The UAE’s mobile services industry is on track for steady expansion through the end of the decade, driven by surging data consumption and rapid uptake of 5G technology, according to new projections from analytics firm GlobalData.
The company’s latest “UAE Mobile Broadband Forecast (Q3 2025)” shows mobile service revenue is expected to rise at a compound annual growth rate of 4 per cent between 2025 and 2030. The report points to a sharp split between declining voice services and fast-growing data usage. Mobile voice revenue is set to fall at a CAGR of 4.1 per cent during the period as more customers shift to app-based calling, while mobile data revenue is projected to expand at 7.4 per cent annually.
Srikanth Vaidya, telecom analyst at GlobalData, said monthly data usage per customer is likely to jump from around 12.9GB in 2025 to about 35GB by 2030. He cited rising consumption of video streaming, social media, gaming and other data-heavy applications as key drivers of this shift.
The forecast also shows a strong push toward 5G across the country. By 2030, 5G subscriptions are expected to account for about 80 per cent of all mobile connections in the UAE. The outlook aligns with other regional projections, including the Ericsson Mobility Report, which estimates 5G penetration in GCC states could reach 93 per cent by the end of the decade.
Growth in machine-to-machine (M2M) and Internet-of-Things (IoT) connections is also shaping the sector. GlobalData expects M2M and IoT subscriptions in the UAE to rise from 4 million in 2025 to 6.7 million in 2030, driven by increased adoption of automation, predictive maintenance tools and edge-computing solutions across manufacturing, logistics and supply-chain operations.
Recent market data illustrates the momentum. A September 2025 industry snapshot recorded total mobile subscriptions at 22.9 million, up 8.5 per cent from the previous year. e& UAE, the country’s largest operator, reported a 6.9 per cent year-on-year increase in its subscriber base in the third quarter of 2025, bringing total customers to 15.7 million. The company attributed the rise to strong demand for its 5G services, digital products and enterprise offerings.
Analysts view the current landscape as a critical transition period for telecom operators. Vaidya said the market is entering a “high-value phase” characterised by intense data usage, widespread 5G adoption and the rapid expansion of IoT-based services. Companies investing in advanced network upgrades, enterprise technologies and data-centric solutions are expected to outperform those relying on traditional voice revenues.
Regional trends support this shift. A Nokia report published earlier this year predicts that across the Middle East and Africa, 82 per cent of mobile connections will migrate to 4G or 5G by 2030, with 5G carrying most of the region’s mobile traffic.
Analysts say the UAE’s telecom sector is undergoing a structural change as the market pivots from voice-led services to a future shaped by high-speed data, digital platforms and connected devices. They expect the coming years to bring faster networks, expanded 5G coverage and a new wave of data-driven services for both consumers and businesses.
