e& has consolidated its position as the most valuable portfolio of telecom brands in the Middle East and Africa (MEA).
The firm’s recognition comes after the release of the 2023 Brand Finance Global 500 Report during the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos.
Etisalat has also been crowned the MEA’s strongest telecoms brand, with a Brand Strength Index (BSI) score of 87.4 out of 100 and a corresponding AAA brand strength rating – the only brand in the region to achieve this rating.
Most valuable telecoms portfolio
In the report, Brand Finance highlighted e&’s transformation into a global technology and investment conglomerate.
Over the past year, the company achieved remarkable business growth with its portfolio of brands now exceeding a total value of US$14 billion.
This reflects the success of the Group’s business strategy over the past year, which has introduced further improvements in customer service, more people-focused products and new digital services across its specialist business verticals.
etisalat by e&, the Group’s largest telecom brand, also retained its position as the strongest telecom brands across all categories in the MEA region, achieving a score of 89.1 out of 100 and a AAA rating, according to the report.
It was also rated one of the top three telecom brands in the world, due to its market reach, operational capabilities, and outstanding customer service record.
Hatem Dowidar, GCEO, e&, said, “Guided by our 46-year legacy of pushing the boundaries of technology and service excellence, we have emerged as an inspiring global technology conglomerate; this international recognition makes us extremely proud.
“We will continue to earn the trust of our customers and stakeholders by developing and innovating cutting-edge products and services that meet the needs of our 162 million subscribers in 16 countries across the Middle East, Asia and Africa.”
Building a sustainable digital future
e& had made significant strides in Artificial Intelligence (AI), blockchain, Virtual Reality (VR), Augmented Reality (AR), the Internet of Things (IoT), cloud computing, and technologies supporting the emergence of the metaverse.
“With sustainability at the heart of everything we do, the e& ESG framework has become an integral part of the Group’s business model,” said Dowidar.
“We have successfully created an ecosystem in which we operate, communicate and deliver our products and services to stakeholders and customers, enabling us to be a key player in the search for clean and green solutions. The Group’s efforts were recently crowned by the declaration of e&’s net zero targets by 2030, marking a further step in confirming our commitment to reduce carbon emissions across our business and to step up our efforts for global climate action.”
Etisalat Group changed its brand identity to e& in February 2022, as part of a wider strategy to accelerate resilient long-term growth.
David Haigh, CEO and Chairman of Brand Finance, said, “As the telecommunication industry faces commoditisation, e& has taken bold steps to reposition its brand identity to unlock new opportunities. This transformation has enhanced the competences of e& to provide innovative digital-centric services that add to its journey as a global brand.”
