Etisalat

Etisalat, officially known as Emirates Telecommunication Group Company, was founded in 1976 as a joint-stock company between International Aeradio Limited, a British telecommunications firm, and local Emirati partners.

Headquartered in Abu Dhabi, the UAE, Etisalat was established to develop and manage the country’s telecommunications infrastructure, marking a foundational step in modernizing communication in the rapidly developing nation.

Over time, Etisalat grew to become the primary telecom provider in the UAE, expanding its network from just 36,000 exchange lines in 1976 to over 737,000 by 1998, reflecting the country's rapid population and business growth.

In 1983, the UAE government increased its stake in the company to 60%, with the remaining 40% publicly traded, setting Etisalat on a path to dominate the UAE telecom sector.

A pivotal moment came in 1991 with Federal Law No. 1, which granted Etisalat exclusive rights to provide wired and wireless communication services in the UAE and between the UAE and other countries, effectively granting it a government-sanctioned monopoly.

Etisalat launched the Middle East’s first GSM service in 1994 and became the region’s first provider of internet services in 1995, pioneering digital connectivity across the Gulf.

Throughout the 2000s and 2010s, Etisalat continued to innovate and expand, introducing 3G and later 4G networks, and becoming the first in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region to launch commercial 5G services in 2018.

The company diversified into media, cloud computing, and digital payment solutions, transitioning from a traditional telecom operator into a broader technology and digital services provider. In 2022, Etisalat rebranded as "e&" to signify its evolution into a global technology and investment conglomerate, while the UAE telecom operations retained the Etisalat name as "etisalat by e&."

With operations across 38 countries mostly in the Middle East, Africa, and Asia, Etisalat is among the largest telecom operators globally by subscriber base and market capitalization.

It is regarded as a key contributor to the UAE's economy outside the oil sector, known for its technological excellence, strong nationalization policies, and significant role in fostering the country's digital transformation and connectivity.