The UAE’s biggest telecoms operator e& has joined forces with the US technology company Microsoft to boost innovation and offer more tech-driven products to customers.
The partnership is aimed at accelerating value creation, innovation and achieving more for the benefit of customers, the entities said in a joint statement on Monday.
“Our partnership with Microsoft is an example of synergy in action,” said e&’s chief executive Hatem Dowidar, who was part of the delegation that signed the deal at Microsoft’s headquarters in Redmond, US.
“e& is combining one of the world’s fastest 5G networks with Microsoft’s cloud, AI [artificial intelligence], edge and data services … addressing a regional market hungry for digital transformation,” Mr Dowidar said.
Formerly known as Etisalat, the company rebranded and changed its identity to e& last month as it aims to transform into a global technology investment conglomerate.
Based in Abu Dhabi, the operator was founded in 1976 and is the UAE's oldest telecoms company. It has operations in 16 countries across the Middle East, Asia and Africa, serving more than 156 million customers.
As part of the agreement, e& and Microsoft will create a long-term strategic collaboration that will enable the Abu Dhabi company to go “beyond the realms of traditional telecommunications to transform the lives of its customers and advance the digitalisation journey of enterprises”, the statement said.
It will also help e& harness the versatility of the Microsoft cloud and partner ecosystem to create new solutions.
The partnership will be structured on three strategic pillars: focusing on business-to-business engagement, reinventing the consumer experience and setting the foundations to power e&’s transformation journey.
“We are confident that this collaboration will continue to support the ever-growing demands of this market and our digital journey of transformation and innovation,” Mr Dowidar said.
In 2019, Microsoft launched its UAE data centres in collaboration with e&.
“e& has made a commitment to continuously innovate, and we are proud of the role Microsoft is playing as part of this journey,” said Judson Althoff, executive vice president and chief commercial officer of Microsoft.
“Our strategic partnership emphasises the role that Microsoft’s trusted cloud plays in our customers’ digital transformation, bringing together the unique capability of networks, hyperscale infrastructure and partner solutions to drive economic growth, sustainability and societal well-being.”
The company reported a 3 per cent rise in 2021 net profit to Dh9.3 billion ($2.5bn) and its sales grew 3 per cent on the year to Dh53.3bn during the period.
The operator is also exploring the development of 6G, the next-generation mobile network that will allow for much faster and more sophisticated technology use.
The Microsoft partnership is the latest in a string of deals e& has forged to boost its portfolio.
Last week, the company made an offer to increase its stake in Saudi telecoms company Etihad Etisalat, better known as Mobily, to 50 per cent. It currently owns a 28 per cent stake in Mobily.
Its entertainment arm, E-Vision, and Abu Dhabi holding company ADQ also signed a deal to acquire a majority stake in video streaming service Starzplay Arabia.
In January, the company completed the acquisition of elGrocer, an online marketplace for groceries that operates across the Emirates.
In October, it signed a binding agreement with Abu Dhabi-based artificial intelligence services provider G42 to create the UAE's largest data centre provider.
In August, Etisalat acquired an additional stake in Maroc Telecom Group, increasing its effective ownership from 48.4 per cent to 53 per cent.
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Engine: Electric motor generating 54.2kWh (Cooper SE and Aceman SE), 64.6kW (Countryman All4 SE)
Power: 218hp (Cooper and Aceman), 313hp (Countryman)
Torque: 330Nm (Cooper and Aceman), 494Nm (Countryman)
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh158,000 (Cooper), Dh168,000 (Aceman), Dh190,000 (Countryman)
COPA DEL REY
Semi-final, first leg
Barcelona 1 (Malcom 57')
Real Madrid (Vazquez 6')
Second leg, February 27
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Killing of Qassem Suleimani
The Great Derangement: Climate Change and the Unthinkable
Amitav Ghosh, University of Chicago Press
WOMAN AND CHILD
Director: Saeed Roustaee
Starring: Parinaz Izadyar, Payman Maadi
Rating: 4/5
FFP EXPLAINED
What is Financial Fair Play?
Introduced in 2011 by Uefa, European football’s governing body, it demands that clubs live within their means. Chiefly, spend within their income and not make substantial losses.
What the rules dictate?
The second phase of its implementation limits losses to €30 million (Dh136m) over three seasons. Extra expenditure is permitted for investment in sustainable areas (youth academies, stadium development, etc). Money provided by owners is not viewed as income. Revenue from “related parties” to those owners is assessed by Uefa's “financial control body” to be sure it is a fair value, or in line with market prices.
What are the penalties?
There are a number of punishments, including fines, a loss of prize money or having to reduce squad size for European competition – as happened to PSG in 2014. There is even the threat of a competition ban, which could in theory lead to PSG’s suspension from the Uefa Champions League.
More on animal trafficking
How to protect yourself when air quality drops
Install an air filter in your home.
Close your windows and turn on the AC.
Shower or bath after being outside.
Wear a face mask.
Stay indoors when conditions are particularly poor.
If driving, turn your engine off when stationary.
What is the FNC?
The Federal National Council is one of five federal authorities established by the UAE constitution. It held its first session on December 2, 1972, a year to the day after Federation.
It has 40 members, eight of whom are women. The members represent the UAE population through each of the emirates. Abu Dhabi and Dubai have eight members each, Sharjah and Ras al Khaimah six, and Ajman, Fujairah and Umm Al Quwain have four.
They bring Emirati issues to the council for debate and put those concerns to ministers summoned for questioning.
The FNC’s main functions include passing, amending or rejecting federal draft laws, discussing international treaties and agreements, and offering recommendations on general subjects raised during sessions.
Federal draft laws must first pass through the FNC for recommendations when members can amend the laws to suit the needs of citizens. The draft laws are then forwarded to the Cabinet for consideration and approval.
Since 2006, half of the members have been elected by UAE citizens to serve four-year terms and the other half are appointed by the Ruler’s Courts of the seven emirates.
In the 2015 elections, 78 of the 252 candidates were women. Women also represented 48 per cent of all voters and 67 per cent of the voters were under the age of 40.
Fight card
1. Bantamweight: Victor Nunes (BRA) v Siyovush Gulmamadov (TJK)
2. Featherweight: Hussein Salim (IRQ) v Shakhriyor Juraev (UZB)
3. Catchweight 80kg: Rashed Dawood (UAE) v Khamza Yamadaev (RUS)
4. Lightweight: Ho Taek-oh (KOR) v Ronald Girones (CUB)
5. Lightweight: Arthur Zaynukov (RUS) v Damien Lapilus (FRA)
6. Bantamweight: Vinicius de Oliveira (BRA) v Furkatbek Yokubov (RUS)
7. Featherweight: Movlid Khaybulaev (RUS) v Zaka Fatullazade (AZE)
8. Flyweight: Shannon Ross (TUR) v Donovon Freelow (USA)
9. Lightweight: Mohammad Yahya (UAE) v Dan Collins (GBR)
10. Catchweight 73kg: Islam Mamedov (RUS) v Martun Mezhulmyan (ARM)
11. Bantamweight World title: Jaures Dea (CAM) v Xavier Alaoui (MAR)
12. Flyweight World title: Manon Fiorot (FRA) v Gabriela Campo (ARG)
The specs: 2018 Nissan 370Z Nismo
The specs: 2018 Nissan 370Z Nismo
Price, base / as tested: Dh182,178
Engine: 3.7-litre V6
Power: 350hp @ 7,400rpm
Torque: 374Nm @ 5,200rpm
Transmission: Seven-speed automatic
Fuel consumption, combined: 10.5L / 100km
Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
