Abu Dhabi, UAE: Etisalat Group has launched a major digital infrastructure expansion project aimed at increasing its international connectivity capacity to more than 500 terabits per second by 2030, as the UAE prepares for growing demand driven by artificial intelligence and the digital economy.
His Highness Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Vice President, Deputy Prime Minister and Chairman of the Presidential Court, witnessed the launch of the initiative and was briefed on the group’s plans to expand digital infrastructure across the UAE and international markets.
Sheikh Mansour, who also serves as Chairman of the Emirates Investment Authority, Etisalat Group’s main shareholder, reviewed plans designed to support the growth of AI technologies, digital services and increasingly data-intensive applications.
Under the project, Etisalat plans to raise its international connectivity capacity from around 20Tbps currently to more than 500Tbps by 2030.
The expansion will also introduce a wider range of connectivity routes aimed at improving network reliability, efficiency and low-latency performance.
Supporting the UAE’s AI ambitions
Sheikh Mansour said advanced digital infrastructure will play a key role in supporting emerging technologies and strengthening the UAE’s knowledge-based economy.
He also stressed the importance of coordinated national efforts to accelerate the country’s ambitions in artificial intelligence and the broader digital economy.
“The UAE continues to invest in building advanced digital infrastructure, guided by its vision for the future and its belief that readiness for what comes next starts with having the enablers that support economic growth, accelerate innovation and strengthen the country’s global competitiveness,” Sheikh Mansour said.
He added that artificial intelligence will remain a central pillar of the UAE’s development over the coming decade.
“AI is a central pillar in our development journey moving forward, and developing our digital capabilities creates the ecosystem needed to harness its potential and ensure that every institution in this country, public and private, is empowered to build and innovate with AI, at the scale the coming decade will demand,” he said.
Expanding global data capacity
H.E. Jassem Mohamed Bu Ataba Alzaabi, Chairman of Etisalat Group, said the project reflects the company’s view that the UAE should not only adopt AI but also develop the infrastructure needed to build and govern advanced digital technologies.
“This project reflects our conviction that the UAE should not simply adopt AI, but govern it and build with it. That requires digital infrastructure at a scale that would prepare us for the future,” Alzaabi said.
He said increasing international connectivity capacity is a strategic step in addressing challenges linked to global data processing and rising cross-border data flows.
According to Alzaabi, the use of diversified routes and low-latency network design will help keep the UAE’s connection to the global digital economy fast, direct and resilient.
“Delivered through diversified routes and low-latency design, the project is set to keep the country’s connection to the global digital economy fast, direct and resilient, while ensuring the UAE’s digital sovereignty,” he said.
Building infrastructure for the next decade
The project comes as demand continues to grow for cloud computing, AI applications, data centres and large-scale digital services.
By significantly increasing international connectivity capacity, Etisalat aims to strengthen the digital foundation required by government entities, businesses and technology companies to deploy advanced services at greater scale.
The initiative also reflects the group’s 50-year role in developing telecommunications and digital infrastructure that supports the UAE’s economic and technological progress.
Etisalat said the expansion will help reinforce the country’s digital sovereignty while supporting innovation, resilience and stronger integration with the global digital economy.
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