How UAE’s digital backbone supercharged its economic transformation

How UAE’s digital backbone supercharged its economic transformation

The UAE’s emergence as a global trade and tourism hub would have been impossible without a parallel evolution of the country’s ICT infrastructure. By thinking ahead, the UAE’s visionary leadership has ensured that its ICT infrastructure is technologically advanced to fully support the development of its future digital economy.

Under its ‘Projects of the 50’, the UAE has launched the fourth Industrial revolution network and the tech drive programme to promote the adoption of advanced technologies in the industrial sector. The country aims to become a global testbed for advanced technologies and innovation. In line with this, ICT spending in the UAE is estimated to grow by eight per cent annually between now and 2024 reaching $23 billion annually, according to research firm GlobalData.

As a global actor within this ecosystem, we believe four key pillars will help solidify the UAE’s future digital economy — network modernisation, cybersecurity, digital talent, and green ICT.

To power the digital era envisioned in the UAE’s National Agenda, it starts with building expansive networks that connect every person, home, and organisation. Inclusive and high-speed broadband is vital for national industries to achieve their own digital ambitions. In our recent NetX2025 whitepaper, for example, we note how the