Emirates Integrated Telecommunications Company (du) reported a solid start to 2026, with net profit rising 15.5 percent year-on-year to AED834 million, supported by steady revenue growth and expanding margins.
The telecom operator posted revenues of AED4.1 billion for the first quarter, up 6.9 percent from a year earlier, reflecting strong performance across its mobile, fixed, and ICT segments.
Operating performance remained robust, with EBITDA climbing 11.7 percent to AED2 billion. The company also saw its EBITDA margin improve by 2.1 percentage points to 49.5 percent, highlighting efficiency gains and disciplined cost management.
Cash generation continued to strengthen, with operating free cash flow increasing 14.2 percent to AED1.7 billion, reinforcing du’s financial position.
In a move aimed at enhancing financial flexibility, the company successfully refinanced and secured a AED2 billion revolving credit facility in April on improved terms, extending its maturity to seven years.
“du started 2026 with strong fundamentals and clear commercial momentum across mobile, fixed, and ICT. We delivered an excellent set of financial results, with revenues up 6.9%, EBITDA up 11.7%, and net profit rising 15.5%,” said Fahad Al Hassawi, CEO of Emirates Integrated Telecommunications Company.
Subscriber growth remained a key driver of performance. The mobile subscriber base expanded by 6.1 percent year-on-year to 9.7 million, with net additions of 555,000 over the past 12 months. Postpaid subscribers rose 9.6 percent to 2 million, while prepaid users increased 5.2 percent to 7.7 million.
The fixed services segment also saw steady growth, with the subscriber base rising 6.3 percent to 745,000.
In terms of segment performance, mobile service revenues grew 7.2 percent to AED1.8 billion, while fixed service revenues recorded a stronger increase of 11.1 percent to AED1.2 billion. Other revenues edged up 2.3 percent to AED1.2 billion.
Capital expenditure for the quarter stood at AED386 million, reflecting continued investment in network infrastructure and service capabilities.
The results underscore du’s continued momentum in a competitive telecom landscape, driven by subscriber growth, diversified revenue streams, and improved operational efficiency.
With inputs from WAM
