Page 65 - SAMENA Trends - February 2020

REGIONAL & MEMBERS UPDATES SAMENA TRENDS

REGIONAL NEWS

TRA Represents UAE at 1st International Information Security Forum in
Riyadh

The UAE, represented by the Telecommunications Regulatory rapid response and information flow. We in the UAE, and based
Authority, TRA, concluded its participation in the first International on the future vision of our rational leadership, believe that a full-
Information Security Forum, which started in the Saudi capital, fledged smart city is just a stone’s throw away. I can proudly
Riyadh, under the generous patronage of the Custodian of the confirm that we have accomplished a lot of our preparations for
Two Holy Mosques, King Salman bin Abdulaziz. The forum was that phase, both in terms of plans and strategies adopted by our
aimed at exploring and finding new horizons for international government in areas of AI, intelligent transportation systems,
cooperation in Cybersecurity, through which international 3D printing, advanced technology etc., or in terms of current
initiatives are formulated. It also allowed for the exchange of applications.” More than 1,200 experts, representing 63 countries
expertise and experience among countries in this extremely and major global Cybersecurity companies participated in the
important domain, with the participation of a select group of senior two-day forum, during which 50 sessions were held across five
officials in government and private sectors within and outside key areas, including Cybersecurity, international cooperation,
the Kingdom, in addition to a number of prominent academics, cyber communities, modern technologies, cyber threats and to
decision-makers, investors and leaders of various international confront them.
organizations. Hamid Obaid Al Mansouri, TRA Director-General,
delivered an opening speech on the first day of the forum. He
said, “The importance of this forum is evident from the fact that
it comes at a defining moment, as the world is witnessing rapid
transformations and developments in all areas, powered by ICT. A
key transformation is the mass exodus to the virtual world, where
the number of Internet users exceeds four billion, and almost
the same number accesses social networking websites, while
the number of smartphone users is approaching three billion.
All that means a massive influx of data in every aspect, most of
which was, until recently, private property that was prohibited
from being accessed under the prevailing laws and customs.”
He added, “The unprecedented nature of cyber risks puts us, as
governments and organizations, in the face of necessary choices.
The most important weapon in our hands to confront cyber risks
is cooperation at all levels, regionally and globally, while ensuring

Total Assets of UAE Telecom Operators Up to US$39.5 Billion in 2019

The total assets of Emirates the royalty fee they paid to the government to AED125.243 billion in 2018, with the
Telecommunications Corporation, stood at circa AED7.85 billion. The net revenue hitting AED52.2 billion by the end
Etisalat, and the Emirates Integrated profit secured by Etisalat and du in 2019 of 2019. On the other hand, du’s 2019 net
Telecommunications Company, du, grew to around AED10.43 billion from profit slightly declined to AED1.736 billion
increased to AED145.12 billion in 2019, AED10.36 billion in 2018, according to the from AED1.752 billion in 2018. The total
a YoY growth of around 2.8 percent two companies’ official figures. In more revenue of du reached almost AED12.6
from AED141.74 billion. The financial detail, the profits of Etislat edged up to billion last year, with the company’s total
statements announced by the two listed AED8.7 billion in 2019 from AED8.61 billion assets having increased from AED16.5
companies show their total combined in 2018. Etisalat’s assets amounted to billion 2018 to AED16.85 billion in 2019.
revenues hit AED64.8 billion in 2019, while AED128.266 billion in 2019, compared

65 FEBRUARY 2020