and footprint
The launch coincided with the start of the group’s 50th anniversary celebrations. At the same event the group set out its vision to become a leading AI-powered and AI-enabling telecom company and said it is stepping forward under the etisalat name, which it described as trusted by its customers for fifty years. The group adopted the e& corporate brand in 2022.
The connectivity project is the first major commitment under the group’s new strategy, which is built around four business engines:
- telco;
- AI and business solutions;
- infrastructure;
- fintech.
The etisalat group operates across 38 countries and serves more than 250 million subscribers, so the new capacity is designed to serve its operations and customers in those markets as well as the UAE. Earlier this year we covered how e& reshaped its investment portfolio after its Vodafone and Careem exits; the new strategy now puts infrastructure at the centre.
What it means for companies in the UAE
The announcement does not change any licensing rules, fees or procedures, and no new tariffs or services were announced. It is a capacity target with a 2030 horizon, and its effect on business connections will come gradually as new routes are added.
The project matters most for companies whose operations depend on moving data across borders: cloud and software providers, AI developers, data centre operators, fintech and payment companies, media and gaming platforms, and firms that serve clients in several regions from the UAE. For them, international capacity and the number of routes affect speed, latency to their main markets and resilience to outages.
The UAE also widened connectivity options this year: in August 2026 the regulator TDRA granted Starlink a 10-year licence for satellite internet, with plans from AED 300 a month, which gives businesses a backup channel independent of terrestrial and subsea links.
A practical checklist for a business that relies on international data flows:
- Map where your data and workloads are hosted, in the UAE or abroad, and which data protection rules apply to them.
- Measure latency to your main markets and clients, and record it as a baseline to compare against as new routes come online.
- Check whether your connection has a backup: a second provider, a second route or a satellite channel.
- Review your telecom contract for bandwidth upgrades and service level terms.
- Make sure your trade licence activities cover what you actually do, such as IT services, cloud, software or data processing.
How Atlant Capital can help
A technology or AI business that plans to work from the UAE needs a licence with the right activities and a structure that fits its clients and investors. Through our company setup service we select the free zone or mainland jurisdiction and the activities for IT, software, cloud and AI work, and we prepare the documents for registration. Our UAE company formation guide explains the steps, documents and timelines, and our review of how 72% of UAE businesses already use AI shows where demand for this infrastructure comes from.
Conclusion
etisalat has set a clear target: international connectivity of more than 500 Tbps by 2030, up from 20 Tbps, built on diverse low-latency routes for AI campuses, cloud providers and its customers in 38 countries. The project was launched on 5 October 2026 with Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan as the first commitment of the group’s new four-engine strategy. The cost, routes and interim stages have not been published, and nothing changes for companies in procedures or tariffs today.
Source: Gulf News, Emirates 24/7.
FAQ
How much will UAE international connectivity grow under the etisalat project?
etisalat plans to raise its international connectivity capacity from 20 Tbps today to more than 500 Tbps by 2030, an increase of over 25 times. The project also includes diverse international routes with a low-latency design. It was launched in Abu Dhabi on 5 October 2026.
Who is the etisalat connectivity project for?
According to etisalat group Chairman Jassem Mohamed Bu Ataba Alzaabi, the capacity is meant to meet the requirements of the UAE’s AI campuses, global cloud providers and the group’s operations and customers. The group works in 38 countries and serves more than 250 million subscribers.
How much will the project cost?
The cost has not been disclosed. The official release also does not name the cable systems, landing points or interim stages of the project. It sets only the capacity target of more than 500 Tbps and the 2030 deadline.
Does the project change anything for companies in the UAE now?
No. No new tariffs, services, licensing rules or fees were announced. The project matters most for businesses that depend on cross-border data flows, such as cloud, AI, fintech and media companies, because more capacity and routes affect latency and resilience as they come online up to 2030.
