du Reports 12.6% Growth in H1 2026 Net Profit, Board Approves Higher Interim Dividend
Emirates Integrated Telecommunications Company PJSC (du) reported strong financial results for the first half of 2026, posting a 12.6% year-on-year increase in net profit to AED 1.63 billion, driven by steady revenue growth, improved profitability and disciplined cost management despite a challenging regional operating environment.
The company also announced that its Board of Directors has approved an interim cash dividend of AED 0.26 per share, representing an 8.3% increase compared to the same period last year.
Strong First-Half Financial Performance
During the first six months of 2026, du's revenues increased by 5.8% year-on-year to AED 8.2 billion, while service revenues rose 7.7% to AED 6.03 billion, reflecting continued demand across its core telecommunications and digital services portfolio.
The company reported EBITDA of AED 4.03 billion, up 10.5% from the previous year, with the EBITDA margin improving to 49.2%, an expansion of 2.1 percentage points. Operating free cash flow also grew by 9.7% to AED 2.99 billion, highlighting the strength of du's cash-generating business model.
For the second quarter alone, revenues increased 4.6% year-on-year to AED 4.08 billion, while quarterly net profit rose 9.8% to AED 798 million.
Investment in Digital Infrastructure Continues
du continued to invest heavily in future growth, with capital expenditure reaching AED 1.04 billion during the first half, representing a 12.7% increase compared to the same period in 2025.
The company said investments were primarily directed towards expanding its network infrastructure and accelerating the development of data centres ahead of launching services under its agreement with a global hyperscaler. It also strengthened its innovation strategy through the launch of du Ventures, a venture capital fund established in partnership with Shorooq to support early-stage and growth companies developing emerging technologies.
Chairman Highlights Resilient Performance
Malek Al Malek, Chairman of du, said the company delivered another strong performance despite heightened regional tensions during the first half of the year.
He said disciplined strategy execution, operational excellence and a clear long-term vision enabled the company to continue strengthening its digital infrastructure while diversifying investment programmes to support the UAE's digital transformation.
Al Malek added that the Board remains confident in management's ability to navigate evolving market conditions while maintaining customer focus, operational excellence and disciplined execution. With strong cash flow and disciplined capital allocation, the company is well positioned to invest in future growth while delivering attractive returns to shareholders.
CEO: Strategy Execution Driving Growth
Fahad Al Hassawi, Chief Executive Officer of du, said the company's second-quarter performance reflected the successful execution of its strategic priorities and its ability to adapt quickly to changing market conditions.
He noted that du maintained commercial momentum through targeted customer initiatives, enhanced value propositions and continued investment in service quality and network capabilities. The company also accelerated investments in cloud computing, artificial intelligence and data centre solutions while expanding its innovation ecosystem through the launch of du Ventures.
Al Hassawi added that disciplined cost management enabled du to protect profitability and sustain both revenue and earnings growth despite softer monetisation trends and a more cautious spending environment.
Customer Base Continues to Expand
du's mobile subscriber base reached 9.3 million, representing 1.6% year-on-year growth.
The postpaid customer base increased 9% to 2.1 million subscribers, driven by strong demand for premium consumer offerings and enterprise services. Meanwhile, the prepaid segment recorded a slight 0.4% decline to 7.2 million subscribers, largely due to reduced tourism activity during the quarter.
The company's fixed subscriber base grew 5.5% year-on-year to 744,000 customers, supported by continued demand for its Home Wireless offering and stable growth in fibre broadband services.
Financial Highlights
- H1 2026 Revenue: AED 8.20 billion (up 5.8%)
- Service Revenue: AED 6.03 billion (up 7.7%)
- EBITDA: AED 4.03 billion (up 10.5%)
- EBITDA Margin: 49.2% (up 2.1 percentage points)
- Net Profit: AED 1.63 billion (up 12.6%)
- Capital Expenditure: AED 1.04 billion (up 12.7%)
- Operating Free Cash Flow: AED 2.99 billion (up 9.7%)
- Interim Dividend: AED 0.26 per share, up 8.3% year-on-year
The company said its strong financial performance, disciplined capital allocation and continued investment in digital infrastructure position it well to deliver sustainable long-term growth while supporting the UAE's evolving digital economy.
