You'll see this in the newspaper tomorrow, and up on the website sometime soon, but you saw it here first! Today was a good one for du, which is looking more and more like a serious competitor to Etisalat as time goes on. An early story on du's quarterly results - including an absolute whipping of its competitor in the race for subscribers, below:
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Mobile customers continue to join the du network, which added 156,000 new subscribers in the same three-month period that its competitor, Etisalat, lost more than 80,000.
In quarterly results published today, du reported a total of 2.9 million active mobile customers. It also said revenues rose sharply, growing by 12 per cent on the previous quarter to reach Dh1.31 billion.
"The very good news is, not only are we adding subscribers, but they are spending more than ever before," said Osman Sultan, du's chairman.
Profits also grew significantly, more than doubling on first quarter figures to reach Dh115 million. The company now estimates it has a 30 per cent share of the mobile market, although making a direct comparison between subscriber numbers at the two companies is difficult.
Etisalat announced a total of 7.26 million subscribers in quarterly results released earlier in the month, but does not report its active subscriber base, which is defined as all customers who have made or received calls and messages in the previous three months.
By the end of 2010, du said it aims to have a 35 per cent share of the UAE mobile market. The company also aims to grow usage of mobile broadband on its network, saying devices like the BlackBerry mobile email handset will be a focus moving forward, and reiterating its hope to launch the Apple iPhone.
While building its subscriber base through a focus on value-for-money and a series of discount offers, the company said yesterday that as its rapid customer growth inevitably slows, the emphasis will shift to boosting the spending of existing subscribers.
"We want to grow, but not at the expense of value for shareholders - we want to grow and profit," Mr Sultan said. "I wouldn't be adding hundreds of thousands of subscribers if they were not generating money."
CONFIRMED%20LINE-UP
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Company profile
Date started: December 24, 2018
Founders: Omer Gurel, chief executive and co-founder and Edebali Sener, co-founder and chief technology officer
Based: Dubai Media City
Number of employees: 42 (34 in Dubai and a tech team of eight in Ankara, Turkey)
Sector: ConsumerTech and FinTech
Cashflow: Almost $1 million a year
Funding: Series A funding of $2.5m with Series B plans for May 2020
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THE SPECS
Engine: 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbo
Transmission: eight-speed automatic
Power: 258hp at 5,000-6,500rpm
Torque: 400Nm from 1,550-4,400rpm
Fuel economy, combined: 6.4L/100km
Price, base: from D215,000 (Dh230,000 as tested)
On sale: now
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How to help
Send “thenational” to the following numbers or call the hotline on: 0502955999
2289 – Dh10
2252 – Dh 50
6025 – Dh20
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UAE%20athletes%20heading%20to%20Paris%202024
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Company profile
Name: Thndr
Started: October 2020
Founders: Ahmad Hammouda and Seif Amr
Based: Cairo, Egypt
Sector: FinTech
Initial investment: pre-seed of $800,000
Funding stage: series A; $20 million
Investors: Tiger Global, Beco Capital, Prosus Ventures, Y Combinator, Global Ventures, Abdul Latif Jameel, Endure Capital, 4DX Ventures, Plus VC, Rabacap and MSA Capital
Tips to stay safe during hot weather
- Stay hydrated: Drink plenty of fluids, especially water. Avoid alcohol and caffeine, which can increase dehydration.
- Seek cool environments: Use air conditioning, fans, or visit community spaces with climate control.
- Limit outdoor activities: Avoid strenuous activity during peak heat. If outside, seek shade and wear a wide-brimmed hat.
- Dress appropriately: Wear lightweight, loose and light-coloured clothing to facilitate heat loss.
- Check on vulnerable people: Regularly check in on elderly neighbours, young children and those with health conditions.
- Home adaptations: Use blinds or curtains to block sunlight, avoid using ovens or stoves, and ventilate living spaces during cooler hours.
- Recognise heat illness: Learn the signs of heat exhaustion and heat stroke (dizziness, confusion, rapid pulse, nausea), and seek medical attention if symptoms occur.
The specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo
Power: 261hp at 5,500rpm
Torque: 405Nm at 1,750-3,500rpm
Transmission: 9-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 6.9L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh117,059
The specs
- Engine: 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8
- Power: 640hp
- Torque: 760nm
- On sale: 2026
- Price: Not announced yet
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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
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- 600-seat auditorium
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Price: From Dh529,000
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Transmission: Eight-speed auto
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Torque: 625Nm
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Started: April 2017
Founders: Mostafa Kandil, Ahmed Sabbah and Mahmoud Nouh
Based: Cairo, Egypt
Sector: transport
Size: 450 employees
Investment: approximately $80 million
Investors include: Dubai’s Beco Capital, US’s Endeavor Catalyst, China’s MSA, Egypt’s Sawari Ventures, Sweden’s Vostok New Ventures, Property Finder CEO Michael Lahyani
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Name: Abeer Al Bah
Born: 1972
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Education: BA in Elementary Education, worked for five years in a Dubai school
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What can you do?
Document everything immediately; including dates, times, locations and witnesses
Seek professional advice from a legal expert
You can report an incident to HR or an immediate supervisor
You can use the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation’s dedicated hotline
In criminal cases, you can contact the police for additional support
ICC men's cricketer of the year
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Date started: 2015
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Company name: Farmin
Date started: March 2019
Founder: Dr Ali Al Hammadi
Based: Abu Dhabi
Sector: AgriTech
Initial investment: None to date
Partners/Incubators: UAE Space Agency/Krypto Labs
What can victims do?
Always use only regulated platforms
Stop all transactions and communication on suspicion
Save all evidence (screenshots, chat logs, transaction IDs)
Report to local authorities
Warn others to prevent further harm
Courtesy: Crystal Intelligence
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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.
