Abu Dhabi, UAE. 05 October 2026: His Highness Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Vice President, Deputy Prime Minister, and Chairman of the Presidential Court, today witnessed the launch of etisalat’s strategic project to develop and expand digital infrastructure capacity within the UAE and abroad, enhancing the country’s readiness for the increasing demands of AI and strengthening its position on the global digital stage.
His Highness, in his capacity as Chairman of the Emirates Investment Authority (EIA), the main shareholder in etisalat group, was briefed on the group’s plans and future projects to develop digital infrastructure crucial to meeting accelerated growth in AI technologies and the digital economy.
The project includes plans to expand international connectivity capacity to more than 500 terabits per second (Tbps) by 2030, an increase of over twenty-five times of the current capacity, in addition to developing diverse routes designed to enhance connectivity efficiency and reliability, delivering advanced, low-latency performance.
His Highness Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan emphasised the importance of investing in digital infrastructure as a fundamental pillar for supporting emerging technologies and enabling a knowledge-based, innovation-driven economy. His Highness also stressed the importance of coordinated national efforts and the role of national institutions in advancing the UAE's AI ambitions and digital economy.