The UAE’s AI-driven strategy aims to expand its global digital connectivity 25-fold by 2030 and strengthen its position as a hub for advanced technology and digital infrastructure.
Abu Dhabi: The UAE plans to increase its international digital connectivity capacity more than 25-fold by 2030, targeting over 500 terabits per second as it strengthens its infrastructure for artificial intelligence, cloud computing and the wider digital economy.
Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Vice-President, Deputy Prime Minister and Chairman of the Presidential Office, witnessed the launch of the strategic project by e& to expand digital infrastructure in the UAE and international markets.
The announcement came during Sheikh Mansour’s meeting with e&, an investment of the Emirates Investment Authority, where he reviewed the group’s plans to support the country’s technological ambitions and prepare for rising demand driven by AI.
The project aims to increase international connectivity capacity from the current 20 terabits per second to more than 500 terabits per second by 2030. It will also establish diverse connectivity routes to improve network reliability, efficiency, and latency performance.
UAE Strengthens Infrastructure for the AI Economy
Sheikh Mansour stressed that investment in digital infrastructure is essential to economic growth, innovation, and global competitiveness. He also called for closer coordination among national institutions to support the UAE’s strategic priorities in artificial intelligence and the digital economy.
In a post on X, he highlighted e&’s role in the country’s development over the past five decades and its ambitions for the next phase of technological growth.
He said the UAE was investing in advanced digital capabilities to accelerate innovation, support economic expansion and strengthen its international position.
Sheikh Mansour added that artificial intelligence would remain a major pillar of the country’s development, requiring infrastructure that allows government entities and private businesses to adopt new technologies efficiently and confidently.
The UAE’s ambition, he said, extends beyond adapting to technological change to helping shape the future of advanced technology and AI.
e& Unveils Its Next Phase of AI-Led Growth
The infrastructure project was announced alongside e&’s 50th-anniversary celebrations, during which the group outlined its ambition to become a leader among AI-powered and AI-enabling telecommunications companies.
The company also reaffirmed its commitment to the historic Etisalat identity, which has been associated with its customers and communities for five decades.
Its strategy centres on four business pillars: telecommunications, AI and business solutions, infrastructure, and financial technology. The new connectivity project represents the first major commitment under this strategy.
Jassem Mohamed Bu Ataba Al Zaabi, Chairman of e&, said the initiative reflects the UAE’s ambition to move beyond adopting artificial intelligence towards developing and governing the technology. He said achieving that goal requires digital infrastructure on an unprecedented scale, alongside greater control over critical infrastructure.
Connectivity Capacity to Exceed 500 Tbps
Al Zaabi said the planned expansion would help meet growing global demand for data processing and data flows as AI applications become more widespread.
The additional capacity is expected to strengthen the resilience of digital networks, support AI computing clusters in the UAE and meet the requirements of global cloud service providers. It will also support e&’s operations and customers across its international markets.
The development of multiple connectivity routes is intended to improve speed and stability while strengthening the UAE’s links to the global digital economy. According to Al Zaabi, the project will also support the country’s digital sovereignty.
He described the initiative as an extension of the infrastructure investments that have shaped e& over the past 50 years, with a continued focus on reliability and resilience across its markets.
e& Connects More Than 250 Million Subscribers
e& operates in 38 countries and serves more than 250 million subscribers worldwide. Its international presence gives the project significance beyond the UAE, linking domestic infrastructure expansion with the group’s broader global network.
By increasing connectivity capacity and supporting more demanding AI and cloud workloads, the project aims to strengthen the UAE’s position as a hub for advanced technology.
The expansion also supports the country’s wider goal of enabling government agencies and private-sector organisations to deploy AI applications at scale, backed by faster, more reliable digital infrastructure.
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Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Vice-President of the UAE, Deputy Prime Minister and Chairman of the Presidential Office, witnessed the launch by e& of the strategic project to develop and expand digital infrastructure capabilities in the UAE and abroad.
Source: Gulf News
