Dubai telecom operator du plans to continue investing heavily in artificial intelligence infrastructure, cloud services, fibre networks and data centres during the second half of 2026 as demand for enterprise technology services continues to grow.
Speaking to Khaleej Times, du chief executive Fahad Al Hassawi said enterprise information and communications technology services remain one of the company’s biggest growth opportunities. The UAE’s efforts to accelerate the adoption of artificial intelligence across the economy are driving demand for cloud computing, agentic AI and graphics processing unit capacity.
“The ICT business continues to show very strong growth in the market,” Al Hassawi said, adding that AI adoption and transformation led by the government were creating strong demand for advanced digital services.
The company intends to maintain its long-term investment plans despite a slowdown in market activity that began in March amid heightened geopolitical tensions in the region. Al Hassawi said spending on mobile and fibre networks would continue, while the expansion of data centres would also remain a priority.
Du plans its investments over a three-to-five-year period and does not intend to reduce spending on infrastructure needed to support future growth. The company expects continued demand for connectivity and digital services as businesses expand their use of AI and cloud technology.
Al Hassawi said du’s performance during the first half of the year was supported by a strong customer base, growth in enterprise connectivity and strict cost management. Broadband and fibre services performed particularly well on the enterprise side, helping offset weaker market conditions.
The telecom operator also activated contingency measures to maintain network reliability and customer service during the period of regional uncertainty. According to Al Hassawi, the plans helped ensure that customers continued to receive uninterrupted services.
Du reported solid financial results for the six months ended June 30. Revenue rose 5.8 per cent year-on-year to Dh8.2 billion, while earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortisation increased 10.5 per cent to Dh4.03 billion. The EBITDA margin improved to 49.2 per cent from 47.1 per cent a year earlier.
Net profit increased 12.6 per cent to Dh1.63 billion. Second-quarter revenue rose 4.6 per cent to Dh4.08 billion, while net profit grew 9.8 per cent to Dh798 million.
The board approved an interim cash dividend of Dh0.26 per share, an 8.3 per cent increase from the same period last year.
Al Hassawi said du expects demand for AI, cloud and connectivity solutions to remain strong during the rest of 2026. The company also plans to expand its range of services and deepen relationships with existing customers as businesses across the UAE continue their digital transformation.
