The UAE has more than 22m mobile phone subscribers and almost 4m broadband internet subscriptions, according to TDRA data.
The Telecommunications and Digital Government Regulatory Authority (TDRA) released the Digital Enablers Report 2023, showcasing TDRA’s collaborative efforts with partners in advancing digital transformation enablers and infrastructure in the UAE.
The report includes key indicators and highlights pioneering achievements in this domain.
UAE mobile phone subscribers
The report indicates that the user base for UAE Pass has grown to 6.84 million, enabling them to access 15,000 digital services offered by 232 service providers.
Additionally, the “UAE Verify” digital verification platform processed 6,997,635 documents.
In the API Marketplace, transactions reached 1,273,464, while the Government Service Bus (GSB) handled more than 1.5bn transactions.
Furthermore, the customer relationship management system “Tawasul 171” addressed more than 500,000 cases.
Regarding the performance of the Federal Digital Network (FEDnet), the Digital Enablers Report reveals the presence of 5,076 virtual servers constituting the cloud infrastructure.
A total of 40 entities utilise the high-performance Internet portal, while 46 entities benefit from the cloud infrastructure, and 35 entities make use of the backup service.
The report further highlights that TDRA Virtual Academy boasts a registration count of 34,000 individuals, all of whom benefit from a diverse array of 180 training courses.
TDRA Director-General Majed Sultan Al Mesmar said: “The report reflects the team spirit among government entities, including local digital governments, with whom we collaborate to realise and enhance integrated digital experiences.
“This aligns with our journey towards a digital knowledge society and economy, in accordance with ‘We the UAE 2031’ vision and the directives of our wise leadership, to focus on digitisation as a cornerstone for the future economy and the implementation of smart city concepts.”
In the Telecommunications sector, the report indicates that mobile network coverage has achieved 100 per cent in various regions of the country, while the 5G network spans 97.03 per cent of the total populated areas.
According to the report, the number of mobile phone subscribers has reached 22,178,236, with 3,774,064 subscribers to mobile broadband services.
This positions the UAE the first globally in mobile network coverage, rate of mobile broadband subscriptions, and percentage of Internet users.
Additionally, the UAE ranks second globally in the rate of mobile subscriptions and sixth globally in international Internet bandwidth per user.
Furthermore, the UAE has maintained its global leadership for the fourth consecutive time in FTTH coverage, standing at 97 per cent, according to data from the FTTH Council Europe.
On the global stage, as per the report, the UAE achieved significant results, ranking:
- 5th in Global Cybersecurity Index (GCI)
- 9th in Telecommunication Infrastructure Index (TII)
- 12th in Online Service Index (OSI)
- 13th in E-Government Development Index (EGDI)
- 18th in Digital Participation Index
- 22nd in Government AI Readiness Index