Etisalat has been ranked as the world’s strongest telecom brand and is the first in the Middle East and Africa (MEA) region to achieve this milestone recognition.
Committed to customer value creation
With a telecom portfolio of over $12.5 billion, Etisalat not only retained its AAA brand rating but also its position in MEA as the strongest brand across all categories and the most valuable brand portfolio, as per Brand Finance.
Eng. Hatem Dowidar, CEO, Etisalat Group, said, “To be recognized as the world’s strongest telecom brand and as the most valuable telecom brand portfolio in MEA underline the success of our strategic initiatives to build a robust telecom infrastructure that creates added value for our customers wherever we serve. With our relentless focus on being customer-centric, we continue to push our horizons by investing in next generation technology that enhance our service offering and help shape the digital future.”
These accolades underline the UAE’s leadership position globally in its cutting-edge telecom infrastructure and strategic advances in digital transformation as well as Etisalat’s focus of being agile to meet the evolving requirements of customers and deliver relevant and flexible services in this digital-first era.
Eng. Dowidar added, “Since our inception in 1976, we have been led by a vision to create a world-class telecom infrastructure that is central to economic progress. We are inspired by the support and guidance of the UAE leadership to stay innovative and future-focused so that we can continue to empower communities and enrich lives.”
Astute brand leadership
Brand Finance also included Eng. Dowidar to the Elite List of Brand Guardians globally. This recognizes the ground-breaking initiatives that he launched since he joined Etisalat in September 2015, which played a key role in propelling Etisalat’s business growth. Assuming the role of Group CEO in 2020, he stewarded the company’s growth through the fast-changing telecom and technology landscape following the COVID-19 pandemic. His astute brand stewardship served as the foundation for enhancing Etisalat’s brand reputation as well as employee engagement.
Attributing the success to his team at Etisalat, Eng. Dowidar expressed, “Our significant brand value growth is the result of the contributions and dedication of our employees across all the markets where we operate. Alongside our partners, they are the cornerstones of our efforts to be a digital-first company that is future-ready, while upholding our vision to empower societies, and turn challenges into opportunities.”
Ground-breaking achievements
With the UAE leading the world in fiber-to-the-home (FTTH) penetration rate, Etisalat’s robust fiber-optic infrastructure enhances the customer experiences across all business operations. Etisalat raised the benchmark as the world’s fastest network by delivering the best 5G experience at Expo 2020 Dubai as its official telecommunication and digital services partner, surpassing the expectations of millions of visitors. Etisalat has built a dedicated network for Expo 2020, which is the first 5G commercial site in MENA with more than 8,000 Wi-Fi access points, 8,500 mobile access points, and 700 km of fiber-optic cable.
As the UAE celebrates its 50th anniversary, Etisalat has leveraged its 46 years of telecoms experience and its investment in telecom infrastructure to enable the progress of the people and business alike, in addition to supporting vital sectors such as healthcare and education, especially following the pandemic. Through its ‘Stay at Home’ campaign, over one million students across the UAE completed their studies online seamlessly.
Empowering the digital future
As the telecom sector continues to evolve at breakneck speed, Eng. Dowidar is focused on strengthening Etisalat’s strategic role in empowering the communities it serves in global markets. “Our proven ability to deliver seamless connectivity is our differentiating strength. We are fully equipped to unlock the potential of digital technologies to drive digital transformation at all levels – from government to business to individuals. Our recognition as the world’s leading telecom brand further fuels our ambition to expand to new geographies and build innovative partnerships, underpinning Etisalat as a brand that makes a positive difference.”
Etisalat’s digital arm has already made great strides in its digital B2B services, particularly in cybersecurity, the Internet of Things (IoT), and cloud connectivity. Help AG, Etisalat Enterprise Digital’s cybersecurity arm, protects customers against identity theft and serves as an effective digital transformation vehicle.
