UAE Targets 25-Fold Digital Connectivity Growth
The UAE is planning a major expansion of its international digital connectivity capacity by 2030. The project, launched by e&, aims to raise capacity from about 20 terabits per second to more than 500 Tbps.
The expansion represents an increase of more than 25 times the current capacity. Moreover, it will add diverse connectivity routes designed to improve reliability, efficiency and latency.
Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan witnessed the launch in Abu Dhabi. During the briefing, e& presented plans to expand digital infrastructure across the UAE and international markets.
The initiative comes as demand for artificial intelligence, cloud computing and data processing continues to grow. Therefore, the UAE is positioning network infrastructure as a key part of its AI economy.
Infrastructure Built for AI Growth
The planned expansion will support rising volumes of data moving between the UAE and international markets. In addition, the project will create more diversified routes for global connectivity.
Those routes are designed to improve network resilience and provide faster, more stable connections. As a result, they could support demanding workloads from AI clusters, cloud providers and digital businesses.
e& Chairman Jassem Mohamed Bu Ataba Al Zaabi said the project reflects the company’s focus on building infrastructure for the next phase of technology development. He also linked the investment to the UAE’s ambitions in artificial intelligence and digital infrastructure.
The company said the expansion will help meet increasing demand for data processing and data flows. Furthermore, it will support e& operations and customers across its international markets.
The project also emphasises low-latency connectivity. This matters because AI systems increasingly depend on rapid movement of data between computing facilities, cloud platforms and end users.
UAE Strengthens Global Digital Position
The connectivity expansion forms part of e&’s broader strategy to become an AI-powered and AI-enabling telecommunications group. The company operates across 38 countries and serves more than 250 million subscribers worldwide.
Consequently, the planned infrastructure could extend beyond domestic requirements. It could also strengthen the UAE’s links with international cloud and technology ecosystems.
Sheikh Mansour said digital infrastructure remains central to the country’s economic development and technological ambitions. He also stressed the need for stronger national coordination around AI and the digital economy.
The UAE has already built a broad digital government ecosystem. For example, UAE Pass provides access to more than 15,000 services through more than 350 entities. The platform has also processed billions of digital transactions.
At the same time, the government is expanding AI adoption across federal services. In May, the UAE Cabinet approved a framework for deploying agentic AI across ministries and federal entities.
Therefore, the new connectivity investment complements the country’s wider digital strategy. Higher international capacity can provide the infrastructure needed for larger AI workloads, cloud services and data-intensive applications.
Building Capacity Beyond 2030
The move also reflects a broader shift in how countries plan digital infrastructure. AI workloads require substantial computing power, while that computing increasingly depends on high-capacity networks.
For the UAE, expanding international connectivity could strengthen its role as a regional gateway for data and digital services. Moreover, diversified routes can improve resilience as data traffic continues to rise.
The planned increase from 20 Tbps to more than 500 Tbps marks a substantial infrastructure commitment. However, the project is part of a longer strategy to prepare the UAE for sustained growth in AI and the digital economy.
As the 2030 target approaches, the expansion will be closely tied to the country’s broader ambitions in cloud computing, artificial intelligence and digital sovereignty. The UAE is therefore treating connectivity capacity as core infrastructure for its next stage of digital development.
