e& (Etisalat) overview
E& (formerly known as Etisalat, Emirates Telecommunications) is the largest telecom operator in the UAE and one of the largest telecom groups in the Middle East and Africa (MENA) region. e& operates in 16 countries with more than 160 million users and is an important driving force for digital transformation and smart city construction in the Middle East.
In the IoT field, e& has become a leader in IoT services in the Middle East, driven by the UAE's smart city development needs (such as the Dubai Smart City initiative). In 2017, e& became one of the world's first operators to commercially deploy NB-IoT and has accumulated extensive experience in smart cities, smart grids, smart transportation, and other areas.
E& Basic Information
- Established: 1976 (Emirates Telecommunications Corporation)
- Headquarters: Abu Dhabi, UAE
- UAE Users: Over 15 million (2024, up 5.4% year-on-year)
- Global Users: 189.3 million (38 countries, 2024, up 11.7% year-on-year)
- Business Coverage: 16 countries in the Middle East and Africa
- Network Standards: 4G LTE, 5G NR, NB-IoT, LTE-M
- Features: One of the world's first 5G commercial deployments, core partner of Dubai Smart City
Core Technical Capabilities
Leader in Smart Cities
Core partner of Dubai Smart City, has built multiple benchmark smart city projects in the UAE
Pioneer in 5G commercial use
In 2019, among the first commercial 5G networks, with 5G coverage in the UAE at a leading level
NB-IoT Pioneer
In 2017, among the first commercial NB-IoT networks, used for low-power IoT in the Middle East
Extreme desert environment
IoT deployment experience in high temperatures and strong sandstorm environments in the desert, adapting to the harsh climate conditions of the Middle East
IoT Product System
IoT Services
E& IoT platform
- Device Connection Management
- NB-IoT/LTE-M Access
- Data Collection and Storage
- Application Development Tools
Smart City Solutions
- Intelligent Traffic Management
- Environmental Monitoring Network
- Intelligent Energy Management
- Urban Security Monitoring
Network standards and coverage
| Technical Standard | Coverage Area | Use Cases | Development Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4G LTE | Nationwide Coverage in UAE | Mainstream IoT Connection | Main Network |
| 5G NR | Major Cities in UAE | High-Speed Enterprise IoT | Globally Leading |
| NB-IoT | Nationwide in the UAE | Smart city sensors | Large-scale Deployment |
| LTE-M | Main Coverage Areas | Mobile IoT devices | Commercial Expansion |
| Global Roaming | Multiple Countries in the Middle East and Africa | Cross-border IoT Deployment | 16-country network |
Industry Solutions
Smart city
- Dubai smart transportation
- Smart streetlight system
- Waste management optimization
- Public Safety Monitoring
Energy and petroleum
- Remote monitoring of oil and gas wells
- Smart Grid Management
- Pipeline Integrity Inspection
- Solar Power Generation Monitoring
Buildings and Facilities
- Intelligent Building Control
- Central Air Conditioning Optimization
- Elevator remote maintenance
- Visitor access control system
Transportation and logistics
- Intelligent port management
- Real-time Cargo Tracking
- Aviation baggage tracking
- Smart parking system
Competitive Advantages
- Middle East Market Leader: The largest operator in the UAE and MENA region
- Smart City Expertise: Core partner in Dubai's global smart city leading projects
- 5G Pioneer: Among the world's first to commercialize 5G, with UAE's 5G penetration ranking among the highest globally
- Government Relations: Close cooperation with the UAE government, possessing unique policy and resource advantages
- International Expansion: Continuously expanding global IoT services through network deployment in 16 countries
Development History and Milestones
E& (formerly Etisalat, UAE Telecom) was established in 1976 as the UAE's national telecom monopoly operator. With market reforms and international expansion, e& gradually entered multiple emerging markets in Africa and Asia, becoming a multinational telecom group covering 16 countries. In 2022, the company officially rebranded from "Etisalat" to "e&", marking its strategic transformation from a traditional telecom operator to a digital technology company.
Milestones in IoT development: In 2017, e& was the first in the Middle East to commercially deploy NB-IoT, becoming one of the world's first NB-IoT commercial operators; in 2019, it became one of the first operators with a commercial 5G network, making the UAE one of the countries with the highest 5G penetration rates; in 2021, e& partnered with Huawei to deploy the Middle East's first 5G-A (5.5G) trial network, continuing to lead at the technological frontier.
Characteristics of the Middle East IoT Market
Key Considerations for Deploying IoT in the Middle East
- Extreme Climate Adaptation: Summer temperatures in the Middle East can exceed 50°C, so IoT devices and networks need high-temperature resistant design
- Sand and Dust Protection: Sandstorms are frequent in desert areas, requiring outdoor IoT devices to have at least IP66 protection level
- Regulatory Compliance: Countries like the UAE and Saudi Arabia have strict regulations on telecom and data services, requiring local compliance
- Oil and Gas Industry Demand: The Middle East is the world's most important oil and gas production region, making oil and gas IoT the largest application market
- Smart City Investments: Governments of Gulf countries are heavily investing in smart cities, creating massive demand for IoT
Service Support System
Enterprise-Level Support
- Dedicated enterprise customer team
- 7×24 hour network monitoring
- SLA guarantee service agreement
- On-site technical support
IoT platform services
- Developer sandbox environment
- Technical documentation and SDK
- API integration support
- Customized solution development
Compliance and Certification
- UAE TRA regulatory compliance
- ISO 27001 Security Certification
- Local Data Residency Support
- Multi-Country Regulatory Consulting