UAE telecoms and technology company e&, formerly known as the Etisalat Group, reported a 60.7 per cent jump in net profit during the first half of 2025 amid a surge in subscribers.
Net profit attributable to owners of the company during the first six months of the year rose 60.7 per cent to Dh8.8 billion ($2.4 billion), up from Dh5.4 billion in the same period last year, the company said in a statement on Thursday to the Abu Dhabi Securities Exchange, where its shares are traded.
Revenue for the telecoms operator reached Dh34.9 billion in the first half of 2025, up 23.3 per cent annually from Dh28.3 billion in the same period last year.
The company's UAE subscriber base grew 6.3 per cent annually to 15.5 million, driven by rising demand for advanced connectivity and AI-powered services. Meanwhile, total subscribers rose 13.1 per cent on an annual basis to 198 million.
In the UAE, the mobile customer base reached 13.8 million by the end of the second quarter, an increase of 7.2 per cent year-on-year as the company continued to expand its postpaid and prepaid segments. These segments grew year-on-year by 8.9 per cent and 6.6 per cent, respectively.
Broadband customers inched up by 0.4 per cent on an annual basis, reaching 1.4 million subscribers.
Our diverse revenue streams enabled the group to drive financial success and deliver robust operational growth
Hatem Dowidar,
group chief executive of e&
"We preserved the momentum witnessed across our different verticals. Our diverse revenue streams enabled the group to drive financial success and deliver robust operational growth," said Hatem Dowidar, group chief executive of e&. "As we look ahead, we remain focused on enabling future technologies."
The company, based in Abu Dhabi, was founded in 1976 and is the UAE's oldest telecoms business. Its board of directors has approved an interim dividend per share of 43 fils for the first half of 2025.
Capital expenditure, excluding licence and spectrum, totalled Dh4.2 billion, e& said. Earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation (Ebitda) rose by 18.8 per cent annually to Dh15.4 billion, which the company attributed to higher revenue.
Net profit attributable to owners of the company during the second quarter of the year increased to Dh3.47 billion, up from Dh3.1 billion in the same period last year.
Revenue rose 28.1 per cent year-on-year to Dh18 billion, fuelled by strong momentum across all verticals, the company said. Ebitda for the second quarter climbed 22.2 per cent year-on-year to Dh8 billion.
"This growth was supported by solid profitability for telecom verticals in both domestic and international markets with a robust telecom margin of 48.4 per cent," the company said.
The specs
Engine: 3.0-litre six-cylinder turbo
Power: 398hp from 5,250rpm
Torque: 580Nm at 1,900-4,800rpm
Transmission: Eight-speed auto
Fuel economy, combined: 6.5L/100km
On sale: December
Price: From Dh330,000 (estimate)
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EA Sports FC 25
Developer: EA Vancouver, EA Romania
Publisher: EA Sports
Consoles: Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4&5, Xbox One and Xbox Series X/S
Rating: 3.5/5
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
TRAINING FOR TOKYO
A typical week's training for Sebastian, who is competing at the ITU Abu Dhabi World Triathlon on March 8-9:
- Four swim sessions (14km)
- Three bike sessions (200km)
- Four run sessions (45km)
- Two strength and conditioning session (two hours)
- One session therapy session at DISC Dubai
- Two-three hours of stretching and self-maintenance of the body
ITU Abu Dhabi World Triathlon
For more information go to www.abudhabi.triathlon.org.
Infiniti QX80 specs
Engine: twin-turbocharged 3.5-liter V6
Power: 450hp
Torque: 700Nm
Price: From Dh450,000, Autograph model from Dh510,000
Available: Now
The specs
Engine: 4.0-litre V8 twin-turbocharged and three electric motors
Power: Combined output 920hp
Torque: 730Nm at 4,000-7,000rpm
Transmission: 8-speed dual-clutch automatic
Fuel consumption: 11.2L/100km
On sale: Now, deliveries expected later in 2025
Price: expected to start at Dh1,432,000
GAC GS8 Specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo
Power: 248hp at 5,200rpm
Torque: 400Nm at 1,750-4,000rpm
Transmission: 8-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 9.1L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh149,900
RESULT
Arsenal 0 Chelsea 3
Chelsea: Willian (40'), Batshuayi (42', 49')
Series info
Test series schedule 1st Test, Abu Dhabi: Sri Lanka won by 21 runs; 2nd Test, Dubai: Play starts at 2pm, Friday-Tuesday
ODI series schedule 1st ODI, Dubai: October 13; 2nd ODI, Abu Dhabi: October 16; 3rd ODI, Abu Dhabi: October 18; 4th ODI, Sharjah: October 20; 5th ODI, Sharjah: October 23
T20 series schedule 1st T20, Abu Dhabi: October 26; 2nd T20, Abu Dhabi: October 27; 3rd T20, Lahore: October 29
Tickets Available at www.q-tickets.com
Stat Fourteen Fourteen of the past 15 Test matches in the UAE have been decided on the final day. Both of the previous two Tests at Dubai International Stadium have been settled in the last session. Pakistan won with less than an hour to go against West Indies last year. Against England in 2015, there were just three balls left.
Key battle - Azhar Ali v Rangana Herath Herath may not quite be as flash as Muttiah Muralitharan, his former spin-twin who ended his career by taking his 800th wicket with his final delivery in Tests. He still has a decent sense of an ending, though. He won the Abu Dhabi match for his side with 11 wickets, the last of which was his 400th in Tests. It was not the first time he has owned Pakistan, either. A quarter of all his Test victims have been Pakistani. If Pakistan are going to avoid a first ever series defeat in the UAE, Azhar, their senior batsman, needs to stand up and show the way to blunt Herath.
The bio
Favourite book: Peter Rabbit. I used to read it to my three children and still read it myself. If I am feeling down it brings back good memories.
Best thing about your job: Getting to help people. My mum always told me never to pass up an opportunity to do a good deed.
Best part of life in the UAE: The weather. The constant sunshine is amazing and there is always something to do, you have so many options when it comes to how to spend your day.
Favourite holiday destination: Malaysia. I went there for my honeymoon and ended up volunteering to teach local children for a few hours each day. It is such a special place and I plan to retire there one day.
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
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