The renewed licences will be valid from August 9, 2026, to August 8, 2046, replacing those issued in 2006.

H.E Eng. Mohammed Al Ramsi, Deputy Director General of the Telecommunications Sector at TDRA

The Telecommunications and Digital Government Regulatory Authority (TDRA) Board of Directors has approved the renewal of the Public Telecommunications Licences held by Emirates Telecommunications Group Company PJSC (e&) and Emirates Integrated Telecommunications Company PJSC (du) for another 20 years.

The renewed licences, issued under the Federal Decree-Law on the Regulation of the Telecommunications Sector and its amendments, took effect on August 9, 2026, and will remain valid until August 8, 2046. They replace the licences originally granted in 2006 and provide the UAE telecommunications sector with a long-term regulatory framework designed to support continued investment in digital infrastructure and emerging technologies.

Over the past two decades, the UAE’s telecommunications industry has evolved from traditional connectivity services into a key foundation for digital transformation, government services and smart-city development. The country continues to lead globally in household fibre-optic penetration, ranking first for the tenth consecutive year with a penetration rate of 99.7%, according to the latest international indicators.

H.E. Talal Belhoul, Chairman of TDRA, said: “The infrastructure of the national economy relies on telecommunications networks across all vital sectors, including government services, financial services, healthcare, education, energy, transport, industry and digital commerce. The next phase takes on added importance in light of the Digital Economy Strategy, which aims to double the digital economy’s contribution to GDP from 9.7% in 2022 to 19.4% over the next ten years.“The sector is also expected to gradually transition from connected networks to intelligent, autonomous networks, where artificial intelligence becomes an integral part of the intelligence of the network itself.”

H.E. Eng. Majed Sultan Al Mesmar, Director General of TDRA, added: “The renewal of the two licences is a strategic decision that reflects the UAE’s confidence in a sector that has proven to be one of the pillars of national development. Together, TDRA and the licensees have built one of the world’s most advanced and future-ready digital infrastructures.

“Today, we are providing the sector with a long-term framework that lays the foundation for a new phase in which connectivity evolves into intelligence, and digital infrastructure becomes a national platform for innovation and sustainable growth.”

H.E. Eng. Mohammed Al Ramsi, Deputy Director General of the Telecommunications Sector at TDRA, stated: “The new licences reflect the transformation of telecommunications networks into critical national infrastructure. They require licensees to geographically diversify international connectivity through multiple terrestrial systems and submarine cables, eliminate single points of failure, implement disaster recovery mechanisms and test them regularly, and develop qualified national talent capable of operating and restoring networks under exceptional circumstances.

“Today, the objective goes beyond developing a faster network to building a smarter, more secure and more resilient one. The two licences include an enhanced set of obligations, most notably a comprehensive framework covering network resilience, backup capacity and international connectivity, in addition to quality of service, interconnection and access, national roaming, universal service, subscriber protection and the prevention of anti-competitive practices.”

The requirements also include developing national expertise capable of operating and restoring telecommunications networks during exceptional circumstances. Additional obligations cover quality of service, interconnection and access, national roaming, universal service, subscriber protection and measures to prevent anti-competitive practices.

TDRA said the renewal reflects its long-standing partnership with e& and du, supported by regulatory transparency and compliance. The authority will continue monitoring licence obligations, promoting fair competition, protecting subscribers and improving telecommunications service quality across the UAE.

The renewed licences mark the beginning of another 20-year phase for the country’s telecommunications sector. While the previous two decades established the UAE as a global leader in connectivity and digital infrastructure, the next phase is aimed at advancing the country towards leadership in artificial intelligence and building the digital foundations of the future economy.