e& in 2026: a new CEO, a AED 21.9 billion Vodafone sale and the Etisalat name returns
Editorial
Leadership, portfolio and brand all moved at e& in 2026, while first-half revenue grew 11.6%.
AED 38.1bnRevenue, H1 2026+11.6%
AED 17.7bnEBITDA, H1 2026 (46.5% margin)+13.1%
AED 6.0bnNet profit, H1 2026+2.4% ex one-offs
251.5mGroup subscribers+30.4%
47.5 filsInterim dividend a share+10.5%
Source: Gulf News on e&'s Q2 2026 release.
What changed
- 25 Feb e& announces Group CEO Hatem Dowidar will step down on 31 March after six years.
- 1 Apr Masood M. Sharif Mahmood, CEO of e& UAE, becomes group CEO and keeps the UAE role.
- After Q2 Vodafone stake sale closes with gross proceeds of AED 21.9 billion.
- H1 2026 A 12.5% stake in Careem Technologies is sold to Uber for AED 367 million (about $100 million).
- 6 Oct Group announces a return to the Etisalat name, timed to its 50th anniversary, in a filing to the Abu Dhabi Securities Exchange.
| Deal | Value | When |
|---|---|---|
| Vodafone stake sale | AED 21.9bn gross proceeds | Closed after quarter-end, reported July 2026 |
| Khazna Data Centers, 40% to G42 | $2.2bn | Agreed 2025 |
| Careem, 12.5% to Uber | AED 367m | 2026 |
| PPF Group telecom assets | EUR 2.2bn | Agreed 2023 |