Telecoms & IT
From The Report: Abu Dhabi 2015
View in Online Reader

The telecoms industry is valued at $7.9bn and currently accounts for 3% of national GDP with the sector witnessing expansion of 6.6% in 2013, comparing favourably with the country’s overall GDP growth of 5.2%. Meanwhile the ICT sector added $5.7bn in real terms to the economy in 2013, representing a rise of 13.2% and equivalent to 2.9% of GDP. Indeed ICT has been a government focus in recent years, representing both a target and an enabler of diversification in the emirate with the public sector acting as the main driver of ICT spending and investment. With this ongoing investment in the sector, Abu Dhabi is positioning itself to capture growing regional demand for technological services while simultaneously putting itself at the forefront of the Gulf’s high-tech future.

Articles from this Chapter

Overview

The sector improves services at home and extends its reach abroad
OBG
plus

The telecoms sector in the UAE benefits from some of the most comprehensive and up-to-date infrastructure in the world, as well as some of the most competitive prices for fixed and mobile voice services. As a key element of the government’s commitment to diversification, telecoms has attracted sustained investment at home, overseas and even in space, as the UAE expands its network of satellite communications services. Regulatory reform, meanwhile, is helping to create a mature domestic market,…

Overview

The public sector is still the main driver of ICT spending and investment
OBG
plus

Abu Dhabi has established itself as a regional and global leader in the adoption of ICT infrastructure, with the government in particular investing significant sums in digital platforms for business and citizen services. As well as in adopting technology, Abu Dhabi plays an increasingly active role in global research and development, with the Mubadala Development Company, a state-owned investment firm, holding stakes in several strategically important sectors. This sustained commitment to ICT has…